Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Movie Review (No Spoilers)

In 2013, Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment released the reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel. Immediately after, the internet blew up. Some loved it, some hated it. Friendships were strained and families dissolved amid the "Should Superman kill" argument. Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad but you get the point: the film was polarizing.

Now, director Zack Snyder is at it again with the follow-up Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice which sees the Man of Steel at odds with the Dark Knight himself, Batman. At long last, we've finally seen the movie. So is it any good?

That question can only be answered fully by breaking the movie down one element at a time so here goes.

Superman

Henry Cavill once again brings Superman straight from the comic book page to the silver screen. His nuanced and thoughtful performance gives total believability to the Man of Steel and the inner and outer struggles he's going through. The film finds him dealing with the unintended consequences of his heroics which is a staple of Superman stories and is done beautifully and heartbreakingly.

Batman

Much has been said about Ben Afleck's casting as the Dark Knight but I'll echo what other reviewers have said: Afleck owns the role like no other has. Just like Cavill, Afleck brings a subtleness; an inner rage that is totally true to Batman's lore. The only negative I can think of is that at a certain point (won't spoil it for you) Batman isn't given much to do but that is no fault of the actor or the character.

The Story

The trailers give you the main setup of the story: Batman believes Superman to be a threat, Superman believes Batman to be a brutal vigilante. Commence with the fighty stuff!  But if anyone tells you that's what this movie is about, they are missing the whole point. The title, Batman V Superman is a gimmick; a marketing device to convince those who just want to see a good fight to buy tickets. This movie is really about a world struggling to deal with Superman, a Superman struggling to figure out how best to exist here, and a Batman struggling to control forces beyond himself. Mix in a Lex Luthor who is hell bent on smearing the Man of Steel's name and image and you have this films story. Sure, there is a fight (and it's EPIC) But if you're going into this thinking that's the main point of the movie, you'll be disappointed.

Also know that Batman V Superman goes places you won't expect. You may think you know from the trailers, but you don't. How do I feel about where it goes? I wasn't originally but I think I'm on board with it. If you wanna know more of my thoughts on this, tweet me when you've seen the movie. (@DustyHaynes)

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is just fine. Her character is on screen very little, but when she arrives she hits all the right notes. Some have expressed dismay about Gal Gadot's acting or line delivery. I found her to be perfectly fine. Note: that doesn't mean she's outstanding, but her performance served the film well.

Lex Luthor

Perhaps the most derided casting choice, Jesse Eisenberg's performance as Lex Luthor was EXACTLY what I wanted it to be. I am extremely impressed with Eisenberg's understated insanity and his ability to let it bubble just under his skin before pushing it right back down. And let me just say, it's so great to have a Lex on film who doesn't have an elaborate real estate scheme!

Dawn of Justice

Let's call a batarang a batarang here. We all know Justice League is coming and that this film will setup elements necessary for that to come about. While I won't spoil these moments for you, just know that it will probably take you out of the story a bit. The way these things are introduced is so obvious and in your face, it may be a bit much for some. That said, the content of those moments is very compelling and sufficiently excites me for the dawning of Justice.

Doomsday

It's in the trailers so I'm not really spoiling anything. Doomsday is in the film and is extremely average. He's big, he's loud and presents a very dangerous physical threat to our heroes. However the execution, I feel, isn't worthy of the name that is now synonymous with one of the greatest comic book stories in history. That's all I'll say.

Conclusion

To summarize, I really enjoyed this movie. With the exception of a few minor things, Batman V Superman entertained me and revved up my interest in the sprawling DC Universe being setup.

Amazing performances, a deep story and stunning visuals make Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice a solid 8 out of 10.