After three years of waiting Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice has finally arrived. And it is AMAZING! This film is one of the best comic book films I have ever seen. Now, I know this film has taken a serious pounding from critics, who have been merciless in their reviews. Is the film flawless? Of course not. There is definitely parts that could have been improved, and I'll be writing about those later. But those faults don't ruin the rest of it and it really doesn't deserve the beating it's taken. Now, onto the review! Note, this does contain spoilers. I would advise people to read the rest of this after they've seen the film.
Perhaps the best thing, but also where the film's faults come in, is the writing. This script for this film is great! Chris Terrio has Taken the superhero genre away from the bright and fun tone from the 60's and 70's and using source material from more more interpretations of the characters and grounding in a semi-realistic world was fantastic. Layering these characters with religious and political undertones. You really understood where each character was coming from and related to them on a personal scale. However, in the first half of the film, there is definite room for improvement. In the first half there seems to be five separate story lines going on: One for Batman, another for Superman and then Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor and even Lois Lane. And whilst these story lines eventually became one, it would have been better to keep them more closer together. Even cut out Lois' story as it felt shoe-horned in there. But, as I said, the story lines tie together and becomes this amazing modern super hero story.
At the helm of this film is director Zack Snyder, who is not unfamiliar with making polarizing films. I'll admit, in his previous films he appeared to have favoured style over substance, Watchmen would be a good example. But this film is a great example of how much he has matured as a director. In this film he doesn't throwaway story for action. If anything, he allows the two to compliment each other, as the audience is already invested in the characters that all the action at the end has more of an emotional impact. Not to mention, he's shown that he truly cares about the source material as he remains ever faithful to the comics. Zack Snyder is indeed a good director.
Arguably the biggest thing about this film is Ben Affleck's Batman. He was amazing in this role. I thought no-one would come close to Bale's interpretation but Affleck took the role and made it his own. FINALLY we have the definitive Batman! Affleck's Batman is clearly a very disturbed and troubled individual. Burdened by the many lives he's failed to save. So it would make sense why he'd be cautious with Superman as he's lost faith in any form of hope, and so he's constantly stuck in this belief that Superman is just an all-powerful God who only sees the world as insects. It's not until the end of the film when he sees the human side of Superman that he understands what he's become himself. Batman has always been about striking fear. But this film shows what happens when the Dark Knight himself is afraid. Fear blinds people and makes them act irrationally. To do this with a character as Iconic as Batman was astounding and so well done. This is the best Batman we've ever had and I can't wait to see him in more DC films. If I had one problem with it then it'd be the start scene where young Bruce Wayne is being picked up by Bats. That was a little too on-the-nose.
On the other side of the coin is Henry Cavill's Superman. Cavill continues to be the most down-to-Earth Superman ever put to screen. You can clearly see the turmoil in this character as he tries to good in the world but the world is still afraid of him. Even at the end, when the world still fears him, he makes the ultimate sacrifice by killing Doomsday, but at the cost of his own life. The religious undertones Snyder and Terrio layer in this character are so well down Superman acts as a Jesus metaphor, particularly the time when he was persecuted by the public. This is a very conflicted Superman, which is the exact point of the character! The story of Superman is not about what he can do but what he should do. He's a man who struggles with having immense power and doing the right thing. Cavill embraces these aspects of the character and delivers to us the most human interpretaion of the character. Putting the MAN in SUPERMAN.
Whilst this film introduces us to a new Batman it also presents the first cinematic depiction of Wonder Woman. Whilst she was only in the film for roughly 10-15 minutes of the film, Snyder made great use of her. She was awesome in the final fight scene where audiences finally got to see Wonder Woman in all her warrior glory. Unfortunately we don't get much of her, we get a mere taste of her solo film, coming out next year, which I'm incredibly excited for.
Jesse Eisenburg plays the film's antagonist Lex Luthor. Eisenburg is the actor who's been taking the most heat from the critics. His portrayal of Lex Luthor is very different from the previous films. In those films he was portrayed more as an evil genius. In this film he is portrayed very much more like he is in the comics. Particularly the story Superman: Birthright. In this story Lex Luthor is portrayed as a control freak who always has to be the smartest guy in the room. And Eisenburg nails this perfectly as Lex always has to be man in control of every situation. Which really dives into his reasons for hating Superman. Luthor's character dives into philosophical arguments on God and power. Can God be all-powerful and good at the same time? This is a great use of Lex Luthor and is portrayed brilliantly by Jesse Eisenburg. Just don't expect a similar portrayal from previous actors.
The action in this film is on-point. It's actually the thing Snyder excels at. Every huge fight looks so realistic and every strike looks like it hurts. One of the best Batman scenes was when he goes to save Superman's mother. It looks as if a fight scene from a Batman comic was ripped out of the pages and onto screen. The battle against Doomsday was incredible, with the DC trinity finally teamed up. Really everything a DC fan has ever wanted! But the biggest action scene is the showdown between Batman and Superman. The fight between these two is absolutely fantastic. The fight is so intense and emotional. I was in awe whilst watching it. Even the end. When Batman is about to kill Superman until Superman says he needs Batman to save his mother, Martha. A lot have been making fun of this scene. Saying the two only bond because their mums have the same name. But it's far much more than that! Throughout the whole film Batman has only seen Superman as a God with no cares. Then when he sees that Superman has a mother. One who's in danger, and shares his mother's name. It's the best way Batman can relate to him. He sees Superman as a victim. Much like how he was that tragic night in the alleyway. It's perhaps the most emotional and best written part of the entire fight.
Overall, Batman V Superman is an amazing film. It focuses on religion and philosophical through Superheroes. It definitely doesn't deserve the hatred it's getting and will be remembered one day as one of the greatest films the genre has ever had.
5/5
Perhaps the best thing, but also where the film's faults come in, is the writing. This script for this film is great! Chris Terrio has Taken the superhero genre away from the bright and fun tone from the 60's and 70's and using source material from more more interpretations of the characters and grounding in a semi-realistic world was fantastic. Layering these characters with religious and political undertones. You really understood where each character was coming from and related to them on a personal scale. However, in the first half of the film, there is definite room for improvement. In the first half there seems to be five separate story lines going on: One for Batman, another for Superman and then Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor and even Lois Lane. And whilst these story lines eventually became one, it would have been better to keep them more closer together. Even cut out Lois' story as it felt shoe-horned in there. But, as I said, the story lines tie together and becomes this amazing modern super hero story.
At the helm of this film is director Zack Snyder, who is not unfamiliar with making polarizing films. I'll admit, in his previous films he appeared to have favoured style over substance, Watchmen would be a good example. But this film is a great example of how much he has matured as a director. In this film he doesn't throwaway story for action. If anything, he allows the two to compliment each other, as the audience is already invested in the characters that all the action at the end has more of an emotional impact. Not to mention, he's shown that he truly cares about the source material as he remains ever faithful to the comics. Zack Snyder is indeed a good director.
Arguably the biggest thing about this film is Ben Affleck's Batman. He was amazing in this role. I thought no-one would come close to Bale's interpretation but Affleck took the role and made it his own. FINALLY we have the definitive Batman! Affleck's Batman is clearly a very disturbed and troubled individual. Burdened by the many lives he's failed to save. So it would make sense why he'd be cautious with Superman as he's lost faith in any form of hope, and so he's constantly stuck in this belief that Superman is just an all-powerful God who only sees the world as insects. It's not until the end of the film when he sees the human side of Superman that he understands what he's become himself. Batman has always been about striking fear. But this film shows what happens when the Dark Knight himself is afraid. Fear blinds people and makes them act irrationally. To do this with a character as Iconic as Batman was astounding and so well done. This is the best Batman we've ever had and I can't wait to see him in more DC films. If I had one problem with it then it'd be the start scene where young Bruce Wayne is being picked up by Bats. That was a little too on-the-nose.
On the other side of the coin is Henry Cavill's Superman. Cavill continues to be the most down-to-Earth Superman ever put to screen. You can clearly see the turmoil in this character as he tries to good in the world but the world is still afraid of him. Even at the end, when the world still fears him, he makes the ultimate sacrifice by killing Doomsday, but at the cost of his own life. The religious undertones Snyder and Terrio layer in this character are so well down Superman acts as a Jesus metaphor, particularly the time when he was persecuted by the public. This is a very conflicted Superman, which is the exact point of the character! The story of Superman is not about what he can do but what he should do. He's a man who struggles with having immense power and doing the right thing. Cavill embraces these aspects of the character and delivers to us the most human interpretaion of the character. Putting the MAN in SUPERMAN.
Whilst this film introduces us to a new Batman it also presents the first cinematic depiction of Wonder Woman. Whilst she was only in the film for roughly 10-15 minutes of the film, Snyder made great use of her. She was awesome in the final fight scene where audiences finally got to see Wonder Woman in all her warrior glory. Unfortunately we don't get much of her, we get a mere taste of her solo film, coming out next year, which I'm incredibly excited for.
Jesse Eisenburg plays the film's antagonist Lex Luthor. Eisenburg is the actor who's been taking the most heat from the critics. His portrayal of Lex Luthor is very different from the previous films. In those films he was portrayed more as an evil genius. In this film he is portrayed very much more like he is in the comics. Particularly the story Superman: Birthright. In this story Lex Luthor is portrayed as a control freak who always has to be the smartest guy in the room. And Eisenburg nails this perfectly as Lex always has to be man in control of every situation. Which really dives into his reasons for hating Superman. Luthor's character dives into philosophical arguments on God and power. Can God be all-powerful and good at the same time? This is a great use of Lex Luthor and is portrayed brilliantly by Jesse Eisenburg. Just don't expect a similar portrayal from previous actors.
The action in this film is on-point. It's actually the thing Snyder excels at. Every huge fight looks so realistic and every strike looks like it hurts. One of the best Batman scenes was when he goes to save Superman's mother. It looks as if a fight scene from a Batman comic was ripped out of the pages and onto screen. The battle against Doomsday was incredible, with the DC trinity finally teamed up. Really everything a DC fan has ever wanted! But the biggest action scene is the showdown between Batman and Superman. The fight between these two is absolutely fantastic. The fight is so intense and emotional. I was in awe whilst watching it. Even the end. When Batman is about to kill Superman until Superman says he needs Batman to save his mother, Martha. A lot have been making fun of this scene. Saying the two only bond because their mums have the same name. But it's far much more than that! Throughout the whole film Batman has only seen Superman as a God with no cares. Then when he sees that Superman has a mother. One who's in danger, and shares his mother's name. It's the best way Batman can relate to him. He sees Superman as a victim. Much like how he was that tragic night in the alleyway. It's perhaps the most emotional and best written part of the entire fight.
Overall, Batman V Superman is an amazing film. It focuses on religion and philosophical through Superheroes. It definitely doesn't deserve the hatred it's getting and will be remembered one day as one of the greatest films the genre has ever had.
5/5
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