Review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) by Barney O — 10 Apr 2017

WHAT I LIKED: The first hour of 'Batman v Superman' is pretty great; featuring some nice action sequences, some iconic moments and a whole host of truly excellent visual effects and sound work from Hans Zimmer. It also explores some interesting philosophical concepts in a slightly more sophisticated way than Snyder has been known for, and grounds a brilliant version of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Ben Affleck along the way.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Sadly though, whilst some seeds are well-planted, few grow properly, and instead of a proper exploration, the film pulls another 'Man of Steel' on us. Yes about an hour in, the plot decides to turn in a new and uninteresting direction, and as a result the entire final act is yet again full of stuff that entirely disconnects and dis-engages. I literally didn't care an ounce by the end, and that was hugely emphasised by a complete un-doing of Superman's brilliant character.

VERDICT: This is becoming a bit of a DCEU trait... Great set-up, poor delivery. Man was I bored by the end.