Review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) by Dan S — 16 Nov 2017

Iconic.

That is the word that most comes to mind while replaying the film in my head. So many images, iconic images, lifted straight from the page. Then there are the images that we KNOW to be iconic. Images etched into the collective memory of DC Comics fans. Director Zack Snyder takes these images and twists them and makes them something even more special. Whether it's the inevitable murder of the Wayne family or a famous panel from a 90s comic book, Snyder makes these images his own and improves on the original.

Let's address the 220-pound bat in the room. Ben Affleck. Since he was cast in the film, internet forums have gone berserk with only the latest Batman-heavy trailer helping to alleviate 2003-Daredevil inspired fever dreams. Rest easy, folks. Affleck steps into the role like he was born to play it. His grizzled, hardened Bruce Wayne is ruthless, broken and violent. He is also compassionate and fearless. Nothing exemplifies this more than running into a cloud of dust and debris as a building falls -- looking to save whoever he can. This world has beaten the Batman down, yes. But he is still very much a hero. And Affleck nails this.

Assisting Affleck to become the best on-screen incarnation of the Dark Knight is his valet and confidant Alfred (Jeremy Irons). Irons plays the role like a mildly disapproving but enabling uncle to Bruce. This Alfred is hands on and not afraid to give "Master Wayne" a piece of his mind every now and then. The chemistry between the two is terrific.

Henry Cavill turns in the best work of his career as Clark Kent/Superman. He builds on his performance from 2013's "Man Of Steel." We see him as a Superman who is confident in his power and abilities, even if the world isn't. This is a Superman who would do anything to protect "his world" no matter how big or small his world is.

Lois Lane (Amy Adams) gets a lot more to do in this film than progress the plot (as she did to a degree in "Man Of Steel"). Here, her story runs somewhat parallel to our titular heroes only to meet up somewhere around the third act. Adams' ability to humanize Clark and seeing their relationship advance is a pleasure to see on screen. Also, any time we spend with the crew at the Daily Planet is time well spent.

Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor may have appeared to be a swing-and-a-miss by Snyder, but it works. It's not the suave, calculated Luthor of the comics who does everything through a third party and avoids any accountability. No. This Luthor is cold. He is calculating. He is a bit manic. And he certainly gets his hands dirty. Two particular scenes (one involving Holly Hunter's Senator Finch, and a rooftop showdown) hammer home how demented and twisted this Luthor is. This isn't the campy silly Gene Hackman version, or the middle-of-the-road, half-suave, half-camp of Kevin Spacey. This is a ruthless Lex, that is ultimately the best version we've had on screen yet. It works.

Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman? Let's just say she steals the show. Summer 2017 can't come soon enough for her solo effort.

Now -- the negatives of this film, and they certainly exist, are SPOILER territory.

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Doomsday. Revealed in the trailers, his appearance isn't a surprise. And that's okay. His battle is fantastically rendered and expertly photographed. His powers, however, would have been better sticking with the source material. Snyder and co. have given him the ability to expel pulses of radiation, and while a devastating effect, they just seem like an excuse for large-scale destruction. And it just sticks out as unnecessary noise. He would have been a credible threat with just Superman's invulnerability, heat vision and strength (he's about 20-feet tall with spikes after all!).

Batman killing. Story-wise, this works. As there is an arc to it. This Batman has been broken by the world. Lost everyone he cares about (a Robin suit is enshrined in the Batcave to honor a fallen partner) and has become almost Punisher-style brutal. While we don't see him out-and-out murder, the explosions of vehicles during chase scenes leave little to the imagination. By the end of the arc, however, Batman is inspired by Superman. And his final scene with Luthor gives us the impression that he is done with that brand of justice and will move more toward the light.

Visions. These were great. For a comics fan. Jarring if you aren't. Luckily, "Justice League" is only a year and a half away, so we will have answers sooner than later. But the appearance of the Flash and the "Knightmare" sequence might have seemed out of place and confusing to the uninitiated.

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Music by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL booms and shakes us when the Bat is near and uplifts us when the Last Son of Krypton takes flight. And the Princess of Themyscira gets a killer electric guitar riff that might as well be the new anthem for girl power.

The effects are all first rate. Never have these characters looked better and the title matchup is a treat to the eyes.

It also has to be said that the first 10 minutes of this film could be separated and submitted as a short film and be Oscar-worthy. Snyder shoots the opening credits in a way that is truly haunting and beautiful.

That brings us back to the word "iconic." Which is the word I'll leave you with. That's what these images are. That's what these heroes deserved. And, by and large, that is what Zack Snyder and his team have delivered.