The greatest issue that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice has is that it clearly has the potential to be a great movie. The pieces are there for one of the most memorable superhero movies ever made. The cast is incredibly strong, the action is at times invigorating, and Zack Snyder has a masterful eye for visuals. The problem is that the story falls, and it falls hard.
There are very clearly 4 movies in this film. There is a fascinating Superman sequel, one which shows the direct impact of the end of Man of Steel and which questions if Superman is an outdated concept. There is an interesting Justice League prequel, a middling Dark Knight Returns movie, and finally a mediocre death of Superman movie. Individually each of these movies could be a decent way to course correct the DCEU after the misfire that was Man of Steel, but together they create a film that is unwieldy and disjointed.
The entire first act of the movie is made of scenes that feel out of place, as if there is no rhyme or reason for their placement. They are of course beautifully shot, in particular the first 10 minutes which recreate the ending of Man of Steel, but from the viewpoint of Bruce Wayne as he experiences the destruction of Metropolis first hand. But their excitement and their beauty mean next to nothing when their purpose is simply to introduce the occasional significant character to the cast or to paint Superman and Batman as whiny and petulant children.
All of this negatively impacts a film that should have everything going for it. In particular the cast, most of whom preform wonderfully. Amy Adams is impressive, as always. Jeremy Irons is an entertaining Alfred and Gal Gadot is an intriguing Wonder Woman. The standout however is Ben Affleck as Batman, who manages to prove the critics of his casting wrong in an impressive way. Affleck’s Bruce Wayne is the suave playboy and his Batman is the powerful, intimidating figure that he should be. In many ways his Batman is the closest that the movies have ever come to a comic accurate presentation. And this is where the films Dark Knight Returns influence is felt.
Zack Snyder clearly loves comic books and superheroes, which is why he chose to use some of the greatest comics in history as the inspiration for his movie. The problem is that he seems to not understand his source material. The use of the Dark Knight Returns for visual inspiration for example is off when the reason for Batman and Superman’s conflict completely misses the point. In that comic, which takes place in an alternate 1980’s where superheroes are outlawed and Superman has become a lackey for a mad Ronald Regan, Batman and Superman fight because Batman continues to be a vigilante. That comic is about personal freedom and opposition to tyranny, yet in this movie the conflict seems to be based more on Batman’s fear and jealousy of what Superman can do, all which runs against the point of his character, that he is a symbol for what we can all do.
All of this pales in comparison to the disaster that is this movie presentation of Superman. There is a famous series of panels from the comic All-star Superman, where the Man of Steel comforts a suicidal teen, showing that he is supposed to be what we should all aspire to, and the antithesis of the theory that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Kal-el is a Christ like figure, which Snyder clearly understands if all of the Christ symbols in this movie are to be believed. However in this film he becomes a question, one which we are supposed to believe shows that we are unworthy and that we should distrust him.
As if their characterizations were not fumbled enough, their actions seem to have no rhyme or reason. One minute either character may hate the other, and the next they may tolerate each other, or they may even like each other, all for what seems to be random happenstance.
While the bungling of the main characters ultimately hurts the film, it is not what dooms it. What ultimately hurts the film, more than anything else, is its lack of a sense of fun. Superhero movies do not have to be happy go lucky, they can have a serious streak to them. Case in point the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, which have managed to find a seemingly perfect balance between humor and drama, all while examining many of the same themes and questions that Batman v. Superman is trying to ask. This is the culmination of decades of fan boy hopes and dreams, the possibility of seeing these characters on screen together fueling nerdy debates for years. And yet the money shot of this movie, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman united on screen together for the first time, is virtually joyless. Compared to the similar scene that occurred in the Avengers, of the heroes circled up to fight the alien army, which was thrilling and a highlight of the 2012 cinematic year, this is a disappointment of epic proportions.
This film could have been saved, but the fumbling of the characters, the uneven script, the lack of understanding of what makes these characters so interesting, and the lack of fun are detractors as great as any kryptonite. And like any good piece of kryptonite, it has the potential to bring down even the most powerful of heroes.
one star out of five.
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