Review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) by Deathstroke_42 — 25 Mar 2016

TLDR; some pacing and editing issues, and not perfect, but largely unfairly criticized. The cast is great, the dialogue great- remarkable improvement on David Goyer- and the story pretty damn good. It's very much a setup movie, and that's both one of it's strongest qualities and greatest weaknesses. At times feels hollow and disjointed, but that seems to be the symptom of a Snyder theatrical cut and not a director's one. The Justice League cameos give chills and are kind of lazily done at the same time (bar Flash's). It's darkness and grittiness works remarkably well and is NOT a fair criticism. Affleck and Gal Gadot (oh my god, Gal Gadot) are both, perfectly perfectly cast. I need the Wonder Woman standalone movie now, and Warner Bros better fasttrack the solo movie. Well worth watching, regardless of what critics say.

As a fan of cinema- I really liked it despite some noticeable flaws. It's unique, well acted, and has spectacular action, just at times its pacing is odd and the editing is too, and this can make the story feel incoherent; it's not, I really like the story, it's just a bit hard to follow. I would have liked to have spent more time with the characters like Bruce and Diana and am really now just DESPERATE for their solo movies. I hope the Ultimate Cut can remedy the pacing and editing and spend a bit more time (half an hour) fleshing out characters.

As a fan of DC? I LOVED it. It lives up to the hype, I think the cameos are a bit forced but still wonderful, but the end is magnificent, I adored the opening sequence, the Easter Eggs, the cast, the twists, the turns. It really feels like an homage to some really, really great DC stories, and that's both a criticism and a point of love I have for it. It's got so many references and stories lumped into one it seems like an explosion, but it's a beautiful one.

It must be said Gal Gadot is a truly INCREDIBLE Wonder Woman, and Ben Affleck is an amazing Batman. Truly the standouts and bloody incredible casting on both counts and I can't wait to see her solo movie, and Warner Bros are idiots if they don't fast track the Batman solo movie.

Both what I love most about Dawn of Justice and criticise it most for is it is VERY much a set-up movie. There are so many amazing hints of what's to come and the end is such an incredible set up for both JL AND Wonder Woman (I've never been more desperate for a Wonder Woman movie). At times it feels like it should have been stronger independently, hence why it's both a criticism and a point of love. It's a promise for the rest of the DCEU to be incredible.

Ben was fantastic, as was the whole cast, but Gal stole the show for me. I adored her and the hints at Wonder Woman, was shaking and screaming for more. How excited I am for "Wonder Woman" despite only looking forward to it before...you have no idea.

It's not perfect, and I can understand some of the criticisms, but a lot of the critics are just enjoying vitriol and backhanding it over and over. If they replace Zack at WB, I won't be too disappointed knowing they'll choose someone else great, and perhaps the DCEU needs someone less divisive and splitting to critics and possibly audiences, but I love his visual storytelling. It's a comic come to life. I loved Terrio's script because, while I don't think it got enough time to shine, when it got the time to do so it REALLY shined.

Give me Suicide Squad, and, above all, the Wonder Woman movie now.