The world’s biggest indie movie, BvS’ fine action, epic cameo, incredible Batfleck, & corruptibility-of-power/lust-for-control themes are mixed with a poorly-scored, overstuffed, rushed doom-and-gloom narrative with sour tone; a mixed event. 5/10.

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Plot Synopsis: After the events of Man of Steel, the world knows who Superman is and fears his absolute god-like powers. No one fears this power as much as Bruce Wayne (Batman), who is manipulated by Lex Luthor into thinking that Superman is a grave  threat to the fate of the world and fighting him in an effort to destroy him and bring back human order.

*Possible spoilers ahead*

Official CLC Review

Review: Let me start by saying that as a big DC fan, there are few movies I was more hyped for coming into the theaters than Batman v Superman. Man Of Steel was a misunderstood masterpiece and everything reboots should be – reframing and giving new depth to the first and greatest superhero of all-time generations later. Watchmen was a piéta of stylistic noir magnificence, and Zack Snyder had thoroughly proven his rites-of-passage in CLC’s vote leading into [without question] the biggest movie of his career. Maybe there should’ve been more checkpoints, studio-oversight, and rites – Batman v Superman is a conundrum so enigmatic and punch-drunk, it would confuse The Riddler himself. The world’s biggest indie movie, BvS’ fine action, epic cameo, incredible Batfleck, & corruptibility-of-power/lust-for-control themes are mixed with a poorly-scored, overstuffed, rushed doom-and-gloom narrative with sour tone; a mixed event.

First, let’s start out with the negatives of the film: The scoring is awful. Repetitive and unnecessarily dour sounding like a choir being burned alive in hot lava, BvS’ soundscape is a massive detraction on the film’s enjoyment – and rare misfire by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL. The mise-en-scene is overtly dark and desaturated in color, which gives a dark aura that many people and critics complained about, but is characteristic of Zack Snyder’s films like Watchmen and 300 – although still troubling for the mass market. There are also weird pacing issues in the film, with multiple storylines that seem to bounce back and forth, changing as soon as you get into them and requiring extensive DC back-knowledge to understand and keep up with. Going hand-in-hand, the film tries to tackle way too many storylines: having to rehash Batman origins after The Dark Knight series, Batman v Superman conflict, Superman v Lex Luthor conflict, Superman v Doomsday conflict, introducing Wonder Woman, the death of Superman, and teasing every core member of the Justice League (except Green lantern, but still).

Why the DCEU decided to rush their movie universe right into Justice League before at least a single origin movie for every member of the Justice League and thus being able to parcel stories like these out where they can feel more effective instead of jumbled together is simply beyond me. BVS is also slightly pretentious in parts, overstepping its medium to self-congratulatorily pronunciate its arrival with things like a shot-recreation of 2001: A Space Odyssey – the greatest sci-fi and one of the greatest movies of all-time, not exactly something you want to be invoking with a project this heavily-flawed and weak. That would be like an NBA rookie or fresh draftee coming out wearing a Jordan #23 Bulls jersey or doing the Lebron chalk-toss, and it makes it damn hard to root for BvS as a project.

Martha. Of course, that cannot be argued against as poor writing and a lackadaisical and sloppy resolution to an otherwise absolutely jaw-dropping spectacle of a fight between the 2 greatest superheroes ever: Superman and Batman. Snyder’s directorial decision to make batman a killer by doing things like dropping a car on someone and stabbing someone else is also cringy and completely defeats the no-killing mentality so painstakingly established by The Dark Knight series and Nolan, as well as the near century of comics. Oh, and I did not like Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor or Doomsday’s adaptations in this movie.

Although it could be argued that Lex was genius in the movie and achieved all his ultimate goals of killing Superman indirectly and summoning Darkseid to Earth to create the Justice League, his mannerisms and acting are just annoying, especially when he stammers and stumbles on words and squeals his voice, trying to invoke a Heath Ledger vibe but failing drastically. Doomsday was also extremely poorly designed, looking like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and lacking any of the famous spikes, beard, or defining characteristics of his comic and even Injustice portrayals, and also, once again, a completely unnecessary addition to the movie plaguing it with too many storylines and an awfully paced and overlong, underdeveloped film.

HOWEVER, there are bright spots in the movie as well, and ones that make any DC fan or even DC moderate grin from ear-to-ear. First of all, Batman. Ben Affleck was a choice for batman that turned a lot of heads and even drew skepticism, but in my opinion and many others’, he is now the best Batman of All-Time. Now, Christian Bale still has the best Batman movie in TDK and is the best Bruce Wayne, but as Batman, Affleck just exudes power and a darkness that fits perfectly with the character. The opening Batman origin scene in the film is also a masterpiece that captures the iconic death scene of Bruce’s parents in perhaps the best way I’ve ever seen. Finally, BvS Batman has an absolutely beautiful comic-accurate suit (best I’ve seen in live-action by far), gadgets, and a Batmobile that are just simply bad-ass, and the fight scenes that are too good to be true.

Perhaps the biggest pro of this movie and along with the visual stunning quality of the film one that singlehandedly lifts it into at least the 70% range for me are the fight scenes. Let’s start with the Batman v Superman fight itself: The cinematography and setting, painstakingly crafted mise-en-scene, and choreography of the fight of the two greatest superheroes in history is just a pure spectacle to behold and tear-inducing moment for Batman and Superman fans. Also, the Warehouse fight is perhaps the greatest batman fight scene EVER put to film, showing off Batman’s real tactical and technological aptitude in a masterfully choreographed and brutal brawl.

Finally, the Doomsday fight itself was great in that it teamed up the Trinity of superheroes: Batman, Superman, and introduced Wonder Woman for the first time on the big screen. Wonder Woman’s introduction into the fight scenes with the iconic wrist-cross is a scene that got everyone out of their seats and cheering in the theater I was in, and she is so powerful and skilled as a fighter that it was a huge pro of the movie. The trinity showed great chemistry and team fighting ability as a sort of proto-Justice League in the Doomsday fight and sets the fight-scene-bar high for all of the upcoming Justice League movies with the whole League.

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Conclusion

Overall, Batman v Superman has some glaring and inexcusable flaws, but also ] glimpses of absolute brilliance that can be expanded on with more careful and not-rushed planning giving a lot of hope for the DCEU in the future. The world’s biggest indie movie, BvS’ fine action, epic cameo, incredible Batfleck, & corruptibility-of-power/lust-for-control themes are mixed with a poorly-scored, overstuffed, rushed doom-and-gloom narrative with sour tone; a mixed event.

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