The "Martha" moment explained.

http://screenrant.com/batman-v-super...martha-moment/

Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice has generated impassioned and divisive reactions ever since it came out in theaters last week. Though the film is doing just fine commercially (including strong repeat business), people are mixed in regards to the quality of the final product. While it’s an undeniable thrill for fans of DC Comics to see some of their favorite heroes finally join forces on the big screen, some felt that the story was muddled in its execution and featured too much Justice League set-up that detracted from the main narrative.

Of all the controversial moments, few were as head-scratching as the conclusion to the title fight between the two heroes. With Batman looking to end the greatest gladiator match in the history of the world with a killing blow from a Kryptonite spear, he’s stopped by Clark Kent’s plea to “save Martha,” a reference to his adoptive mother Martha Kent. That resonates with Bruce Wayne, since his mother was also named Martha. Because of that connection, Batman and Superman set aside their differences and start working together. It was an odd sequence to many moviegoers, but now Snyder has attempted to provide some clarity on the situation.

Speaking with Forbes, Snyder explained the infamous “Martha” scene, saying that it pays off for the viewer because of the relationship established between Clark and Ma Kent in Man of Steel and Batman V Superman:

You know, they’re both born and live in a world where someone can care about them and mourn them, and they can love their mother. And that’s the cool thing, you know we spend so much time with the Martha-Clark relationship that I think it kind of pays off there. You realize, oh, we needed that as viewers, so we could get to a moment with Batman where that moment with Martha resonates. Because we’ve lived on with Clark’s relationship with his mother, so that moment is like, “Wow, that’s ringing for me and I feel it.”

When we were shooting the title sequence, that whole idea about, “Do we really need to see the death of the Waynes again,” is a big thing to take a shot at again. But you realize you need it, because it actually pays off. And I really wanted to do it all the way.

While many will agree that the idea of Batman saying “Martha won’t die tonight” is a nice one in theory, the main issue several took with this scene is that it provided an arguably anti-climactic conclusion to the fight and was rather convenient for the film’s plot. The entire movie had been building up Bruce Wayne’s hatred of Superman and his mission to destroy the alien, so to some, the fact that the two were raised by women named Martha was not a strong enough reason for Batman to do a complete 180 and form an alliance with Superman. Within the context of what’s presented, Bruce Wayne should still view Kal-El as an unpredictable force capable of destroying the world – Martha or not.

At the same token, there is a touching character moment in there, particularly for Bruce Wayne. All of his life’s trauma dates back to the night his parents were murdered, so seeing someone beg for their mother to be rescued is going to strike a chord with him. It may not have been conveyed in the strongest manner, but one can see how “Martha” could inspire a change-of-heart in The Dark Knight. In that instance, he saw Superman not as a threat, but as a helpless boy worried about his mom’s wellbeing – something Bruce could immediately relate to. Time will tell how their relationship will evolve over the course of the DCEU, but realizing that they’re not so different from each other is a solid foundation.

Shut the fuck up, Snyder.

It's a good thing Snyder is willing to school the viewers on why things in his movie make sense and were good creative decisions.

Jesus, his "explanation" makes it even dumber. He should stick to visuals, which he excels at, and leave the thinking to someone else.

And this is why a movie like this drops 70% in its second week. Not sure what's worse, the shit moments like Martha, or him explaining anything.

As someone that has known these characters for decades, I think your theory is correct.

Snyder and company simply didn't spoon-feed us the major villain manipulating events behind the scenes. The vision of the parademons should have been enough to tell us something else was at play other than Lex Luthor. I do think Lex Luthor gets co-opted at some point by another force outside his control. People haven't mentioned it yet but the Eradicator is another possibility for Man of Steel 2.

This is a movie that works better each time you see it, since it's much easier making these connections knowing what is going to happen.

And the Ultimate Edition will most likely expand on what we didn't see at the theater.

Yeah, those 30 minutes will eliminate the haters. And crap storyline.

The problem with this is it's obvious Snyder can't tell the difference between a sentimental moment, and an utterly heavy handed corny one. But then the hallelujah sex scene in Watchmen sort of implied that previously.

I liked that scene, because Malin looked hot in it. Yes, pure eye candy.

Doubtful but the more more footage the merrier - hell, I wish it was 4 hours long like the Watchmen Ultimate Edition is.

I don't think the film would be all out great even w/ the footage. BUT... I do think it would make it slightly better cuz I think a film like this needs something like that. More story... at the same time... unless all this inserted footage is as good as that communion scene (highly doubtful) all it does is pad time.

Again... the ideas and the basic concept of the story is ambitious as hell. And you can feel that. There are some damn near amazing things about to happen in the film but it doesn't. It's got issues. Script, pacing, characterization, etc. At some points in the film, I was very fucking impressed by some execution of this or that. But it's got crap storytellers. It's got an amazing production in it. But the storytellers don't know how to sell it and be true to what some of these characters are.

I feel that more footage would help it. Not to be great but simply a bit better.

About Watchmen...I never thought the Ultimate cut was the best cut of the film. I love it for being closer to what the comic was but it never really meshes well for me. Black Freighter's visuals never really looked that great to me. It just felt so off to mesh w the film. They needed a different style for it to work better. Some things don't translate well when changing the mediums either. I feel that it needed something else to make Black Freighter work into the story better. Maybe it's the visual of it, the overall pacing, I dunno. I personally prefer the DC. No matter what that actor or stuntman in both the UC or DC talking about going to old Niteowl's place before taking him out was just horrible acting on his part. I literally damn near feel that guy just kills my love for the film when his like 10 secs or whatever pops up. And that's something I feel the DC or UC (aside from the BF) does. It adds some bits to it that just aren't good. Not even big moments. Just small pieces here and there that don't mesh well.

Yeah, quantity doesn't always mean quality. And anything more from Snyder will be far from quality. Any guesses as to whether or not the extra footage from this will benefit the whole movie? Me neither.

So far? The communion scene would have made the movie better. That's all we know so far. Not much better but a bit.

The North Africa scenes will also get expanded, also wasn't Jena Malone's character going to be in there somewhere? 30 minutes is a shitload.

Saw this today and loved it and gave it 4 our of 5 stars. Full disclosure I really like Man of Steel as well. Didn't think it was too long. I am glad I stayed away from spoilers for the most part as the ending really caught me off guard and didn't expect that at all! The girlfriend was bawling like a little kid. I don't want to wade through 18 pages but I didn't stay for the whole end credits anything there (needed a beer)?

One other thing who is the possible big bad Lex was referring to? I like Superman but don't really know who all the "supervillians" are.

I though Ben did a superb job as Batman. Loved Wonder Women like most did. Like how they teased the other Justice League people as well except the Flash ugh...

Darkseid is the baddie they're referencing.

Also... wtf is w/ you guys and your hate hard on for this Flash?

I am just stuck on this look for some reason... sorry.

I don't even hate Gustin for being a brown haired bloke. Otherwise.. aside from just having facial hair in the video.. he's clean shaven for his suited role and also JL.

I'd love to see a soundtrack-only version on the BluRay. I know it's highly unlikely, but they did it with the original Superman...

I honestly think it would work a lot better.

I finally saw the movie. I don't read comics/graphic novels, and this is my first exposure to this story line.

I was confused. I realized that the "Supes taking off Batman's mask" sequence was a dream, but I also thought that the "Batman fights Superman soldiers in the desert" was also a dream because there's no explanation of where the Superman soldier come from. Sure, Lex could have arranged it, but this move was so disjointed I really don't know.

If the desert fighting was real, why are they showing Batman killing people with guns? That's not what he does. Maybe this is an attempt to redefine the characters. Well, it was badly done.

I'm not sure how confusing it could be that that sequence wasn't real. It wasn't really happening. It's pretty obvious... and you don't need to know the comics to realize that. it's not really happening. It's a fucked up world in there. Batman can kill in a fucked up world where shit went wrong. That's perfectly fine cuz.. at that point... survival is key.

So.. it was a dream sequence? Or not?

The movie was badly edited and disjointed, and I was confused. Maybe that's my fault, or maybe not.

Bruce is in a chair. Then it cuts to the Knightmare sequence, Flash pops up and Bruce wakes up to it... I'm not sure how that is confusing.

What is confusing is that immediately after flash leaves... he wakes up again. The end part of that isn't great but the editing into it makes no issue in making you know that that isn't real cuz... you still had a whole fucking movie after that. It's just you.

EDIT: Contextually... that scene makes no sense. Vision or dream or whatever. That narratively has no payoff and even when/if we do...it already failed cuz unlike comics... we don't wait a month to get that information. We get...years. It just doesn't make sense to exist either way. It's a great sequence. But has no point in the narrative or a payoff to successfully warrant it in the medium we're playing in. You take out the Knightmare and... nothing affects the movie. That's how pointless it is cuz of the lack of value to the narrative. Still... it's a damn good sequence.

OK. As the average moviegoer who was confused, fuck Snyder.

And I hated that Superman was reduced to survival mode when he is supposed (in my mind) to be about optimism and hope for humanity.