The most controversial part of 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' isn't Batman or Superman. It's Zack Snyder.
Critics have focused in on the director and his penchant for weighty dialogue about mythology, godhood, and religion. Many outlets said it made the film convoluted and confusing. Snyder, who hit back against the critics panning the film, clearly wanted to make an action epic that could not only build a franchise, but had a particular ideological point of view. To do that, as the Village Voice review astutely noted, he's leaned heavily on author and researcher Joseph Campbell, in both subtle and obvious ways.
Receiving his Master's Degree from Columbia University in 1927, Joseph Campbell wrote frequently about mythology and religion and is credited with the idea of the "monomyth," the idea that all myths across all cultures follow a common narrative pattern.
If that sounds familiar, it's because Lex Luthor, when talking to Senator Finch, says all myths are based on metahumans like Superman. There's a similar line later in the film when Clark watches TV commentators debate if the world "needs" Superman.
But more than just paraphrasing Campbell's work, direct quotes are hidden in the film:
The film's production notes reveal that Superman's suit has a Joseph Campbell quote, chosen by Snyder, written in Kryptonian script. Taken directly from the notes:
The quote from Campbell that Wilkinson integrated into the costume speaks to the film’s themes with respect to the character: “And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”
That sounds a lot like Luthor's dialogue, doesn't it? There's more. As revealed by the "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Tech Manual," Wonder Woman's sword is also engraved with a Joseph Campbell quote, chosen by Snyder:
The translated Joseph Campbell quote engraved on Wonder Woman's sword reads, "Life is killing life all the time and so the goddess kills herself in the sacrifice of her own animal."
And finally, when Luthor taunts Superman on the roof, he reveals his full name: Clark Joseph Kent. More than just a coincidence, it seems like another nod to the author who was a huge inspiration to Snyder.
Critics thought the film was too talky and introspective for an action film, but Snyder, at least, had a clear vision: he wanted a big budget action film with both an action and a philosophical edge.
