So there have been reviews of mixed opinions, but in general everyone seems to feel let down in some way. Having had the pleasure of being there at the avant-premiere, there's a need to set the record straight. In short, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice was nothing less than absolutely brilliant.
No question, Snyder caters to a different audience than Marvel's. While Marvel’s carefree take of the superhero genre is great and fun (endless witty barrage, machine gun jokes etc), DC’s “dark and gritty” is more relatable to an older audience. Cause David Goyer/Zack Snyder manage to pose bigger questions with their approach.
Most feel that BvS is at its best during the action. No doubt it’s epic when these titans clash, but it’s the in between drama that makes a story. This film basically asks, if God exists, what would his role be in the world? And that’s this movie's most enjoyable part. It challenges the viewer to consider such questions, and by doing so, grounds the movie into a more realistic setting than the super hero genre’s usual imaginary world... where there are no consequences whenever aliens invade and raid everything.
Realism. That’s what BvS does admirably. Here’s actually a funny example of it. If you don’t remember the Big Bang Theory Superman debate, click for a quick laugh:
Well, Sheldon will surely love BvS! This represents the very theme of the DC approach. What would these superheroes be like in the real world? This movie delivers completely on this front. Of course there are still elements that one must accept as is, still BvS challenges the last holy cows of the Superman mythos. Many might feel shocked by the choices Superman makes, but they’re utterly believable and reasonable.
Aesthetically the movie pays homage to loved comic books. From the opening montage, flashback of Bruce Wayne’s losing his parents (apologies for the spoiler...) it’s like watching Frank Miller’s panels come to life. For the casual fan, it’s a beautiful feat of cinematography with a film noir feel to it. Cinematography dominates throughout the film. For instance, many had an issue with the extensive dream sequences usage. Couldn’t tell them from the linear narrative. Well cinematography does its part just beautifully here.
The music? Eerie, epic, calm, powerful. And wait till you hear Wonder Woman’s theme!
Talking about Wonder Woman, she steals the show. Gal Gadot’s presence combined with the mysterious aura her scenes were infused with, you have a heroine you are simply dying to watch in her stand alone film. It’s about time Diana! 2017 isn’t close enough…
And Ben Affleck? Hands down best Batman that has donned the cowl. Perhaps there's bias since Miller’s Dark Knight Returns is such a favorite Batman take. But honestly, Affleck does a superb acting job. It’s tricky to come off cheesy when playing a bad ass vigilante. Not him. In fact his was the most explored Bruce Wayne interpretation to date. And in fact the cowl-less scenes are even more enjoyable.
So, BvS is not the kind of movie one might expect from Marvel’s established paradigm. If you appreciated Man of Steel, then BvS is exactly what you’ll expect. There is no change of theme here. DC has made a conscious decision, setting its own version of the genre. As it should. There are far too many light hearted superhero movies out there. This is not another one.
Thank you, Zack Snyder!
