By: Ananya Nrusimha
Your enjoyment of this movie is going to vary depending on how much of a DC fan you are going into the movie. If you’re a diehard DC fan who is well-versed in the major runs of the past 30 years, as well as more recent but perhaps less notable runs, you’ll have a good time playing ‘spot the reference.’ If you’re a moderate or casual fan, there are going to be times when you will be very, very confused. This isn’t a dealbreaker, though – the plot isn’t too hard to follow, and if you’re into action scenes you’ll likely find the fights enjoyable. If you don’t fall into either of the above categories – DC fanatic or action lover – you should probably give this movie a pass, because there’s little else to recommend here.
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (which can still be viewed at your local theater) throws a slew of concepts, references, characters and subplots at the reader with little to no development or explanation. The movie is a morality play surrounding Superman’s accountability, the story of Batman’s struggle to find a place in a world where godlike aliens walk among the Earth, Lex Luthor’s Bizarre Adventure, the actual conflict between Batman and Superman, and a prequel to the upcoming Justice League film, all at the same time. Of these, the Batman-centric subplot is by far the strongest, in no small part thanks to Ben Affleck’s solid performance. The Justice League setup is by far the worst. Any fans of the other Justice Leaguers – with the possible exception of Wonder Woman – will be severely disappointed. Any fans of Wonder Woman who don’t really care for Batman or Superman should go see another film (I think Deadpool’s still showing) and pop in for the last ten minutes of Batman v Superman. Don’t get me wrong – Gal Gadot is fantastic as Wonder Woman for those ten minutes, but she doesn’t have much to do for the rest of the movie.
The rest of the subplots are varying shades of mediocre. With more substance, the Superman subplot could have made for a fine movie alongside Batman’s superhero-fuelled angst, but as it stands its presence makes the movie feel vacuous despite the excesses of content. I personally liked Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor – I thought his interpretation of the character was fresh and gave the movie levity – but many have been annoyed by his manic personality and its departure from the solemn tycoon the comics portray. The titular bout between Batman and Superman is somewhat entertaining, but the buildup to it is confused and could have been structured more cleanly. As it stands, the justification for their fisticuffs rings hollow. However, this (and other problems with the movie) could potentially be solved with the three hour director’s cut slated to be released this summer. We’ll have to wait and see.
Please note that this Batman is far more brutal than any other we’ve seen on screen: he brands and kills criminals in the film. With this violence and the dark tone of the film, this movie is not suitable for children. Also consider watching or at least brushing up on the events of Man of Steel, as it is referenced many times during the movie. Finally, should you decide to watch Batman v Superman there is a scene in the middle that confuses almost everyone who watches it. Do not be alarmed when you get there: everyone but the most dedicated DC fans is equally clueless.
Overall, I would give this film two out of five stars: perhaps worth a watch for diehard DC or action fans, but a waste of time for everyone else.
