Producer: Warner Bros.
Writer: Chris Terrio, David S. Goyer
Director: Zack Snyder
Featuring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Godot, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne,
Release Date: OUT NOW!

What kind of movie is it when you’re cheering for a villain to kill an iconic hero? Although there are some good moments in Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice; descriptive words that immediately come to mind after viewing the movie are: bloated, illogical, pedantic, formulaic and protracted. The film is often dull, has too many plot holes and seems to quickly loose the idea that it should be a form of entertainment. Running over two and half hours the end credits came as relief to this reviewer.

In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, granite-faced Henry Cavill should go down in history as the least-liked Superman ever. His depiction of Superman is humorless, obtuse, easily manipulated and lacking in wits. By the time Superman fights the Hulk, I mean Doomsday, you want Clark to get his ass beat.

For Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Jesse Eisenberg’s over-acting as a one-dimensional Lex Luthor isn’t so much as interesting as annoying. You will find yourself wanting Lex stopped and stopped hard, not because Lex Luthor is evil (you will find yourself forgiving him for that slight character flaw) but because you just want him to shut up. Unfortunately, he seems to have most of the movie’s dialogue.

The introduction of Justice League in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, feels shoehorned in, despite the title. Yes, it’s fun to see the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, but not at the expense of bringing the plot to a crashing halt. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice the plot, when there is one, lurches forward like a man with a piece of kryptonite lodged in that place where the sun does not shine.

And after all, that here is the good news: What works in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Surprisingly, Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, moody, brooding, his star eclipsed, Affleck could easily be an example of life reflecting art. Then there is a Bond-girl-like Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (and with her movie coming out next year we are indeed waiting for Godot), the actual Batman–Superman fight and a nightmare sequence where the Caped Crusader battles flying monkeys possibly left over from the Wizard of Oz.

Unfortunately, those things good things in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice seem like drops in this particular muddy bucket of bombastic, over the top sludge. It is one of those few times when there is hope the director’s cut will be thirty minutes shorter and not, Fortress of Solitude help us all, thirty minutes longer. Then again…….

On one hand, comic book fans should support comic book movies; but on the other Warner Bros. should not be encouraged to keep making movies like this. Could Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice be where the superhero movie bubble bursts or, at least, takes a slow, creative puncture?

 

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker