Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - directed by Zack Snyder
*********** spoiler free ***********
Starring: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Holly Hunter, Scoot McNairy, Callan Mulvey, Lauren Cohan, Michael Shannon, Tao Okamoto
Screenplay: Chris Terrio & David S Goyer
Music Score by: Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Cinematography: Larry Fong
Edited by: David Brenner
Running Time: 151 minutes
Rated: M - Violence - definitely not a kids movie
This one is set to divide audiences.
Arguably it already has.
In the last few days leading up to its launch today there were advanced screenings and two things happened.
Firstly the social media blitz of tweets and Facebook postings hit and they were pretty much all gushy about this film.
'Watch out Marvel!' one declared.
'Greatest Hero Entrance of All Time' several said of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman.
And then the second thing happened - critics reviews.
The result - a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes that has now dropped to 33% - lower than "Grimsby".
I frequently find myself baffled at the drubbing movies that I like get and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is no different.
I like this movie a lot and it is worthy of far, far better than a 40% in my view.
To me something else is going on here and I don't know if it is indifference (or even out and out dislike) aimed at director Zack Snyder and/or star Ben Affleck but the reviews seem to be highlighting all of the perceived negatives and none of the considerable positives.
So I will do it.
Firstly you need to understand that as much as people want to paint this film as DC's attempt to mimic the success of Marvel's "The Avengers" I don't think that it is their intention at all.
This is a darker movie that isn't trying to sell toys and bring goofy grins to the faces of man, woman and child alike.
I love the Marvel movies but they are on a different course than this film and I would imagine the ones that follow it in the DC universe.
The intentions are clear right out of the gate - this is pitched at an older audience.
While I am sure I am not alone in stating that no one needs to see yet another version of Thomas and Martha Wayne being gunned down in a dark alley amidst scattered pearls and the screams of a young child that is what we get.
It is very nicely staged with good use of 3D and fortunately doesn't hang around too long.
It is intercut with shots of the resulting distraught young Wayne's fall into the cave of bats.... again.
This time it takes on a mythical air as the swarm of flying rats elevates the child up to the real world.
It will be the first of many moments designed to draw parallels between the Bat and the God that is Superman.
Cutting to the end of "The Man of Steel" we this time follow Bruce Wayne who has choppered in to Metropolis to check on the state of a Wayne Enterprises building caught up in the infamous devastation of that movies finale.
And so the tension between the two heroes is set as Bruce Wayne and the world at large turns on Superman, fearful of his seemingly endless power.
We all know where this is headed and thanks to a raft of trailers that showed far too much we probably know more than we should.
A major complaint from critics seems to be that "Batman v Superman' is overlong and lacking in action and I completely understand why.
Compared to any of the Marvel flicks this movie is light on the action.
For me though the build up to the big action moment is action in itself.
I wasn't bored for a second.
My concern going in was that some of my favourite actors would be side-lined to make way for epic action sequences so discovering that Amy Adams, Holly Hunter, Diane Lane, Scoot McNairy and Jeremy Irons all get good screen time was both a relief and a treat.
Adams is particularly well served with screen minutes although the bath scene is a little on the gratuitous side.
Aiding the 'slower' parts greatly is the shooting style and production design.
This is a slick film - dark to be sure- but stylish and pleasing to the eye.
The cinematographer is Larry Fong who previously shot "300" and "Watchmen" for Snyder and also "Now You See Me" and JJ Abrams "Super 8"
One thing that doesn't work is an over reliance on dream sequences that are so obviously dreams that they become pointless.
They are used to give us an insight into one character in particular and it is clumsy device, poorly handled.
Jesse Eisenberg is also distracting, delivering an over the top performance that seems to have no characterisation behind it.
At least fifty percent of the blame is not his but his Lex Luthor is a character whose motivations for wanting to pitch Superman against Batman are fuzzy at best.
It's as if the screenwriters figure it was enough to have the iconic villain around - no need to bother with character or motivation.
For me these are not close to killer flaws and while "Batman v Superman" isn't as good as any of the Nolan Bat flicks it is still a very good film.
When the action comes it comes big.
The finale arrives somewhat suddenly and in fairness could have been better done but the extended bout of biffo that follows is spectacular stuff.
Anyone expecting another Avengers style flick - light, flashy and liberally dashed with action sequences is going to be disappointed in this film.
This is more deliberate - more grown up dare I say.
Not better than the Marvel stuff- in fact it isn't - but it deserves to be judged on its own merits and on the success that it achieves in bringing the sort of movie to the screen that it is attempting.
For me this is a welcome addition to the superhero genre.
Affleck makes a great Bruce Wayne and a just as good Batman.
Cavill continues to impress as Superman / Clark Kent and yes- Gal Gadot is very, very well cast as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman.
Her big hero entrance is not the best ever but is good and she deserves more screen time.
She'll get it no doubt in the upcoming standalone movie and the Justice League team flick along with the other characters we get a sneak peek at here - Flash and Aquaman.
I for one can't wait.
RATING: 76 / 100
CONCLUSION: A dark, intense flick that is bullish in sticking to its own style and tone. It may have doomed itself by not pandering to a younger audience but for everyone else this is damned good stuff.
*********** spoiler free ***********
Screenplay: Chris Terrio & David S Goyer
Music Score by: Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Cinematography: Larry Fong
Edited by: David Brenner
Running Time: 151 minutes
Rated: M - Violence - definitely not a kids movie
This one is set to divide audiences.
Arguably it already has.
In the last few days leading up to its launch today there were advanced screenings and two things happened.
Firstly the social media blitz of tweets and Facebook postings hit and they were pretty much all gushy about this film.
'Watch out Marvel!' one declared.
'Greatest Hero Entrance of All Time' several said of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman.
And then the second thing happened - critics reviews.
The result - a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes that has now dropped to 33% - lower than "Grimsby".
I frequently find myself baffled at the drubbing movies that I like get and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is no different.
I like this movie a lot and it is worthy of far, far better than a 40% in my view.
To me something else is going on here and I don't know if it is indifference (or even out and out dislike) aimed at director Zack Snyder and/or star Ben Affleck but the reviews seem to be highlighting all of the perceived negatives and none of the considerable positives.
So I will do it.
Firstly you need to understand that as much as people want to paint this film as DC's attempt to mimic the success of Marvel's "The Avengers" I don't think that it is their intention at all.
This is a darker movie that isn't trying to sell toys and bring goofy grins to the faces of man, woman and child alike.
I love the Marvel movies but they are on a different course than this film and I would imagine the ones that follow it in the DC universe.
The intentions are clear right out of the gate - this is pitched at an older audience.
 |
| Ben Affleck makes a fine Batman and an even better, more mature take on Bruce Wayne |
It is very nicely staged with good use of 3D and fortunately doesn't hang around too long.
It is intercut with shots of the resulting distraught young Wayne's fall into the cave of bats.... again.
This time it takes on a mythical air as the swarm of flying rats elevates the child up to the real world.
It will be the first of many moments designed to draw parallels between the Bat and the God that is Superman.
Cutting to the end of "The Man of Steel" we this time follow Bruce Wayne who has choppered in to Metropolis to check on the state of a Wayne Enterprises building caught up in the infamous devastation of that movies finale.
And so the tension between the two heroes is set as Bruce Wayne and the world at large turns on Superman, fearful of his seemingly endless power.
We all know where this is headed and thanks to a raft of trailers that showed far too much we probably know more than we should.
 |
| Henry Cavill (with Laurence Fishburne left) as Clark Kent and Superman (right) |
Compared to any of the Marvel flicks this movie is light on the action.
For me though the build up to the big action moment is action in itself.
I wasn't bored for a second.
My concern going in was that some of my favourite actors would be side-lined to make way for epic action sequences so discovering that Amy Adams, Holly Hunter, Diane Lane, Scoot McNairy and Jeremy Irons all get good screen time was both a relief and a treat.
Adams is particularly well served with screen minutes although the bath scene is a little on the gratuitous side.
Aiding the 'slower' parts greatly is the shooting style and production design.
This is a slick film - dark to be sure- but stylish and pleasing to the eye.
The cinematographer is Larry Fong who previously shot "300" and "Watchmen" for Snyder and also "Now You See Me" and JJ Abrams "Super 8"
The design of the batcave, the batmobile and the city of Metropolis is terrific and Snyder and Fong use 3D well to add that bit extra life to the frame.
It isn't the best use of 3D I have ever seen but it is the best for some time. |
| While Jesse Eisenberg's performance is baffling there is typically fine work from Irons and Adams |
They are used to give us an insight into one character in particular and it is clumsy device, poorly handled.
Jesse Eisenberg is also distracting, delivering an over the top performance that seems to have no characterisation behind it.
At least fifty percent of the blame is not his but his Lex Luthor is a character whose motivations for wanting to pitch Superman against Batman are fuzzy at best.
It's as if the screenwriters figure it was enough to have the iconic villain around - no need to bother with character or motivation.
For me these are not close to killer flaws and while "Batman v Superman" isn't as good as any of the Nolan Bat flicks it is still a very good film.
When the action comes it comes big.
The finale arrives somewhat suddenly and in fairness could have been better done but the extended bout of biffo that follows is spectacular stuff.
 |
| Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman |
This is more deliberate - more grown up dare I say.
Not better than the Marvel stuff- in fact it isn't - but it deserves to be judged on its own merits and on the success that it achieves in bringing the sort of movie to the screen that it is attempting.
For me this is a welcome addition to the superhero genre.
Affleck makes a great Bruce Wayne and a just as good Batman.
Cavill continues to impress as Superman / Clark Kent and yes- Gal Gadot is very, very well cast as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman.
Her big hero entrance is not the best ever but is good and she deserves more screen time.
She'll get it no doubt in the upcoming standalone movie and the Justice League team flick along with the other characters we get a sneak peek at here - Flash and Aquaman.
I for one can't wait.
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