DCEU Lex Luthor Appreciation 2019

[daBronzeBomma]

I didn't think I'd ever start an appreciation on this particular version of my favorite super-villain.

I'm referring to Live-Action Lex Luthor VIII (LALL 8), better known as Jesse Eisenberg's performances in the movie BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, and the end- credit scene in JUSTICE LEAGUE.



Look, I know he's not an easy interpretation to appreciate. He lacks most of Lex's charm, most of his outward genius, most of his (increasingly better in the comics) physicality. His voice lacks the sinister gravitas I've come to expect from the character.

But you know what?

In terms of sheer villainy, Eisenberg's Luthor is also the most successful Live-Action Lex Luthor of them all. By far.

His biggest accomplishment? Figuring out Superman's Secret all by himself.

Lex is the absolute last person who should ever believe that Clark is Superman. In no other live-action version does he ever acquire this knowledge (not without immediately losing it). But LALL 8 does it, and boy is he devious about it. He immediately imperils both Lois and Martha, and literally brings Clark to his knees and forces him to confront the sociopathic Batman at his behest.

Which brings us to LALL 8's next biggest accomplishment: figuring out Batman's secret and then playing him like a fiddle for months on end to turn him explicitly against Superman.

This Luthor's next biggest accomplishment: setting the groundwork for the World's Finest to kill each other.
He led PsychoBats right to the kryptonite, in the hopes that PsychoBats would do his dirty work for him. And if not for the unpredictable "Maaarthaa!" moment, this Lex would have absolutely succeeded.

He also turned Zod's corpse into an effective Doomsday (which granted, did immediately try to kill him first). A Doomsday which technically succeeded in killing Superman.

Finally, this Lex escaped prison and still had the resources to form the Legion of Doom (implied, anyway).

So, to Jesse Eisenberg: a much-delayed thank you. You weren't the Lex we deserved, but in hindsight, you actually were the Lex we needed at the time.

This will probably be the shortest appreciation thread on these boards.

Anyone else appreciate what Jesse was trying to do? Or am I alone on LALL 8 Island?

[Thomas Crown]

Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor is my favorite live action version of the character. The only one who could take his spot is Michael Rosenbaum, but I don't have a definite opinion about his version yet because I still didn't watch enough Smallville. But the others? Gene Hackman, John Shea, Kevin Spacey, etc. Not a chance. And don't get me started on Alan Harper...

P.S.: All those comparisons to the Joker and the Riddler are preposterous.

[stargazer01]

I liked him a lot. I remember the first time I saw him in BvS, I loved a lot of his performance. Jesse seemed to really enjoy playing the role. In fact, he said he loved playing Lex and wanted to do it again. He really made Superman bend to his will when Lex showed him those pictures of Martha. Superman felt so powerless.

Sure, he had a few moments when he acted too neurotic and I didn't like that, but for the most part, he did the role justice. The man can act. Period. And in the JL after credit cameo, he was awesome.




He has a villain face, IMO.

D1MTZjbW0AAYzMu.jpg

[Thomas Crown]

The rooftop scene in BvS is on par with the Joker interrogation scene in "The Dark Knight".

[manofsteel1979]

Until Cryer came along, he was the only live action Lex to make you believe he is an off the charts genius. While I'm not necessarily a fan of the jittery nervous ticks and some of the over the top affectations , I can look past all that and see a Luthor that at least attempted to give us the brilliant devious sociopath of the comics. Rosenbaum came close and so did John Shea, but I can absolutely buy Eisenbergs Lex being a serious threat to Superman in a way I could never really take Gene Hackman's Lex seriously.

To be fair I didn't really like his Lex first time watching BvS until the above rooftop scene . Then it all came together and what they were going for with the Lex/Supes dynamic. That scene is probably my favorite live action Superman/Lex confrontation scene to date.

The closing after credits scene in JL shows that Eisenberg was on his way to be the classic bald, calm and collected Lex for future instalments. Sadly I doubt we will get a chance to see this version of Lex to evolve . I just hope he, Henry and Amy get one more shot at another film.

[Thomas Crown]

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s Lex Luthor – An analysis on this Lexophile villain

https://achintyavenkateshmeditations...phile-villain/

[Lokimaru]

Until Cryer came along, he was the only live action Lex to make you believe he is an off the charts genius. While I'm not necessarily a fan of the jittery nervous ticks and some of the over the top affectations , I can look past all that and see a Luthor that at least attempted to give us the brilliant devious sociopath of the comics. Rosenbaum came close and so did John Shea, but I can absolutely buy Eisenbergs Lex being a serious threat to Superman in a way I could never really take Gene Hackman's Lex seriously.

To be fair I didn't really like his Lex first time watching BvS until the above rooftop scene . Then it all came together and what they were going for with the Lex/Supes dynamic. That scene is probably my favorite live action Superman/Lex confrontation scene to date.

The closing after credits scene in JL shows that Eisenberg was on his way to be the classic bald, calm and collected Lex for future instalments. Sadly I doubt we will get a chance to see this version of Lex to evolve . I just hope he, Henry and Amy get one more shot at another film.

I swear you guys talk about the neuroticness and jitteryness like it hits too close to home 😏.

[GreatKungLao]

The rooftop scene in BvS is on par with the Joker interrogation scene in "The Dark Knight".

I really like how his motivation is a metaphor for Superman elitists and purists. Lex Luthor is emotionally harmed and upset by the fact that the world has a savior now and he didn't when he needed one. So he wants to force his point of view on the entire world that there is only way to see this Superman - as a fraud. Just like those elitists will tell you how you are wrong to like Zack Snyder's interpretation of the character and that there is only one way, their way, to write Superman, because somehow they know better how to do character who is 80 years old and has infinite versions of himself. God forbid for you to enjoy and Elseworld.