Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Review

151min

Genre:     Comic-book, Action, Drama, Fantasy

Director:  Zack Snyder

Cast:       Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams…and more

Writers:   Chris Terrio, David S. Goyer, Bob Kane … and more

-Synopsis-

In a world reeling from the discovery of a god-like alien on Earth and its destructive repercussions, Gotham’s Dark Knight turns Kryptonian-hunter in a conflict that will blind both caped crusaders to the real danger that has gathered to threaten humanity.

The clash of the DC titans finally hits the silver screen as the anti-heroes of Metropolis and Gotham City go cape-to-cape in Zack Snyder’s CGI epic, featuring a dark tone and depressingly reflective morality within a familiarly cynical and fractured society, in a timeless god vs. man paradigm.

Henry Cavill returns as an emotionally vulnerable son of Krypton and the “Bat-fleck” is born with Ben Affleck bringing us an older more cynical “Dark Knight”, while Gal Gadot debuts the 21st century version of Amazonian princess Wonder Woman. All coming together to face the menace of Jesse Eisenberg’s Machiavellian tech-nerd billionaire Lex Luthor.

‘Batman v Superman’ plays very much like a comic-book Opera, particularly when it takes a turn towards the dramatic… which is often. And this is underpinned by a not-so-subtle and slightly over the top collaborative score from maestro Hans Zimmer and ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ composer/producer extraordinaire Junkie XL (Aka Tom Holkenborg).

Since Christopher Nolan’s reboot of the ‘Batman’ franchise in 2005, and its fingerprints on Zack Snyder’s own version of ‘Superman’, DC’s cinematic approach has been darker and more brooding than Marvel’s.

And that tone is maintained through ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’, as well as the upcoming ‘Suicide Squad’ and presumably the ‘Justice League’ films and origin stories to follow. It just remains to be seen whether DC’s approach can be anywhere as astronomically successful as Marvel’s lighter one has been thus far.

This was always going to be a limited film in terms of storyline and surprises, given that it’s basically forced to be part origin story and part gateway film for the new phase of DC Comics’ own cinematic universe.

We’ve known for over a year and a half, from the title alone, to expect a battle of ideologies between DC’s flagship characters that eventually leads to the formation of a super group to fight a real enemy, and we don’t mean Marvel’s ‘Avengers’… ok maybe them as well. And that first spoiler-full main trailer removed any doubt if there was any.

However we’re slightly baffled by the negative critical reception ‘Batman v Superman’ has received and the accusations of it being too dark and convoluted, seems like quite a few people missed the point and failed to recognize the limitations of this story.

We can understand a disappointment based on expectations relative to the preceding ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy, or from Nolan-hating fanboys who expect that sticking to comic-book canon will magically create a better movie-going experience. But to put ‘Batman v Superman’ in the leagues of the ‘Fantastic Four’ shows a lack of perspective, and is frankly ridiculous.

This is by no means a great film and we can poke holes in it all day long; from Zack Snyder’s heavily style-centred approach and reliance on dream/nightmare sequences, to the lack of character development for all but the two titular characters and the overall CGI-heavy aesthetic. And we certainly can’t justify the unconvincing motivation for the sudden change in allegiances and other narrative stumbling blocks.

But we could pick apart virtually every film in the genre, and often do; and while ‘Batman v Superman’ isn’t quite the engaging ensemble piece that allows all the characters to shine, the way ‘The Avengers’ did for Marvel. This is still an engaging and entertaining cinematic experience, and a solid comic-book movie all around.

And for all those that are quick to make Marvel and ‘Avengers’ comparisons, you’re missing the point. It’s good to have a variety of comic-book movie exponents that take different approaches and employ different tones; giving audiences a cinematic spectrum, and fanboys plenty to fawn over or moan about for years to come.

The Bottom Line…

While it’s no modern classic or without its faults, ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ is still a solid brooding superhero epic which brushes against profound themes while entertaining an audience, only time will tell what kind of brave new cinematic world Zack Snyder’s concoction ushers in for DC Comics.

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Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The world’s greatest Superheroes reunite to protect the Earth from the menace of a rogue A.I. program that threatens humanity as we know it, as “The Avengers” combat the powerful “Ultron” and his super-recruits they will have to face the consequences of past actions which threaten to destroy the team and doom humanity to extinction.

Directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans among others.

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