Let me preface this by saying that I like, and even love many DC characters, yet have often said that I hate what DC does with its characters. Let me also say now that I prefer Marvel over DC, and the MCU has only widened the preference gap for me. As with any review, the opinions here are my own, and they are biased. That being said, I cannot in good conscience recommend Batman vs Superman. Continue reading below for the full review.
Story and characters
Starting at the end of Man of Steel the film begins with what’s come to be expected from a Christopher Nolan-involved project, a little bit of theological or metaphysical musing and some action. The difference here being that it begins at the height of Man of Steel’s controversy with rampant destruction and incalculable loss of life all to establish the motivations for Bruce Wayne to bring Superman to heel and make him accountable for his actions. Therein lies the central theme of 75% of the movie, a hero without control not being held accountable for his actions. Though the central themes and plot are reminiscent of the upcoming Captain America: Civil War, (as well as the comparison that the hero on the side of free reign is wearing red and blue, and is opposed by a billionaire in a suit) the similarities end there as BvS immediately gets heavily bogged down in trying to make comparisons to Greek myth and Judeo-Christian theology for the bulk of the over 150 minute film in an attempt to explain itself. Not only does the incessant rationalization not support itself in the movie, it doesn’t lead to anything in the film and collapses under its own weight to be forgotten by the end.
The first time that DC’s big 3 have appeared together on screen is sadly undermined by none of the characters being particularly well established or built up. Henry Cavill’s Superman is as flat as he was in Man of Steel with an added twist of hypocrisy that is not only not established but is instantly forgiven on all parts for next to no reason. Likewise, Amy Adam’s Lois Lane is given no support or growth and her relationship to Superman and Clark Kent is ever present but never established beyond the scenes they shared in the previous film.
Ben Affleck’s Batman is well done, and arguably the best part of the entire film. It’s a much more brutal Batman than normal who doesn’t bat an eye (no pun intended) at dropping bodies with a kill count well into the double digits outside of a certain scene which adds a dozen more deaths to his conscience, and firearms to his utility belt.
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman is a nice addition, though one that is almost completely absent from the movie save for the final confrontation and 5 minutes sprinkled throughout. Somehow she has hardly more time on screen than Ezra Miller’s Flash, or Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman, yet is instantly and immediately familiar with the main cast. The only relationship that is given any time or development is that between Bruce and Clark, and that is wrapped up into a one minute scene that completely inverts Bruce’s goals.
Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor may be the worst character in the film, being a strange mix of eccentric and goofy a la Gene Hackman, and creepy that never develops into anything threatening or menacing. He comes off as closer to a jittery Riddler than Luthor, yet somehow manages to know more about Superman than most iterations of the character, and does so without any background, research, knowledge or reasoning in the film.
Presentation
Coming from a combination of Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder the cinematography in Batman vs Superman is extremely hit or miss. At times there are beautiful sweeping shots, meaningful pauses and purposeful close ups. At other times the endlessly shaking camera is beyond disorienting and borderline nauseating. This becomes especially trying during the action scenes where characters are being thrown across cities in an instant without a proper tracking shot to follow them. Fortunately, action only really happens in the last 40 minutes or so of the 150+ minute slogfest. Unfortunately it’s the most engaging part of the film even if there is next to no buildup and no consequence for what actually happens. Within the action sequences lies a strange issue with the film, incredibly inconsistent CGI. At one moment the movement and texture of Doomsday borders on uncanny valley, and the next Batman looks to have leaped from early 2000′s test footage.
Sound design is thankfully adequate with much of the sound effects mirroring the weight and power of the force being displayed. This becomes especially important when there are more explosions than a typical Michael Bay flick and your lead character could break the planet with his pinkie.
The saving grace of the film comes from its soundtrack. Hans Zimmer is called once more to Nolan’s aid and delivers a score that is both varied and largely new, rather than heavily recycled from the Dark Knight Trilogy and Man of Steel as it very easily could have been. The mix of weight and lightness prevents the soundtrack from being too heavily bogged down and it matches the varying tones of the film as best as it can.