Zack Snyder Explains the Infamous Martha Scene

Batman v Superman: Zack Snyder Explains the Infamous Martha Scene

9 years ago

What was the most divisive moment of Batman v Superman? It seems pretty hard to pick one, especially since the movie contains so many controversial scenes. But if we were to choose one from the top of our heads, then it would be the moment in which Batman and Superman squash their beef and go after the main baddie of the story.

And that is because, after all, Zack Snyder did a good job in setting up the main event of Batman v Superman (it would have been great, only if Superman's motives were explained a bit better). So how can a Dark Knight forget all about his rage and intent to murder Superman, just as he was about to deliver the finishing blow?

Martha!

Leaving aside the peculiarity of Clark calling his foster mother by her name, the director tried to explain (like so many times before, with other scenes) the reasoning behind this particular Batman v Superman scene. According to him, that moment was setup from Man of Steel, when the relationship between Clark and his mother was established.

In an alternate Universe... (Screen Rant) — In an alternate Universe… (Screen Rant)

In Batman v Superman, the director chose to show once again the death of the Waynes because that scene was supposed to pay off at the beginning of Dawn of Justice: “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.”

Did it work out like the director intended? Not really. The idea in itself is great and there is no denying. However, since Batman has been the entire movie set on killing Superman (and since it seemed more than weird to have Superman calling his mother by her name), that scene needed something else as well.

As some suggest, the Martha scene from Batman v Superman could have been a great one if it served just as a foundation for a conversation. Save my mother, Martha, would have been better if expressed this way and IF Batman would have stopped just to ask for more clarifications (and not of the type served by Lois) about the subject AND about Superman's intentions.