Synopsis:
Following his titanic struggle against General Zod, Metropolis has been razed to the ground and Superman is the most controversial figure in the world. While for many he is still an emblem of hope, a growing number of people consider him a threat to humanity, seeking justice for the chaos he has brought to Earth. As far as Bruce Wayne is concerned, Superman is clearly a danger to society. He fears for the future of the world with such a reckless power left ungoverned, and so he dons his mask and cape to right Superman's wrongs. The rivalry between them is furious, fueled by bitterness and vengeance, and nothing can dissuade them from waging this war. However, a dark new threat arises in the form of a third man: one who has a power greater than either of them to endanger the world and cause total destruction!
The film continues the story of Man of Steel but this time by giving the perspective of mankind in what was seen as the battle in Metropolis. This was a great way to introduce the new Batman/Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) as the film shows where he is and what he was doing during this time therefore giving more emotional investment unto what was happening on the ground while the Kryptonians duke it out in the sky. This sequence served as a great introduction for the film and a proper way to give some insight on what was happening.
The first act of the film consists of set-up on how the story will go and how the characters motivations were set. In my opinion, this part of the film wasn’t represented properly and this is where my biggest complaints in the movie come from. In this part of the film, the editing was just downright sloppy and the scenes felt like disjointed and it didn’t have any proper set-up for the next scene or it just abruptly ended. The editing part of the film could have used a lot more work so that the scenes would have been fleshed out more and not feel rushed. That being said though, the first act still had some great moments in it like the introduction of Bruce Wayne, Lex Luthor and also seeing some familiar faces. In addition, this part of the film did a good job at displaying what was at stake and it really worked for me.
The second act still suffers the same problems as the first act, some scenes felt disjointed but as it goes on the scenes felt smoother and it flowed much better which in turn displays coherence of the story much more whereas in the first act, the story felt a bit jumbled. This act paved the way for the movement of the story to set the eventual showdown. Some of the highlights of this act though is some of the action scenes which was really breathtaking and truly a sight to watch especially in terms of comic book films.
As the third act approaches, the film did a good job (could have been better) at showcasing why these heroes are coming to blows. In the last act, we were definitely treated with one of the best fight scenes in comic book films and yes I enjoyed every second of it. The fight between Batman and Superman really showed the characteristics of these characters (as far as these universes go). With Superman, as he’s being only Superman for a couple of years in this universe, this fight shows his carelessness while Batman on the other hand (who is operating for two decades in this universe) is a ruthless, skilled, and calculated fighter who will do whatever it takes for the greater good. This colossal fight was truly one of a kind and was definitely a sight to see in theaters. While the fight is perfect, the resolution of it was a bit too convenient for my liking and while it did packed a bit of a punch, it still lacked in emotional weight that might not resonate with some viewers.
Aside from that, a lot also happened in the third act, some world-building in the realm of the DC universe which may come off as forced but it did its job in introducing these character. An additional fight scene was also shown and it was a complete joy to watch, sorry but I wouldn’t spoil more.
The film was headlined by Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons and Gal Gadot among others. With Christian Bale previously playing the caped crusader, Ben Affleck definitely had some big shoes to fill and Affleck did more than just fill that shoe. This guy became Batman/Bruce Wayne; he was able to show the nightmarish quality of Batman and the skilled detective fighter which was a big asset in the character. He also almost played Bruce Wayne in near perfection, maybe if given more time he might have done that. Ben Affleck surely made the naysayers eat their words by delivering what is probably the most comic accurate depiction of the dark knight.Reprising his role as Superman is Henry Cavill, he did a great job at showing the damaged and emotional side of the character albeit his Superman could still use a lot of work. His Clark Kent on the other hand was definitely good even though it was a far cry from the mild mannered reporter persona; Cavill was still able to show that this is a different character opposing its alter ego. A hero is without its villain, portraying Lex Luthor is Jesse Eisenberg. I loved his performance in the movie however, at times he came off as a bit over the top but what I loved about it is he was able to show the manipulative side of the character while showing this smiling façade for other people to see.
Amy Adams returns as Lois Lane, she did a good job in this role even though sometimes I find her character to be a damsel in distress (a smart one at that though). Laurence Fishburne also returns as Perry White but this time we saw a glimpse at how this editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet works and Fishburne pulls that off with finesse. Batman would always be synonymous with his butler Alfred this time though he is portrayed by uncle Scar himself, Jeremy Irons. While his screentime is only limited, he did a phenomenal job at portraying Alfred by showing the humor of the character and also the seriousness of his job and as a second father to Bruce Wayne. Now, let’s address the elephant in the room, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. She is in no way a good actress even though she is great to look at. Her casting definitely raised many eyebrows and stupid outcries from fanboys. Even though she only has a limited screentime, it was a key role and Gadot did a surprisingly good job. The way she handles action was great and her facial nuances were displayed in an efficient way. However, it was not all perfect as sometimes when she delivers her line it comes off as wooden but that might be because of her thick accent. That said, she did a fine and solid job as the amazon warrior.
Now, onto the technical side of the film. The cinematographer this time around is the longtime collaborator of Zack Snyder, Larry Fong. I may be a bit biased here but Fong is certainly one of my cinematographers right now and this guy knows how to show action and emotional scenes. As it is, Fong did great in this one, the shots looked beautiful when needed, haunting when needed and pulse-pounding when needed.
The score was composed by a returning Hans Zimmer and Mad Max: Fury Road composer Junkie XL. This was a perfect combination with Hans Zimmers modern style sprinkled Junkie XL’s contemporary style was a just a joy to hear. Some soundtracks on scenes are still stuck to my head and it’s on loop. The VFX is also great even though it looked a bit iffy in a couple of times but that is just a minor nitpick.
This film is written by David S. Goyer and Oscar winner Chris Terrio. Goyer’s screenplay was polished by Terrio but it seems like Terrio came in late in the game (because I think if given enough time, he’s gonna rewrite the whole thing) as you can really see the Goyer’s touch in the writing of this film. Some dialogue came out as off but also some dialogue came out great, there are a lot of dialogues here that is going to be memorable.
It is also directed by Zack Snyder, this is his second outing in this cinematic universe and I think he did a pretty solid job. Let’s face it though, even though he is one of my favorite directors, he certainly has a style that is really unique but is not on the same level as he delivers substance. Yes this film looked beautiful but it could have used a lot of work in delivering the plot beats better. What I liked about it though is the way he showed the sub-plots and somehow merging them to become this coherent plot in the film. My complaint about it though is it came off a bit late in the film. What I appreciate in the way Snyder directed this film is how much it looks like a comic book, it was as if I was watching a comic book unfold page by page.
Overall:
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is nowhere near a perfect film but it was indeed a one of a kind comic book film. This movie could have used a lot of work in the editing room but it was still able to tell the story it want to tell. Boosting with great performances from the cast, an outstanding original score, and action scenes that are truly breathtaking and unforgettable, Batman v Superman is certainly a treat in the theaters.
Grade:
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