Director: Zack Synder
By Alex Watson
On paper, this super-fight mash-up sounded like a win-win for all involved, sadly Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is frankly a false dawn. While it has brief moments that thrill, the continually dark and gloomy edge leaves the movie empty at its core. Zack Synder seems more focused in dazzling us visually rather than allow this movie to be a fun experience. What follows will likely leave you asking a number of questions when the end credits role.
Superman (Henry Cavill) is currently being hailed as both hero and villain after saving Metropolis in the last installment. Preventing Zod almost left a heavy cost to human lives and deeply affected one Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck). Wanting vengeance on the Man of Steel, Batman is also facing a bad rap from the media due to his excessive revenge crimes. Lurking in the shadows is one Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) who seems a little too interested in examining some found Kryptonite.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is a picture that feels too drawn out despite Synder's best intentions. The principle issues seems to be the favour of talk over action and like all VS installments, it takes it sweet time. Beginning during Superman's previous finale, Synder gives us a Roland Emmerich-style opening which sees Bruce Wayne frantically try to save his employees. This section does give an early thrill and it plants the bitter seed of conflict within Wayne as he seeks for survivors amongst metropolis wreckage. Batman in this piece is a paranoid, sociopathic wreck that brands his victims. Morally the man is suffering and his dreams are haunted by nightmares of giant flying bats. A new spin on his childhood is a pleasant change as it is shown to begin in 1981 (look for an advert for Excalibur). Jeremy Irons also fits in well as the new Alfred and is given a more in depth part than Michael Caine;s surrogate father. The hatred built up between the two men is justified, but sadly this feels like a lightweight affair.
Supes has also been hitting bad press and despite saving the planet, his seeming lack of conscience for human lives has alerted public conscience. "He is a man who answers to no-one!" cries one survivor to Senator Finch (Holly Hunter) and for once this movie does question his hero status. Scott McNairy appears a man who has been wrong by Superman and is keen for revenge. This side note does give us one very unexpected twist, but it doesn't really affect the picture. On the other side, Clark Kent doesn't seem to be too fond of the Dark Knight's tactics. When finally together in the same room, it just doesn't conjure up that sizzling feeling required. Then along comes Lex Luthor, who in this picture is a floppy haired and tortured wiz kid who comes off more like a manic Energizer Bunny than a bad guy. His plotting fails to spark any interest and his schemes appear to be not thought through.
When the showdown finally hits, Synder lets his two leads run riot as they do battle in the slums of Gotham. Fists fly, walls crumble, krypton grenades blast and for a brief time we smile. The entertainment factor is decidedly low throughout so this injection of adrenaline keeps it on life support.However, this effect does not last due to the overuse of CGI and yet another air battle (what is it with superheroes and midair?) Synder soon sends this finale into a more bland and familiar territory. The long delayed big screen debut of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) gives us possibly the strongest character throughout and this warrior is gutsy to the bone. Her impact in this one might by limited, but it does tickle the interest as to what she can do in a full feature. Essentially this piece will begin to feel like an extended trailer for the Justice League by the climax.
Ben Affleck might not have been the fans favourite choice, but he does convince as Bruce Wayne. Unfazed by his failure as Daredevil, Affleck gives his Batman as a twisted logic and does well keep his characters thirst for payback suppressed. Henry Cavill does the best he can as Superman but is given precious little to work with. Had the writing been deeper then this could have been a great character study on his feeling beneath the cape. Instead Cavill is forced to feast on the generic scraps he is fed. Jesse Eisenberg comes off worst of all as Lex Luthor and his performance is very much a love/hate thing. Giving a very hammy overtone, Eisenberg lacks any sense of immediate threat and you have to wonder why either hero doesn't kill him within seconds of meeting him?
No doubt one of 2016's biggest misfires, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice should have been the first dose of summer fun. Now they will have to contend with the angry message board comments. Let's hope any errors get fixed for Justice League.
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