It seems like forever since the mighty Aaron Neuwirth wrote of the manic news that broke at San Diego Comic-Con 2013 here, which surprised the six thousand plus fans in attendance with news that the direct follow-up to the very divided Man of Steel entry would not necessarily be a solo outing, but also would include the infamous Caped Crusader, Batman. Later on reports then quickly poured in that the film would also prominently feature Wonder Woman in a somewhat lead role and serve as a launching pad right into the fabled Justice League movie everyone has been asking for long before The Avengers became so wildly successful. You remember that George Miller incarnation, don’t you? So here we are some three years later. While I was not the biggest fan of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (review here), I wanted to come out of my initial theatrical screening of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with a huge a$$ grin from ear-to-ear on my face…and I did despite the mess the mass critics say it is. However, before we jump the gun and talk about what really went down, let’s kick this “Ultimate Edition” Blu-ray review off with the quote that gave both the boys and girls in attendance within Hall H at Comic-Con 2013 instant boners.

“I want you to remember, Clark, in all the years to come, in all your most private moments, I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember the one man who beat you.”

Film

So like I said up above, Batman v Superman is a direct follow-up to the 2013 film Man of Steel and the second installment in the said DC Extended Universe. Think the hugely successful Marvel Cinematic Universe and that’s the same exact approach DC is attempting to duplicate here. The film is once again directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch), with a screenplay written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer and stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, and Gal Gadot. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is not only the first live-action film to feature both Batman and Superman, but also portrayals of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg. The main crux of the film as seen in all the endless trailers is Batman seeking to put Superman in check after the destruction caused in Man of Steel, which we will talk about in more detail down below.

Let’s go back to that Comic-Con announcement I mentioned up above in my first paragraph. Back in 2013 Zack Snyder promised us two things. The film would take inspiration from the Batman limited series The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, but that it would follow an original premise. He also clarified that this incarnation of Batman in the film would not be related to the one in the previous Batman film trilogy. Let’s face it. How could you really ever top Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy? You can’t! So I was happy about those two facts at least, but let’s look at Synder’s track record for a minute. While Watchmen was a hardcore, stellar comic book adaptation, it didn’t exactly break box office records with its R-rating and nearly impeded the paths for comic book films like Kick-Ass or even Deadpool to even exist. And what Batman v Superman review would bee worth anything without mentioning the highly decisive Man of Steel? That deserves its own paragraph so let me hit return on the keyboard.

Depending upon who you ask, like Scott Mendleson of Forbes for example, Man of Steel has many problems with it that I was hoping Batman v Superman would at least attempt to rectify. In my opinion, Man of Steel tried way too hard to be Batman Begins. I can appreciate what the film does in many different ways, especially in the way it tries to show you how alienated Clark was a child, but the action sequences, editing timeline choices and every time Lois Lane was in the picture, were just pure absurdity. The one thing that could have been extra magical for me was when he took his first flight after getting his alien suit. That one moment could have been so memorable, but instead they fumbled it like they did with other things throughout the film time-and-time again. However, in all fairness, I don’t dislike the film nearly as much as I did my first viewing. In fact, with the exception of my aforementioned aliments with the film, it’s very plausible to me now because I really like Henry Cavill in his leading role. He just looks the part and I love me an angry Superman too. In retrospect though, I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t initially go into Batman v Superman with the lowest of expectations. I had no choice but to do so.

So before we move on we have one more taboo topic to cover here, the casting. Let’s be honest with ourselves. How many people were shocked to hear of Affleck’s casting as the Caped Crusader? I know I was, but after the bashing that Heath Ledger took for his selection as the Joker in The Dark Knight I figured let’s just give this guy a chance. I am probably in the minority, but I actually liked Affleck’s Daredevil movie, and I’m not just talking the Blu-ray Director’s Cut either. It’s a lot better than that nonsensical, violent trash Netflix is passing off now as Daredevil. Don’t get me started on that. Moving on, I think even more surprising than Affleck was that of Gal Gadot being chosen to embody the long-awaited film portrayal of Wonder Woman. I don’t know about you, but I was rooting for Jaimie Alexander of Thor to land this coveted role, but I don’t have anything against Gadot either. She just seems a bit fragile and I was concerned about how she could fill out that iconic costume, but come on, she’s a Demi-God in this franchise. She can do any damn thing she wants, right? I’m not typically a Jesse Eisenberg fan so let’s just move along for now (although I’m quite fond of his zany performance here).

Our story here takes place some two years after the events in Man of Steel where Superman’s battle with General Zod completely annihilated the city of Metropolis. It’s not like the Transformers franchise. Zack and gang are actually talking about all the destruction here because let’s face it, the loss of life and collateral damage left many feeling angry and helpless, and I’m not just talking about us critics. Haha. This is how Batman is shoe-horned into the story. As you can see from the film’s many trailers, Batman’s alter identity, Bruce Wayne, was there during and in the middle of all this chaos two years ago. Batman is ultimately convinced that Superman is a threat to humanity, and left unchecked there’s no extent to the destruction he could cause to the human race. Batman embarks on a hellbent, personal vendetta to end Superman’s reign as a God on Earth. It’s the showdown of the century that was first foreshadowed so many years ago in that New York Times Square bulletin board in I Am Legend. Don’t forget about Lex Corp and its diabolical leader, Lex Luther, not to mention how Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg all fit into this story too. Oh wait you say, there’s Doomsday (that Hulk-like monster) and Zod in the trailers too? Haha. Are there anymore surprises not showcased in the film’s trailers? Of course there are!

The hardest thing this film has to overcome is how the hell do you fit and perfect that one moment I’ll call it where the “Holy Trinity” of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman all unite, appear on and share the same copious movie screen. Not only do you have to bake this universe where they all exist together, but that first onscreen moment has to be so perfect or else it was all for nothing. It’s obvious this very pivotal moment also sets the scene for the whole D.C. universe to evolve film-wise. So what’s up folks? Did Snyder and team manage to pull this off? Did they just cram a bunch of characters into a movie without a rich story to tell just to tease a Justice League that’s yet to come? This and more I hope to answer as best as I can in the following paragraphs. Read on…

The character of Lois Lane that I disliked so much in the first Man of Steel outing actually has a purpose this time around. Yep. That’s right. She actually did NOT annoy me. Now that may have something to do with the fact that I was so engrossed in this new Batman mythology, loving the conflict within Superman and absolutely eating up every onscreen, lunatic Lex Luthor moment (I definitely did not see the latter coming). While most things about this new Batman mythology feel familiar and borrowed, I did not let that get me down. I loved the angst, anger and extreme ways Batman executed his vigilantism (he even uses guns). Not even the white pearls can elicit a sigh of dismay from me. You didn’t think there would be any kind of Batman origin story without the pearls did you?

Perhaps the greatest thing Zack and the screenwriters did for all of us is the fact that he did not waste much precious time at all playing out any long drawn origin stories of Batman or the others for that matter (yes you do see Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash). In other words, this wasn’t a Sony financed Spider-Man reboot. We all know who Batman is, where he came from and what he’s capable of. He’s the world’s greatest detective after all and in this instance he’s been hard at work ridding the streets of Gotham scum for over 20 years. This is a very tired, cranky old Batman and I love him for it. I told you Affleck was paramount for this part, did I not? Haha. Good choice, Zack!

Next up I want to talk about the action. It was batsh1t insane at times! Sure the action sequences although minimal trump the story. It’s a comic book movie after all, albeit a dark one. Think Netflix’s Daredevil in terms of carnage and violence level if you have to compare this to something. It’s the other end of the spectrum from a fun, Marvel outing like The Avengers or even the recent Deadpool. But that’s what I love about these DC films ever since Nolan took over the reigns with his Dark Knight trilogy. To combat and cover up the ridiculousness of it all, these recent batch of DC films are dark, brooding and try to be as serious in tone as possible. Man of Steel tried really hard to be too much of this, but it was just off in the editing, pacing and ultimately the clunky story department for me. However, this one has it all, another brooding Batman (anti-Adam West), a more conflicted Superman and a confused nation right by his side (sure one can argue this plot point gets old) and one hell of a diabolical villain to boot (although some will probably complain his performance is over the top for the role of Lex and too Zuckerberg-like), and let’s not forget Doomsday. That is one third act that I couldn’t wait to experience all over again at home thanks to the bombastic Dolby Atmos mix (not to mention my four theatrical trips to this one for it too). That’s how you do it! Kudos Zack. Did you notice I have not even gotten around to talking about Wonder Woman yet?

So let’s talk about that theme. I’m talking about that Wonder Woman theme song in case I lost you. Little is known or even shared about the Warrior Princess, but when she finally makes her entrance it’s as epic and fun as the third act action. Sure, in the character development department, there’s basically zilch. Why did she pick this moment in time to help? I have no idea. I was just so into the zaniness of the situation unfolding before me on the screen that I gave little care to Wonder Woman in the film until that theme song of hers knocked me off my rocker. Is it out of place? It sure is, but it broke up the monotony of a scene and gave us some gams to stare at as she bounced around prettily with her sword. That’s basically all I can say about her character. There really wasn’t enough to go off of in here in regards to her. After all, this is a Batman versus Superman film (and up to you to decide whose story this really is…haha), and the rest of the story was fed to you through Easter eggs and whatnot. However, that’s exactly where this movie loses a lot of people not savvy and in the know of everything DC Comics (including myself at times).

If you’re a obsessed fan of everything DC Comics lore, you’ll get it all. It you’re only a fair weather fan, well then someone might have to fill in the gaps for you. I had help in the matter understanding it all thanks to my friend Craig Kandiko. Zack and crew fed us just enough. He did not make that Sam Raimi Spider-Man 3 mistake everyone relentlessly clamors on about. There was a lot to cram in here, and he gave us just enough bread crumbs to follow the trail, that is if you know where to look (thanks again to Craig’s talks with me on clarifying things).

I guess you could say I’ve been waiting my whole life to see this God versus man titan showdown. Zack Snyder didn’t let ME down with the promise of all this film could be, albeit far from a perfect one, but one a comic book fan, male or female, could achieve a serious nerd boner from. All I got to say is haters are going to hate. I’m not sure I can explain the backlash over this film in the reviewer community. I mean I went from not being a huge fan of Man of Steel to loving this outing. Did I want this to fail? Part of me did out of jealousy and contempt over the previous Man of Steel adventure, but I went in with a clean pallet and ended up enjoying my two and a half hour romp with the Gods and titans in the DC Comics universe. Were these other reviewers out there in a state of predisposition to hate it from the start without giving it a fair chance? I suppose that could be the case. Some have even been writing about the potential for this one to suck for three years. However, I also believe in each his/her own. I know I had a great time with this one and I can’t wait to experience it again and again now that it’s on Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray.

So with all that being said up above, I was even more interested in tackling this three-hour, Rated-R cut of the film on Blu-ray, which has been dubbed the Ultimate Edition. How does that pan out you ask? Well, since I’m such a huge fan of this film I simply could not wait for Warner Bros. to send me this disc to review so I snagged it on iTunes some three weeks earlier and have since watched it multiple times now prior to reviewing this Blu-ray presentation. It clocks in at 3 hours and 2 minutes, and for the most part I loved every minute of it. At times it felt like I was watching a new film because I was expecting to see familiar cuts and instead there were either expanded scenes or brand new ones altogether. A couple felt forced, but for the most part I feel confident that they added a lot more to the story in the way of making more sense department. Did it make the film a better one? Let me put it this way. If you outright hated the film like the majority of folks claim to, there’s no way this “Ultimate” cut of the film is going to make you anymore a fan of it. I honestly just don’t see that happening. Sadly, all the areas I really wanted them to expand on like bloodier violence or a Wonder Woman shower scene (LOL) , they didn’t. However, they did tie in the main villain for the Justice League and also gave a nod to this summer’s upcoming Suicide Squad. So it’s all not a loss, but I digress.

For anyone that’s really interested in knowing what every difference is between the theatrical cut and the Ultimate Edition, Andrew Dyce has a nice write-up at ScreenRant over here: http://screenrant.com/batman-v-superman-ultimate-edition-changes-differences/?view=all. So if you’re wildly curious, check it out! It’s quite the long, informative read. Now let’s move on to the real meat and potatoes of why you’re all here, the Blu-ray Disc vitals!

Video

For the review of the below A/V disc vitals I chose to partake in the viewing pleasure of the “Ultimate” cut edition on the second Blu-ray disc in this combo set.

Encoding : MPEG-4 AVC

: MPEG-4 AVC Resolution : 1080p

: 1080p Aspect Ratio : 2.4:1

: 2.4:1 Clarity/Detail : This one was a hard one to judge with an unbiased viewpoint because of my love for the film itself (my ninth time viewing it now for this review). It’s hard because it contains a lot of grain and depending upon the particular scene in question, a lot of grain does make images soft from time-to-time. However, that’s not to say this one isn’t near reference either because when it’s perfect and in check, it’s picture P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Let’s spend a moment talking about the fine detail and clarity in this presentation. From the leaves and individual falling snow flakes in Zack’s beautiful opening scene to the rich details such as facial stubble, acne scars in Perry White’s face, that mole under Amy Adams’ chin, the leather grain in Batman’s costume and the alien weaves in Superman’s, examples like these look remarkably fantastic and authentically rendered. The grain is almost flawlessly intact giving everything you watch that cinematic flair and visual appeal. I could go on and on with other crisp examples such as the breathtaking views of the Metropolis skyline at night and many more, but I think you get the big “picture.”

: This one was a hard one to judge with an unbiased viewpoint because of my love for the film itself (my ninth time viewing it now for this review). It’s hard because it contains a lot of grain and depending upon the particular scene in question, a lot of grain does make images soft from time-to-time. However, that’s not to say this one isn’t near reference either because when it’s perfect and in check, it’s picture P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Let’s spend a moment talking about the fine detail and clarity in this presentation. From the leaves and individual falling snow flakes in Zack’s beautiful opening scene to the rich details such as facial stubble, acne scars in Perry White’s face, that mole under Amy Adams’ chin, the leather grain in Batman’s costume and the alien weaves in Superman’s, examples like these look remarkably fantastic and authentically rendered. The grain is almost flawlessly intact giving everything you watch that cinematic flair and visual appeal. I could go on and on with other crisp examples such as the breathtaking views of the Metropolis skyline at night and many more, but I think you get the big “picture.” Depth : Depth of field is everywhere you look in this one due mainly to the cameras and rich ways it was shot, but also due to the three-dimensionality of the characters in the foreground really popping against those deep backgrounds. Some fine examples of this can be found in the narrow walls of the Bat cave, the vast and expansive streets of Metropolis, the basketball court from which we look down the hallway in LexCorp Industries, the ruined city in Batman’s dream sequence (or was it a dream?) and the Daily Planet cube farm just to name a few.

: Depth of field is everywhere you look in this one due mainly to the cameras and rich ways it was shot, but also due to the three-dimensionality of the characters in the foreground really popping against those deep backgrounds. Some fine examples of this can be found in the narrow walls of the Bat cave, the vast and expansive streets of Metropolis, the basketball court from which we look down the hallway in LexCorp Industries, the ruined city in Batman’s dream sequence (or was it a dream?) and the Daily Planet cube farm just to name a few. Black Levels : The black levels are deep and inky just like out of a comic book everywhere you look especially in the Bat cave and since a lot of the scenes take place in the shadows (due to it being a Batman movie so to speak) I’m pleased to report it’s not noisy or washed in that respect like The Descent on Blu-ray for example.

: The black levels are deep and inky just like out of a comic book everywhere you look especially in the Bat cave and since a lot of the scenes take place in the shadows (due to it being a Batman movie so to speak) I’m pleased to report it’s not noisy or washed in that respect like The Descent on Blu-ray for example. Color Reproduction : The color reproduction in this presentation is lifelike, earthy and natural in the tonal department. The gorgeous eye-popping blue water of the Indian Oceans excite and the bright green Kryptonite at times entices, but for the most part everything here is in check due to the many murky and dark moments. It may not be the prettiest looking Blu-ray color pallet, but when the hues wants to take you for a ride, they certainly don’t disappoint just like big orange fireballs and explosions are meant to blind you when you least expect. You picking up what I’m dropping here? I have zero qualms here.

: The color reproduction in this presentation is lifelike, earthy and natural in the tonal department. The gorgeous eye-popping blue water of the Indian Oceans excite and the bright green Kryptonite at times entices, but for the most part everything here is in check due to the many murky and dark moments. It may not be the prettiest looking Blu-ray color pallet, but when the hues wants to take you for a ride, they certainly don’t disappoint just like big orange fireballs and explosions are meant to blind you when you least expect. You picking up what I’m dropping here? I have zero qualms here. Flesh Tones : The skin tones and flesh on all characters throughout are all natural and authentic looking.

: The skin tones and flesh on all characters throughout are all natural and authentic looking. Noise/Artifacts: Besides the thin layer of grain throughout it does get incredibly crazy at times when the grain becomes a bit too noisy for my liking. One of the scenes that will probably bug viewers the most is the swirling sand storm in the Ultimate Edition cut where Lois is meeting with the terrorist and the army dudes are planning on how to extract her when all hell breaks loose. There are more examples, but you’ll see them when you watch and you don’t need me to be that nitpicking fool and point it all out to you, do you? Nah! Put on your big person panties and enjoy!

Audio

Just an FYI…The Blu-ray discs of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required (see here for more info). However, don’t worry because Dolby Atmos soundtracks are fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment that aren’t Dolby Atmos compatible.

Audio Format(s) : Dolby Atmos English, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Dolby Digital French 5.1, Dolby Digital Spanish 5.1

: Dolby Atmos English, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Dolby Digital French 5.1, Dolby Digital Spanish 5.1 Subtitles : English SDH, French, Spanish

: English SDH, French, Spanish Dynamics : I have to say what a welcome relief this Dolby Atmos surround track was to my ears. I was a bit scared at first because of after been enjoying this via Digital HD the past few weeks the one thing that always bothered me about the presentation was the lack of power and robustness in the audio. I had to crank my Denon A/V receiver to enjoy it, but I’m happy to report that’s not the case here and it’s all behind me now. The quiet whims and the high shrills co-exist harmoniously here and I never found myself needing to turn it up like I did with the Digital HD copy, but instead I had to turn it down. By the second hour your ears just feel like they went to battle in this one and that’s even before the epic showdown and Doomsday ever transpires and goes down onscreen. LOL.

: I have to say what a welcome relief this Dolby Atmos surround track was to my ears. I was a bit scared at first because of after been enjoying this via Digital HD the past few weeks the one thing that always bothered me about the presentation was the lack of power and robustness in the audio. I had to crank my Denon A/V receiver to enjoy it, but I’m happy to report that’s not the case here and it’s all behind me now. The quiet whims and the high shrills co-exist harmoniously here and I never found myself needing to turn it up like I did with the Digital HD copy, but instead I had to turn it down. By the second hour your ears just feel like they went to battle in this one and that’s even before the epic showdown and Doomsday ever transpires and goes down onscreen. LOL. Height (Dolby Atmos) : The Dolby Atmos element to this surround track is what wet dreams are made of. I swear! I’ll give you a few examples such as in the opening where the bats all swarm young Master Bruce and they kind of pick him up, Bruce Wayne’s helicopter landing in Metropolis when its under attack (thankfully there are a lot of flying moments to demo in this one), Superman’s dashing rescue on Lois from the terrorist, Supe taking off after his first encounter with Batman and his armored Batmobile, the explosion that rocks the courthouse, Supe blasting off the balcony after that whole courthouse snafu, the entire Doomsday sequence and more.

: The Dolby Atmos element to this surround track is what wet dreams are made of. I swear! I’ll give you a few examples such as in the opening where the bats all swarm young Master Bruce and they kind of pick him up, Bruce Wayne’s helicopter landing in Metropolis when its under attack (thankfully there are a lot of flying moments to demo in this one), Superman’s dashing rescue on Lois from the terrorist, Supe taking off after his first encounter with Batman and his armored Batmobile, the explosion that rocks the courthouse, Supe blasting off the balcony after that whole courthouse snafu, the entire Doomsday sequence and more. Low Frequency Extension : Like the Force in Star Wars, the LFE bass is strong in this one. From the rousing and triumphant score to the Doomsday bombastic scenes, the bass channel rocks your viewing room with a jam that Technotronic would be jealous of. It erupts with menace and fury in the opening scene of the Mettropolis destruction and never stops until the final Doomsday battle that will exercise your home theater like none other. Other examples of fine LFE use include, but not limited to explosions, gunshots, grenades, Superman’s fantastical landings and takeoffs, action thuds and so much more than I care to list here for carpal tunnel sake.

: Like the Force in Star Wars, the LFE bass is strong in this one. From the rousing and triumphant score to the Doomsday bombastic scenes, the bass channel rocks your viewing room with a jam that Technotronic would be jealous of. It erupts with menace and fury in the opening scene of the Mettropolis destruction and never stops until the final Doomsday battle that will exercise your home theater like none other. Other examples of fine LFE use include, but not limited to explosions, gunshots, grenades, Superman’s fantastical landings and takeoffs, action thuds and so much more than I care to list here for carpal tunnel sake. Surround Sound Presentation : This one probably gave my rear surround speakers one of the biggest workouts of the year so far. Simply put I could not tell what was louder throughout the presentation, the fronts or the rears. Usually you have to check and make sure the rears are working in most movie playbacks, but the rears here totally engulf you in the symphony of John Williams and Junkie XL’s mesmerizing and emotional score. I just lose myself in the tranquility of the tracks giving a fourth dimension to everything transpiring on screen. However, one sequence in particular almost put me in tears it was so beautiful. In efforts to avoid spoilers I will not disclose where this sequence takes place in the film other than saying it’s the playing of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes. What a powerful demonstration of surround sound as it hauntingly starts off in the rear speakers and “gracefully” in an “amazing” fashion moves up to the front channels. But make no mistake. Even while the sounds moves up to the front, the rears are still engaged. Much like the Dolby Atmos quality of it all here, the rear channels are also what wet Blu-ray dreams are made of. That’s all I’ll say on the matter. Other examples that come to mind are cars flying by, destruction and chaos, a flamethrower and all the bats flying are some of my favorite surround effects in addition to the one scene where Superman lands underground in dream sequence and sand shoots at you and behind (feels like it’s going to spray you down with grit). Flash’s appearance in Batman’s dream (or was it?), the rage in Bruce Wayne’s head thematically, rain falling in epic showdown and of course the battle that ensues with Doomsday are all just the icing on the cake. Looking at the length of the text I already wrote in this judged category, I think you know it’s out of this world just like our superheroes here.

: This one probably gave my rear surround speakers one of the biggest workouts of the year so far. Simply put I could not tell what was louder throughout the presentation, the fronts or the rears. Usually you have to check and make sure the rears are working in most movie playbacks, but the rears here totally engulf you in the symphony of John Williams and Junkie XL’s mesmerizing and emotional score. I just lose myself in the tranquility of the tracks giving a fourth dimension to everything transpiring on screen. However, one sequence in particular almost put me in tears it was so beautiful. In efforts to avoid spoilers I will not disclose where this sequence takes place in the film other than saying it’s the playing of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes. What a powerful demonstration of surround sound as it hauntingly starts off in the rear speakers and “gracefully” in an “amazing” fashion moves up to the front channels. But make no mistake. Even while the sounds moves up to the front, the rears are still engaged. Much like the Dolby Atmos quality of it all here, the rear channels are also what wet Blu-ray dreams are made of. That’s all I’ll say on the matter. Other examples that come to mind are cars flying by, destruction and chaos, a flamethrower and all the bats flying are some of my favorite surround effects in addition to the one scene where Superman lands underground in dream sequence and sand shoots at you and behind (feels like it’s going to spray you down with grit). Flash’s appearance in Batman’s dream (or was it?), the rage in Bruce Wayne’s head thematically, rain falling in epic showdown and of course the battle that ensues with Doomsday are all just the icing on the cake. Looking at the length of the text I already wrote in this judged category, I think you know it’s out of this world just like our superheroes here. Dialogue Reproduction: Although I know this movie by heart having seen it so many times (this viewing marks my 9th time), I had zero problems hearing or understanding of the dialogue delivered throughout. Every spoken word is clear and intelligible.

Extras

The Blu-ray Combo Pack features the Ultimate Edition (182 minutes) and theatrical version (151 minutes) of the film in Hi-Definition on Blu-ray; and the DVD features the theatrical version in Standard Definition. As an added bonus the Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack include digital versions of both the Ultimate Edition and theatrical version movies in Digital HD with UltraViolet. Regardless of which one you own, the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack or the Standard Definition 2-Disc DVD set all contain the following special features. For simplicity purposes I will divvy up below between the 3 discs in this Blu-ray Combo set and let you know what you’ll find on each of them. Sound like a deal? Good!

Let me start by assuring you that Warner Bros. split the two different versions of the film across two Blu-ray discs so there’s no seamless branching going on. The discs are found stacked on top of each other in the same right hand spindle. The third disc in the set, which can be found under the UV redemption code leaflet is a DVD with the theatrical version of the film housed on it in Standard Definition obviously. For curiosity sake, all the extras found below with the exception of The Killing Joke trailer found on the Ultimate Edition disc are housed on the Blu-ray that contains the theatrical version of the film. Sadly the only thing missing here is a darn audio commentary, which would have given it a perfect score in this category.

Uniting the World’s Finest (HD, 15:03) – Here we get an inside look at the new super heroes in DC’s cinematic universe with the cast and crew all chatting about the characters, their powers and flaws we can all identify with. Geoff Johns and Zack explain the groundwork for building this universe and how everything is possible now once we see Batman and Superman on the same screen. They also talk a lot about Wonder Woman in this one too. There are even some clips from here upcoming 2017 solo film. They also go into all the other characters, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg, and their origins too. This one is worth the price of admission alone here. Brilliant stuff! Unbelievably, there’s also new Suicide Squad footage in here, including the Joker, as well as cast and crew interviews.

(HD, 15:03) – Here we get an inside look at the new super heroes in DC’s cinematic universe with the cast and crew all chatting about the characters, their powers and flaws we can all identify with. Geoff Johns and Zack explain the groundwork for building this universe and how everything is possible now once we see Batman and Superman on the same screen. They also talk a lot about Wonder Woman in this one too. There are even some clips from here upcoming 2017 solo film. They also go into all the other characters, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg, and their origins too. This one is worth the price of admission alone here. Brilliant stuff! Unbelievably, there’s also new Suicide Squad footage in here, including the Joker, as well as cast and crew interviews. Gods and Men: A Meeting of Giants (HD, 12:26) – Here we get the dots connected how everything in Supe and Batman’s past has been leading up to the epic, but sometimes hilarious (Martha, Martha, Marta) showdown. It’s the battle of the two icons, and have met in comics hundreds of times over the past 70 years, but never on the big screen until now. So this one traces the history of the two. It’s a big deal for these two to share the screen for the first time in the history of cinema. We get to see the big fight against the green screen. It doesn’t look so epic from this angle. LOL. They also talk about that one famous word in here…Martha. Haha. Diane Lane looks a lot younger in the interview here compared to her onscreen character. That’s good because I was getting worried.

(HD, 12:26) – Here we get the dots connected how everything in Supe and Batman’s past has been leading up to the epic, but sometimes hilarious (Martha, Martha, Marta) showdown. It’s the battle of the two icons, and have met in comics hundreds of times over the past 70 years, but never on the big screen until now. So this one traces the history of the two. It’s a big deal for these two to share the screen for the first time in the history of cinema. We get to see the big fight against the green screen. It doesn’t look so epic from this angle. LOL. They also talk about that one famous word in here…Martha. Haha. Diane Lane looks a lot younger in the interview here compared to her onscreen character. That’s good because I was getting worried. The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder (HD, 21:15) – This one is all about Gal Gadot…err I mean Wonder Woman as we get to explore the origin, evolution and powerful impact on popular culture by the legendary Amazonian. Coincidentally, the character has just turned 75 years old. I did not know this, but the creator of Wonder Woman was sort of the man who made the lie detector test. It was written to show the world what a woman could be. Interesting, huh? It was also interesting to see how the character changed throughout the different time periods. I never knew baout her 70’s duds.

(HD, 21:15) – This one is all about Gal Gadot…err I mean Wonder Woman as we get to explore the origin, evolution and powerful impact on popular culture by the legendary Amazonian. Coincidentally, the character has just turned 75 years old. I did not know this, but the creator of Wonder Woman was sort of the man who made the lie detector test. It was written to show the world what a woman could be. Interesting, huh? It was also interesting to see how the character changed throughout the different time periods. I never knew baout her 70’s duds. Accelerating Design: The New Batmobile (HD, 22:45) – This is waht you expect it would be from it’s title, everything about the new bad-a$$ Batmobile as host Sal Masekela goes under the hood of the beastly vehicle, then even puts the pedal to the metal or rubber to the road. Vroom! You even get to meet all the guys that were tasked to bring the latest incarnation of this icon to life. It was interesting ti see how this was stress tested in the Baja 1000, and of course how much engineering went into building this beast. The tires way 350 pounds once they were cut down rubber-wise. Wow! The car itself weighs in at 8500 pounds. Last but not least, Sal sits down with Zack and discusses the car as well as the Detroit filming sequences.

(HD, 22:45) – This is waht you expect it would be from it’s title, everything about the new bad-a$$ Batmobile as host Sal Masekela goes under the hood of the beastly vehicle, then even puts the pedal to the metal or rubber to the road. Vroom! You even get to meet all the guys that were tasked to bring the latest incarnation of this icon to life. It was interesting ti see how this was stress tested in the Baja 1000, and of course how much engineering went into building this beast. The tires way 350 pounds once they were cut down rubber-wise. Wow! The car itself weighs in at 8500 pounds. Last but not least, Sal sits down with Zack and discusses the car as well as the Detroit filming sequences. Superman: Complexity & Truth (HD, 7:06) – This one is all about the transformation of Henry Cavill’s character as he goes from being the low key Clark Kent to Superman. Here we explore both the duds that Clark wears as well as the intricacies of the designs in Supe’s alien suit. We even meet Albert, his stunt double, who’s very valuable for him in regards to the epic showdown scene.

(HD, 7:06) – This one is all about the transformation of Henry Cavill’s character as he goes from being the low key Clark Kent to Superman. Here we explore both the duds that Clark wears as well as the intricacies of the designs in Supe’s alien suit. We even meet Albert, his stunt double, who’s very valuable for him in regards to the epic showdown scene. Batman: Austerity & Rage (HD, 8:14) – This one as you can guess is all about Batman, from his outer gear, cape and cowl to his inner fury and rage. Zack, cast and crew talk about the all new Batman, gadgets and looks of both his identities. Ben also jokes how it is not easy to add muscle mass at his age. Haha. I feel your pain, Ben. I’m in the same vote sadly and you’re clearly the winner.

(HD, 8:14) – This one as you can guess is all about Batman, from his outer gear, cape and cowl to his inner fury and rage. Zack, cast and crew talk about the all new Batman, gadgets and looks of both his identities. Ben also jokes how it is not easy to add muscle mass at his age. Haha. I feel your pain, Ben. I’m in the same vote sadly and you’re clearly the winner. Wonder Woman: Grace & Power (HD, 6:46) – Here’s another one that explores the Warrior Goddess from her gladiator-influenced costume to her sword and shield that Gal Gadot dons in the film. Make no mistake, this one’s all about Gal from her training and demeanor to her onscreen performance. Kudos to her!

(HD, 6:46) – Here’s another one that explores the Warrior Goddess from her gladiator-influenced costume to her sword and shield that Gal Gadot dons in the film. Make no mistake, this one’s all about Gal from her training and demeanor to her onscreen performance. Kudos to her! Batcave: Legacy of the Lair (HD, 7:11) – This one is all about Batman’s subterranean digs, the mixture of nature and technology that exists only in the…Batcave! They explore the modernistic feel of the Batcave, yet enclosed, low ceilings of it too. All that technology is in there too, not all CG.

(HD, 7:11) – This one is all about Batman’s subterranean digs, the mixture of nature and technology that exists only in the…Batcave! They explore the modernistic feel of the Batcave, yet enclosed, low ceilings of it too. All that technology is in there too, not all CG. The Might and the Power of a Punch (HD, 5:13) – This one is all about the look and the real life physics that make up the epic battle between Batman and Superman. How could you possibly go wrong with this extra? This one almost feels like a boxing match as both men are scrutinized, measured and compared (weakness vs. strengths). The physics of each onscreen blow make this one pretty interesting to say the least. You could really geek out over this extra.

(HD, 5:13) – This one is all about the look and the real life physics that make up the epic battle between Batman and Superman. How could you possibly go wrong with this extra? This one almost feels like a boxing match as both men are scrutinized, measured and compared (weakness vs. strengths). The physics of each onscreen blow make this one pretty interesting to say the least. You could really geek out over this extra. The Empire of Luthor (HD, 12:32) – Here we get to examine the new interpretation of Superman’s classic villain as well as take a look at his rich comic book history and lore. They talk about how they wanted a young Lex Luthor, but more importantly a modern day one. I believe they succeeded greatly no matter what the critics say about the performance or interpretation here. This one also gives more insight to Lex’s creation of Doomsday.

(HD, 12:32) – Here we get to examine the new interpretation of Superman’s classic villain as well as take a look at his rich comic book history and lore. They talk about how they wanted a young Lex Luthor, but more importantly a modern day one. I believe they succeeded greatly no matter what the critics say about the performance or interpretation here. This one also gives more insight to Lex’s creation of Doomsday. Save the Bats (HD, 4:35) – Last but certainly not least, we get to see how the cast and crew gave back to the environment and brought awareness to a very real ecological problem…the survival, conservation and importance of bats. White Nose Fungus is a real disease that is threatening the lives of much needed insect eating bats. Zack did a great job here of putting together an organization of saving the bats. God bless him. I love this guy now! The bat houses were made from recycled wood from the real sets. #SaveTheBats

(HD, 4:35) – Last but certainly not least, we get to see how the cast and crew gave back to the environment and brought awareness to a very real ecological problem…the survival, conservation and importance of bats. White Nose Fungus is a real disease that is threatening the lives of much needed insect eating bats. Zack did a great job here of putting together an organization of saving the bats. God bless him. I love this guy now! The bat houses were made from recycled wood from the real sets. #SaveTheBats Trailers (HD) – Batman: The Killing Joke, Suicide Squad

Summary

Sometimes you just got to look yourself in the mirror and say are you happy and satisfied with no care to what others think, do or say? I know I am when it comes to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The real question is are you? If you haven’t remedied the situation, I think you know what to do to answer that question. Be your own judge! Be a hero. If all else fails, know this then. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition features an extended cut of the film which includes 30 more minutes of story and action not seen in theaters. Best of all, this extended cut is rated R. How cool is that? I know! It also features a worthy collection of extras clocking in over 2-hours and includes a fine cinematic looking presentation and a bombastic, reference-quality Dolby Atmos surround track to boot. This should be a no-brainer of a purchase. Silence those naysayers and let your voices be heard loudly with a pre-order purchase here. Sure it’s not a perfect film, and the plot points don’t always connect, but so what? You know you want to pre-order. So like Superman had to snap Zod’s neck in Man of Steel, just do it!

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DISCLAIMER: This Blu-ray review was judged and graded using the following 4K and Dolby Atmos certified A/V gear found here.

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OWN BATMAN v SUPERMAN

DAWN OF JUSTICE – ULTIMATE EDITION

On Blu-ray July 19th! PRE-ORDER NOW!

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