The official release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition (ie Zach Snyder’s “Director’s Cut” of the film) was supposed to happen digitally on June 28th and via BluRay/DVD on July 19th but, lo and behold, certain digital movie providers are already offering the film in standard definition if you have pre-purchased it.  This was done, apparently, by accident.

As it so happens, I pre-purchased the “Ultimate Edition” of the film via VUDU (you can order it here) shortly after it was released to theaters and have been eager to see the director’s cut since.  This morning I found you could download and see the Ultimate Edition, albeit only in standard definition, since late yesterday/early this morning through either Flixster or Cinemanow.  Since most of my VUDU films appear on Flixster and I have an account through both services, I gave Flixster a look and found…nothing.

I could not download and/or watch the film through the service.  I double checked with VUDU but that service did not allow me to see the film either.

A little while later and at approximately 11 A.M. I gave my Flixster app another try and, wouldn’t you know it, I was granted the ability to download and see the film!  (Just to be very clear: What I am doing is NOT an illegal download…Flixster is a legitimate digital movie service and I paid for the film and was granted the ability to see a SD version of the film a little ahead of its official release and accidentally, of course, as the film shouldn’t be out yet).

UPDATE!!!!:  I understand WB has closed the accidental early release of the film so if you haven’t gotten it by now you’ll have to wait for the official release.

Before I get into what I thought of the film, there was a mini-controversy a few days ago when the movie’s cinematographer, Larry Fong tweeted the following on June 2 regarding the “Ultimate Cut” of this film:

Those who are fans will dig it.  If you hated it, you’ll still hate it.

Then, on June 10th, he tweeted this:

Watched #Ultimate Edition again; now believe EVERYONE will LOVE it!

So, did the movie’s producers “get” to Mr. Fong and force him to hype this new release or was the change in opinion an honest thing?

I’ll get into that in a moment but first let me state the following: I already liked the film.  I thought it was a solid piece of entertainment BUT was keenly aware that certain aspects of it were “off”.  I suspected the fact that some thirty minutes of the film had been cut from the “Ultimate Edition” before its theatrical release was what hurt the movie’s flow.

But let me emphasize: I already liked the film.

So it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise when I say I also liked the new, Ultimate Edition of BvS.  In fact, I would say you can officially trash/forget about the theatrical cut from now on and, if you have the desire to see the film, stick to “Ultimate Edition” from this day forward.

However…

I tend to agree with Mr. Fong’s original tweeted statement.  If you’re like me and you liked the film, you’ll most likely enjoy the new, uncut version far more.  If you were “neutral” about the film, you may come away liking it.  If you hated the film in its original theatrical incarnation but are willing to give this new edition a legitimate chance to change your mind, I suspect you’ll come away feeling the Ultimate Cut is a definite improvement over the theatrical version.  The big question is, is that improvement enough to change your mind?  Will you come away “liking” the film?

While I feel there will be converts, I don’t think there will be that many.

Why?  Because even though the film flows a lot better and the story “breathes” a hell of a lot easier and certain things that were unclear are much clearer and new, interesting subplots add to the overall story, the film nonetheless retains its essential story.  What the “Ultimate Cut” has done is offer us a far better telling of the story but not necessarily a new or different one.

And for many who hated the film, the movie’s story was the problem in the first place.

Again, this wasn’t the case for me and I came away delighted with this new version of the film.  Your mileage, as they say, might vary.

Now then, let’s get to what everyone wants to know: What’s new in this film?

I’ll get into that but, first…

SPOILERS FOLLOW!!!

You’ve been warned…!

….last chance to look away….!

……All right, here we go….

To begin, the film’s opening dual Batman origin stories (the one we’re familiar with and Bruce Wayne’s witnessing the fall of Metropolis) are essentially the same.  The only “new” scene I detected involved a school teacher/mother leading a line of kids through the dusty haze of fallen buildings.  This leads directly to the child Bruce saves from getting crushed.

From there we move on to the first major difference between Theatrical and Ultimate Cut: The African Desert sequence.  As presented in the theatrical version of the film, even a fan of the movie like me was confused by this part.  In the Ultimate Version the entire sequence makes far more sense, though there may be those who grimace at the fact that Jimmy Olsen is identified by name.

The repercussions of the African Desert sequence involve the testimony of the character of Zahina Ziri, who makes claims of Superman’s cruel actions in Africa.  In the theatrical cut of the film the character appears, if memory serves, only this one time.  However, in the Ultimate Cut of the film her character has an extended subplot that winds nicely throughout the film and ends shortly before the Congress sequence.

Lois Lane’s investigation into the mystery bullet she finds in Africa is also given more room and we’re shown Clark Kent’s reaction to the fact that she withheld knowledge of the bullet from him (Don’t worry, Clark Kent isn’t revealed to be a girlfriend beater).

While Lois Lane’s investigation is given more room, so too is Clark Kent’s investigation into the “Bat”.  In the Ultimate Edition and following Clark’s visit to the Gotham PD, we understand far better why Superman is so stern the first time he meets Batman.

Later on, we’re shown Superman helping bring the bodies out of the Capitol building, a sequence which humanizes him even more.  Later still, it is revealed why Superman didn’t notice the bomb (the wheelchair, Lois Lane finds, was lead lined!).

As for the movie’s climax, it remains mostly intact with a couple of bits and pieces here and there, including Doomsday taking out a helicopter.  After the movie’s climax there are a few added sequences as well, including the already revealed sequence depicting Lex Luthor meeting with what appears to be Steppenwolf, one of the New Gods.  Later, we have an extended conversation between Luthor and Batman in jail where it is made clear Luthor knows who Batman is and where Batman states he intends to send Luthor to Arkham Asylum.

There are also a few more clips presented in the Clark Kent funeral sequences, including more of the wake and Martha Kent finding the funeral expenses have been paid for by…somebody.

Obviously I haven’t given everything away but these are some of the more prominent pieces.

In conclusion, I’ll repeat what I said above: If you liked the movie, you’ll like this version even more.  If you were neutral about the film, this new version may win you over and make you a fan.  But if you really hated hated hated the film, you may find this Ultimate Edition a better overall presentation but still not enough to change your opinion.

Regardless, it was fun to finally see the film as the director intended.

If you have any questions about the Unlimited Edition of the film, please feel free to ask and I’ll try to provide answers where possible.