7) Lex’s Motivations
Something that was criticized in the theatrical cut was the nature of Lex Luthor’s motivations – or rather the lack of them. Apart from a few brief lines about his abusive father and believing that demons come from the sky, we weren’t sure why he was so intent on destroying Superman. The extended cut doesn’t exactly make this clear, but it does fill the character out a little more. For instance, we learn that Lexcorp is actually named after his father, Alexander Luthor Sr. In other words, he has never really escaped his father’s shadow.
[zergpaid]Also, at Doomsday’s creation, Lex explains to Superman: “I don’t hate the sinner, I hate the sin. Yours, my friend, is existing.” Lex has no personal grudge against the Kryptonian, then, he just can’t stand the idea of someone more powerful than him – be it his father, or a godlike alien.