Review: BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

With the future of
the DC universe hanging in the balance, many wonder if Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice can
pull the weight of being both a good film and a jumping off point for future
films.

Director Zack Snyder’s epic blockbuster is a continuation of
2013’s Man of Steel, and the end events of that film directly tie into this
film. Snyder’s decision to not shy away from the controversial ending of Man of
Steel gives the director a chance to not only defend his previous work, but
also to build upon it. Man of Steel opened to mixed reviews from critics, with
many citing overly bombastic action and not enough character development.

Here, Snyder relives the action-packed ending by showing the
ending through the eyes of the audience in Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne. By doing
this, it gives the audience reasonable motive for Bruce’s anger towards
Superman. Bruce does not trust this alien being, Superman is a global threat.

Ben Affleck is a worthy successor of Christian Bale. While
Snyder’s iteration of the character is much more dark and brutal, Affleck still
shines and is an enjoyable new Batman for audiences. Ben benefits from having
his voice modulated, something Bale needed in his films with Christopher Nolan.
The bat voice isn’t hokey.

The majority of the cast gets their moments in the
spotlight. Amy Adams returns as Lois Lane, this time given an investigative
subplot. Newcomers Jesse Eisenberg and Gal Gadot excel in their roles.
Eisenberg gives a neurotic take on Lex Luthor, while Gadot steals the show as
an Amazonian warrior. Henry Cavill’s Superman is a bit more nuanced this time,
struggling to find his place in the world.

The film itself is quite overstuffed. Zack Snyder had a
heavy task ahead of him. Not only is this film an introduction to a new Batman,
but the film also has to set up the upcoming Justice League film. It is a lot
to cover and at times, the movie can be overwhelming. But thanks to Chris
Terrio’s screenplay, the film stays afloat for the majority of the runtime.

Batman v Superman’s editing is strange, however. The film’s
scene transitions are a bit wonky. Because so much has to be explained in over
two hours, it can feel like scenes are jumping from one point to another in an
almost frenetic appearance. Saying that, the film’s pace is quite good. The
film understands what viewers are looking for.

For this film, Snyder’s directing style is more like 2009’s
Watchmen. This might be due to the fact that he reunited with that film’s
cinematographer Larry Fong. The scenes are wonderfully structured, and the
visuals are an utter treat to fans of these classic pop culture heroes.

Ultimately, while the film tries to say and set up a lot for
future installments, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice never feels lacking. It may have editing
issues, but it gives fans what they wanted. The film starts the dynamic between
Batman and Superman, sets up the DC universe and gives fans a taste of Justice
League. It’s a fun time for fans of the superhero genre.