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The Watchtower of Babel News Team Weighs In on BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

After a nearly three-year wait, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is now finally playing in theaters. The film, which formally launches the DC Extended Universe, has received a strikingly polarizing reception upon release. Critics pretty much hate it, but the fans have been more positive about the movie, which is doing very well at the box office so far. But what do WE think of the film?

Now that we’ve seen it, some members of the Watchtower of Babel News crew are here to individually share our thoughts on Batman v Superman. In addition, you can check out Connor’s full review HERE, and our podcast about the movie HERE.

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is an exciting debut for the DC Extended Universe. It benefits from strong acting, exhilarating visual effects and stunning plot twists. However, the film suffers from an unfocused storyline, bad pacing and poor editing. Even with these flaws, the critics’ reviews have been unfairly harsh. I recommend Batman v Superman to longtime DC fans like myself, and even non-comic book readers may enjoy it. I feel like this is a movie that will get better with each viewing, and frankly, I can’t wait to watch it again. Paul [Full Review]
  • The highest compliment I’ll pay a movie is that I never thought about looking at my phone or watch. From the logos to the end credits I was inside the Universe Zack Snyder had presented. This feels closer to the first time I saw Watchmen in that the first twenty minutes covers a lot but once you’re through that the movie just grabs you by the hand and runs with you. Batman v Superman seems like it’s going to reward second and third viewings. Affleck, Cavill, Adams and Gadot are dead on but Eisenberg is captivating as Lex. Swinging back and forth between charming, foppish, brilliant and cruel he gives you a portrayal of a sociopath that you can’t help but despise. I can see where people are coming from with the controversy of the ending but I didn’t mind it. Jason
  • Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice is a truly bizarre film. It’s undeniably messy, but also ambitious and just plain entertaining. Lacking much in the way of structure, BvS unfolds much like a comic event mini-series translated into film, with numerous story-lines slowly but surely converging into a spectacle-laden climax. This is not to say all these aforementioned stories are good; Superman’s uncertainty about his role as Earth’s guardian seems to be a reflection of the script’s uncertainty about what to do with his character. Thankfully, Batman’s arc is by far more watchable; Affleck proves the numerous naysayers wrong and then some with his performance. I wouldn’t say Batman V Superman has given me full confidence in upcoming DC films and I’ll without a doubt have to mull over the film more to develop a concrete stance. But it improves upon Man of Steel and is generally just a good time at the movies despite the numerous flaws; after three years of uncertainty, I’m honestly relieved I can say at least that. – Devin [Full Review]
  • As much as the fanboy in me wants to deny saying this, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a flawed film. The editing and effects were definitely off at points, and I felt a certain handful of cameos could’ve been presented in a more inspired way. That said, despite it being a tad too dark for my liking, I had a lot of fun watching this film. The fight between Batman and Superman, while brief, was freakin’ awesome, and seeing the Trinity form at the end was magical. Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot are great (especially Affleck) as Batman and Wonder Woman respectively, and I even dug Jesse Eisenberg’s nutty Lex Luthor. BvS may not be perfect (or even as good as Man of Steel), but it’s still a delicious appetizer for what’s to come from DC cinema. John
  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a mixed bag. We have what I’d consider the best Batman/Bruce Wayne ever put on the big screen (excluding animation), a great Wonder Woman, and a really good Superman. It sets up the DC Trinity in a way where they are extremely likable and I can’t wait to see more of them. One of my main problems with this film is that the story isn’t as strong as it needed to be. Their motives are a little weak at times, and the battle between Batman and Superman ended in a way that left me disappointed. Batman and Superman also do some things that might leave you scratching your head. It felt more like set up then an actual movie, but it’s still extremely entertaining. It left me wanting a Batman movie, a Wonder Woman movie, and a proper Man of Steel sequel; which is exactly what DC/Warner Bros. wanted. The film is far from perfect, but it’s still a solid start to the DC Extended Universe. – Michael
  • Walking out of Batman v Superman, I’ll admit that I was disappointed. There are definitely things in this movie that are enjoyable, so it’s not an utter trainwreck like, say, Green Lantern. That being said, there are major flaws. Whether you want to look at the technical flaws like the poor pacing (which results in a lack of flow to the overall film) and the ridiculous tie-ins to the Justice League that have no real place in the film, or you look at flaws that affect us fans more than anything, like Eisenberg’s horrible portrayal of Lex (which I defended for a VERY long time, I’ll have you know) and the brief and sort of anti-climactic fight between Bats and Supes, it’s hard to deny that this is a poorly done film. If you can still manage to get enough enjoyment out of it to walk away giving it a thumbs up, then great, more power to you, but personally I’m very upset with this movie. ABARy
What did YOU think of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice? Let us know on our Twitter page.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WOBAM! Entertainment.