(USA, 151 min.)
Dir. Zack Snyder, Writ. Chris Terrio, David S. Goyer
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg,
Gal Godot, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons
The title Batman v.
Superman implies a winner, but the reality is that everybody loses with
this film. The much anticipated showdown between the Caped Crusader and the Man
of Steel comes three Batman movies and two Superman reboots later in the new
era of comic book movies, and this $250 million dollar opener for yet another
goddam superhero franchise leaves Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill holding the hot
potato long after everyone else has passed it on. Put Batman and Superman together
and all this film yields is a huge steaming pile of BS.
There’s really nothing to admire or enjoy in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice as director Zack Snyder presents a movie that can barely justify its own existence. BS is essentially a two-and-a-half hour preview for the upcoming Justice League movies, but the problem here is that trailers normally run for two-and-a-half minutes. BS adds a lot of filler while bringing together two characters whose backstories have been told in numerous films. This actioner doesn’t spend much time on Superman’s origins, but it gives audiences the story of how Batman’s parents died—a spoiler alert if one didn’t see Mr. and Mrs. Wayne get whacked outside the movie theatre in Batman or Batman Begins. A very awkward first act introduces Superman (Cavill) as he wreaks havoc on Metropolis, which is like the New Jersey to Gotham’s New York, and the buildings of Wayne Enterprises crumble as Batman, né Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) looks on. From the eyes of one brooding caped man to another, frenemies are born.
Batman v. Superman
riles up both superheroes and gets them angry over the existence of the other
as media hype creates puff pieces and bad PR alike for both men. A logical
viewer might wonder why both crime fighters fail to recognise the goodness of
the other as the press demonise them both for their actions. They’re the same
men fighting the same war. Batman v.
Superman thus builds to a showdown that inherently doesn’t make sense. As
one superhero tries to make himself appear bigger than the other one, the
silliness of this charade of measuring and mansplaining belies the juvenile
drive at the heart of all comic book movies. There are so many comic book and
superhero movies these days that the loud, silly bombast of Batman v. Superman leaves one thinking
that enough is enough.
Cynicism and jadedness aside, Batman v. Superman is simply sloppy, messy, and shoddy filmmaking.
It’s an incoherent rabble of dumb dream sequences as Batman wades into Zack
Snyder territory mixed with storylines with Lois Lane (Amy Adams) chasing a story
to clear Clark Kent’s name and an eager Senator (Holly Hunter) making a case
against Superman, but being foiled by Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg) in the
process. Adams and Hunter are highlights of the film, but Eisenberg is
atrociously unhinged and shrill as the villain. He chews the scenery with
unbearable glee and smugness, but there’s barely any reason for Lex Luther to be
in the film aside from acting as a go-between to coax Superman and Batman
towards their inevitable confrontation. Throw in a half-baked subplot with
Diana Prince (Gal Godot) and Bruce Wayne gets to seem like a boozier, richer
Nick Dunne as he tries his playboy ways on Wonder Woman. If Amazing Amy were
the villain, this flick might give audiences a little more Ben for their buck.
When the film FINALLY
ties all the threads together and lets Batman and Superman do the versus thing,
the fight is disappointingly anticlimactic. It’s mostly because it comes nearly
two-hours into the movie and is like an even-handed call-and-response to leave
fanboys of either caped champion happy, but the showdown mostly fails to
satisfy because one realises that this movie is just an overdrawn tease for
another blockbuster. They aren’t going to give audiences a showdown and they
never were. Joining forces against Lex Luther and some incomprehensible
Hulk-like thing, Batman and Superman become kryptonite for the audience as
Snyder unleashes a flurry of overblown CGI for a grand finale of fake and flashy
fury. Say what you will about the overwrought Christopher Nolan movies, but
they don’t play like mindless video games. The final act is a shame since Batman v. Superman actually looks
incredible, especially in 70 mm presentations.
The ultimate letdown of Batman
v. Superman, though, is that the film reveals how both superheroes simply
don’t make for interesting characters. Compare Batman to the inhuman powers of
Superman and he simply resembles a detective with fancy toys and a great budget.
Superman, by contrast, renders himself dull with his unflappable nobility and
near invincibility. There isn’t much reason to root for either one.
Affleck, however, makes for a fun and cocky Batman while
Godot holds some promise for the Wonder Woman films with her spirited screen
presence. Adams gives the film some humanity, while new characters like The
Flash (Ezra Miller) hint at things that audiences haven’t seen before in the
endlessly derivative world of superhero movies. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice isn’t the worst entry that
either franchise has seen, but both Batman and Superman have done better
justice in stronger films.
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is now playing in wide release.
