Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Review

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Batman v Superman, set 2 years after MoS, follows an older Batman with his sights set on Superman, viewing him as a threat, while a real threat looms under the surface. 

What I find most interesting about this is that it shows the consequences of the events of Man of Steel and how for some, Superman is a hero, but to others, he is an unchecked alien with the power to destroy. Bruce Wayne is our vessel for this viewpoint, giving us a first hand look at the destruction and pain that is possible when you have a hero with so much power. And neither are wrong. Batman is right to believe that Superman should be considered dangerous. Superman is also right in that he just wants to help because let’s be real, without him, the world would cease to exist. It does an excellent job of blurring the lines between right and wrong, while also giving us a catalyst for the two to fight in a plot by Lex Luthor. 

The action, visuals, and story, were really well done and thought out, giving us an even darker take on already dark characters, and turning beacons of hope into their own darkest versions as well. The fight between Batman and Superman was stunning, with this Batman taking obvious inspiration from the Frank Miller run, and was a total force on screen. Though it had to happen to serve a point in the story, I wasn’t big on Batman actually winning because 1. Thats ridiculous and 2. You then have Superman literally stand toe-to-toe with Doomsday in what is easily the best and most intense scene of the movie, making his sacrifice after all of the character attacks a sad, but moving moment that brought the movie around full circle, proving Batman’s point wrong all along. 

We also get a solid cast in Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, and Henry Cavill. I gotta say it, I hated Jesse Eisenberg as Lex, as he just seemed like a whiny, self-contrived kid who felt out of place in such a dark movie. On the other hand, I loved Cavill & Affleck, as each brought a grittiness of contrasting hope that made the movie really feel unlike anything we’ve ever had in a superhero movie. 

BvS, directed by Zach Snyder, is an intelligently crafted battle of morality and power pitting man against god and giving us a blockbuster battle for the ages that introduces Batman & Wonder Woman to the DCEU and cleverly uses the sacrifice of Superman to bring about the formation of the Justice League. 

8.4/10