Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
Runtime: 183 minutes (Extended Cut)

Synopsis: Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.

Verdict: When Batman’s logo appeared behind Superman’s iconic symbol at SDCC 2013 announcing that the follow up of “Man of Steel” would feature a confrontation between two of the most iconic superhero of all time, the room went wild. At the time, no one was expecting Snyder’s civil war to become one of the most divisive comic book movies of all time. 5 long years after its release, fans are still passionately debating whether “Dawn of Justice” is a work of genius or a complete flop. Personally, I can understand both sides of the argument but overall will admit that despite its many flaws, the movie was a pretty satisfying watch that did meet my expectations.

Aided by an inspired casting choice, Batman’s portrayal as an anti-hero was an unexpected highlight that added a lot of depth to Ben Affleck’s character. Without knowing much about his past, we’re immediately made aware that he’s at a point in his life where he’s done playing by the rules that were restricting his vigilante efforts in the past. When he spots danger, he’ll do whatever it takes to eliminate it, no matter the cost. This mentality beautifully set up his rivalry with Henry Cavill’s Superman, a god living amongst men who could eradicate humanity in a matter of seconds. It makes sense for him to see him as a potential threat following the events of “Man of Steel” which saw the destruction of a city and the loss of countless lives, but I also admire the fact that Supe’s actions were met with a divisive response from civilians. Some line up with Batman’s assessments and see him as a danger to mankind, while others view him as a messiah whose only purpose is to protect them.

Even though many were not happy with the unsubtle allegorical nature of the narrative and its dark atmosphere, I was very much on board with it. The stakes were high and it truly set itself apart from other superhero movies that, at this point, feel extremely repetitive and bland. It’s also a visually appealing film (as long as there’s no atrocious CGI to ruin the scenery) benefiting from a magnificent score that blends with the tone effortlessly.

However, and there’s a big however unfortunately, not every decision paid off in what in the end felt like a very rushed project meant to set up a bunch of other entries in the DCEU. While I did love Gal Gadot’s introduction as Wonder Woman, I didn’t really understand the necessity of including her in this specific movie. Another character that was out of place and lacking proper motivation was Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor, who never truly found his place as the menace he was supposed to be. His casting is still a mystery to me, and I never bought his over-the-top performance as the iconic charismatic villain. I really wish that the movie, which is also diluted by some silly lines best exemplified by the famous Martha scene, focused more on the opposition between the two titular characters instead of derailing into so many subplots that ultimately converged into an embarrassingly weak final act.

Overall, I do like the direction taken by Snyder in a universe that he obviously put a lot of thought into, even if the execution is not always pristine. So, is it one of the best and most challenging movies made in recent years? Obviously not. Is it an absolute disaster that insults the legacy of the main characters? Not in my opinion. But is it a film that I enjoy putting on every once in a while despite its 3-hour long runtime? I’ll plead guilty on that charge.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10