Snyder on Why Superman Didn’t Search for Martha in “Batman v Superman”

November 6, 2018 Movie News 34

Director Zack Snyder has answered a fan’s question on his Vero social media account about why Superman didn’t just use his super powers to look for Martha himself in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”.

You’ll recall that Lex Luthor kidnapped Martha Kent in an attempt to make Superman kill Batman. Many wondered why Superman didn’t just use his super-hearing to listen for and locate Martha himself? Snyder has revealed that there was a scene cut from the movie in which Superman attempted to do just that, but realized that doing so would mean he would have to ignore all the other cries for help he’d hear while he tried locating his adoptive mother.

Source: John Aaron Garza on Twitter.

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lcmcbain

November 6, 2018 5:44 pm

Soo, rather than find her anyway, he ignores both her and the cries to go fight Batman ?? Oh right, he did try to “talk” to Batman first…for all of 5 seconds. Well that depth of logic and reasoning is just dandy. SMH

JasEl

November 6, 2018 7:32 pm

Oh horse$#!+ I don’t believe that for a second. Nothing about the way that movie played out suggests that he did anything other than what he did. He didn’t attempt anything except beat down the bat

andramus

November 6, 2018 9:24 pm

I’ve always thought that there was an issue with Superman’s Super Senses in that he has to be willfully tuning out cries for help otherwise he’d never have time to be Clark Kent. I’ve always thought that while technically he could hear everything going on in the world he only uses his Super Hearing selectively. I was going to say that I thought Zack Snyder’s explanation didn’t make much sense but as I’ve been writing this comment I realised it does. It’s one thing to not listen for cries for help. It’s another thing to hear them and ignore them… Read more »

kal-bert

November 6, 2018 11:05 pm

Reply to andramus

It has less sense after Snyder’s answer. 1st he never ignores cries for help. 2nd his mother was in danger, there is no better reason to use all his abilities at their full scope. When your mother is going to die you don’t rest, you just do whatever it takes.

andramus

November 7, 2018 12:15 am

Reply to kal-bert

What Zack was saying was that if Superman opened up his senses – especially his hearing – to search for his mother he would be letting in all the other bad stuff at the same time.

He wouldn’t be able to tune out all the other cries for help and he wouldn’t be able to save all of them. If he prioritised saving Martha he would be choosing her over all those other cries for help.

redcape

November 6, 2018 9:27 pm

Wait a minute…….there has to be some times during Superman’s confrontations that he’s not going to be able to save each part of every day. And as for him using his hearing to locate his mother, she would actually have to be saying something for him to hear. Do you think for a second the kidnappers are going to sit back and let her talk away? That makes even less sense. Don’t forget, Luthor had a fairly credible threat against him regarding his mother. On a side note….I LOVED the Batman warehouse beat down scene. Best version of Batman we’ve… Read more »

kal-bert

November 6, 2018 11:10 pm

Reply to redcape

Superman has found Lois and his friends without any need of hearing their voices. Most of the times he just needs to locate their heartbeat, that is like a voice: everybody has a different type of heartbeat. He is also able to track their scent. And beyond anything, he can use all his abilities at the same time.
The warehouse scene was great, a nice chance for Bats to showoff. Just pointless.

SuperJMC79

November 7, 2018 10:45 am

Reply to kal-bert

You are applying abilities and skill with his powers from one version of Superman to this one. Not every take on the character has the same skillset when it comes to the use of his powers. Given that we never saw a demonstration on the level you are referring to, regardless of whether we as fans like it or not, we cannot assume he would have this same ability or finesse

kal-bert

November 6, 2018 11:15 pm

Seeing those explanations is obious why Snyder is out of DC’s cinematic universe. At 1st I thought it was true that he left due to his familiar problems. Through time it is obvious that he was just fired, and obvious why he was. When every scene in your movie needs further explanation means it was a horribly written movie. And this explanation is such a stupid one…even for Snyder. Totally correct for HIS Superman, but totally stupid in general. Remember that his Clark left his father die just to hide his identity, why wouldn’t risk his mother’s life for other… Read more »

car2nst

November 7, 2018 5:16 pm

Reply to kal-bert

So what you are saying is a family tragedy would not affect his ability whatsoever to perform his directorial duties up to par? SMH…and for the recored it has long been confirmed Snyder was never fired. I’ll never understand why people just choose the negative rumor just because their tastes in his vision differs from theirs, even after a official head of DC confirms Zack Snyder was never fired, not to mention since he IS STILL Exec Producer of current DC films & STILL on WB payroll….people who are fired don’t get paid by their (former) employer…LOL..GOOD GRIEF…

LarGand

November 7, 2018 4:12 am

Still doesn’t make sense, but thanks for trying, Zack. That movie was basically ruined by those gaping plotholes … Such a shame because, despite everything, there was still a lot to like in there.

DW13

November 7, 2018 5:54 am

But then… Superman can just focus on a single sound & hone in on it’s direct location as he’s done sooooo many times in the comics. 😎

JasEl

November 7, 2018 8:56 pm

Reply to DW13

Hell, he’s done it in these movies. His Mother is the one that TAUGHT him how in MOS while he was in the closet.
“Listen to my voice…Pretend you’re an island… blah blah blah

liheibao

November 7, 2018 6:07 am

Stop. Just stop. It’s over.

Superdoc

November 7, 2018 7:03 am

and yet… while fighting doomsday, and loud explosions that do not require ‘super-hearing’ are going on all around him, he is able to hear Lois lane pounding a cement slab… that must have been some loud pounding of cement. I generally try to defend Zack Snyder, but this is getting to be too much – these retro-fixed explanations are a bit insulting – like the slow spiderman death because of “spider-sense” – somethings are done for dramatic effect, and that’s ok… I’d have more respect for Zack if he said that Superman didn’t search for martha because we just wanted… Read more »

SuperJMC79

November 7, 2018 10:56 am

Reply to Superdoc

Who knows how it could have played out, and I’m a defender of Snyder more often than not myself, but it is hard to say exactly what this would have looked like. I suppose my argument would be, concerning Lois during the Doomsday fight, is that was a local sound that would have stood out to him among the explosions, assuming he hears all the noises at once. Or maybe, because he knew where Lois was during the fight, the pounding sound coming from that direction would have directed his attention more immediately… as it seemed to in the film.… Read more »

Randall

November 7, 2018 11:03 am

Reply to Superdoc

EXACTLY. IF you want to give a reason, at least give a better reason than one your movie already proved defunct.

This is just weird and needless backpedaling for some reason. I guess an answer just to have the questions stop. And I’m with you, a complete fessing up to “we goofed” would’ve been gained far more respect in my eyes, but I guess in today’s environment, one cannot possibly be wrong on anything and must have an answer for everything.

This is very much like Jim Lee saying “I knew the trunks would be back and here’s why…”

Super El

November 7, 2018 10:53 am

Yet he instantly knows where Lois is when she’s pushed off a building? Or held at gunpoint in another country? Or drowning in the abandoned warehouse?

Superman doesn’t ignore the people that need saving, by the way. He tries to save as much people he can. The fact that he can’t be everywhere at once is the backbone of that conflict. You can’t have any of that if Superman simply decides not to help anyone anyone because it’s too hard. That’s not what heroes do.

Superman2878

November 7, 2018 11:14 am

Why is Snyder talking about this now? It’s been two and a half since BvS came out.

Superman2878

November 7, 2018 11:35 am

Reply to Superman2878

Some people liked the movie, and some didn’t. It happens with most movies I would assume. I just don’t understand why he’s bringing up this topic now when his movie been out for a while now. If the movie came out this year, then I could see why he’s talking about it. But a significant amount of time has passed. Was he asked about it at some point? If so, then I could see the reason for him talking about it now. It just seems random to me.

SuperJMC79

November 7, 2018 11:35 am

Reply to Superman2878

Because someone asked him directly.

Superman2878

November 7, 2018 11:39 am

Reply to SuperJMC79

I see.Now that makes more sense to me. Thanks for the clarification.

Superman2878

November 7, 2018 12:06 pm

Reply to Superman2878

Of coarse now I’m wondering why this person asked him. I feel like it’s old news at this point.

SuperJMC79

November 7, 2018 12:23 pm

Reply to Superman2878

I suppose if I were in a position where I could talk to Snyder I would have a few questions about his movies and the decisions he made with the characters, regardless of how long ago the movie came out.

Superman2878

November 7, 2018 2:43 pm

Reply to SuperJMC79

True. I guess he just wanted to ask him about the film. Details and all. I’m not a reporter, so I really don’t know how the whole reporting thing works. Granted a reporter reports the news, but is the reporter asked to ask certain questions thats assigned to him or her? I just don’t know. As I said, I’m not a reporter. So I don’t know how they do their job.

Superman2878

November 8, 2018 10:06 am

Reply to Superman2878

I wasn’t trying to debate with you. I just didn’t understand the reason for this interview. I’ve been trying to avoid any kind of debates because I just don’t like being in one.

SuperJMC79

November 8, 2018 11:08 am

Reply to Superman2878

No worries man. I wasn’t debating either… just a friendly conversation!

I see that someone routinely downvotes your comments (even if they are completely friendly and benign), if that is what you are talking about. I usually only ever upvote people around here, trying to be positive and all that. Some folks who visit the comments section on this website are crybabies that don’t like people who have a different opinion on what their favorite fictional character should or shouldn’t be.

Superman2878

November 8, 2018 1:08 pm

Reply to SuperJMC79

Thank you for understanding. As for me getting the negative votes, at this point it really doesn’t bother me anymore. It was about a month ago that I realized that I’m getting a negative one no matter what I say. So I came to the conclusion that instead of wasting time complaining about it, I would instead on Fridays give positive votes so that others might be happy. In a way it makes me feel positive seeing other people’s comments be positive. Treating others the way I’d like to be treated. I guess in a way that’s a bit selfish… Read more »

Seph1r0th

November 7, 2018 11:18 am

I don’t understand why people that argue Superman is too powerful are complaining about this. If he’s shown to be fallible then we hear this, if he scanned the world and saved everyone then the overpowered complaints flood in. I have no problem with Superman not being perfect and also being capable of making some mistakes when he’s clearly emotionally distressed. Some of the best Superman stories happen when he doesn’t do everything perfect and the most powerful being in the universe is allowed to make some mistakes in tough situations.

redcape

November 7, 2018 1:41 pm

Well Superman it seems has over the years had his powers go from being what I would call reasonable to absurd. He’s gone from flight, speed, invulnerability and other enhanced abilities at an appropriate level to what sounds like some are now saying should be at ridiculous levels. And if something happens to someone it’s his fault as he by some peoples definition, should have been able to have known about it via an ability at a ridiculous and absurd level. I’m mean what……..he’s supposed to hear every ant on the ground?

MattComics

November 7, 2018 6:40 pm

So Snyder’s Superman has a total inability to stop brooding and being wounded long enough to prioritize and focus on the mission at hand let alone realize that there are some things that police and rescue workers can reasonably handle. Also I’ve never liked the suggestion that his powers are somehow on full blast all the time such that he’s hearing every single sound everywhere 24/7. I think it’s more reasonable that he has to give a bit of push for his powers to activate. This is why he can turn a door knob or hug someone without crushing them.… Read more »

General Zod

November 7, 2018 6:52 pm

Zod notes that with this logic, the son of our jailer could never take a poop or eat his lunch, much less fall in love with that pathetic Lois Lane, for fear of not responding to cries of help. And certainly, time for toilet paper would be right out.

Again Zod is amused by the ranting lunacy of Sny-Dur, but not angered enough to eye laser him.

Just more evidence of the inherent superiority of Zod.

Zod!