When you have to spend a couple of hours watching two superheroes, who are quintessentially alpha-male (with rugged good looks and beefed-up hotbods encased in suits that highlight them) fight it out almost every time they’re on screen together, you should, technically, not have much to complain about.
Notwithstanding the cheesy one liners, the yawn-inducing borderline-ridiculous sentimental crap, plus action sequences that jumps from one destination to the next in a blink…you would expect the Zack Synder-directorial to be something massive.
Especially after his highly criticised Man of Steel (2013), you’d want Synder’s current film to be like the Phoenix – rise from the ashes to shut us into awe. But what you get is a limp storyline and screwed-up narrative!
The film starts where Man of Steel ends — during the epic battle between Superman aka Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) and General Zod that almost destroyed the entire Metropolis, including Bruce Wayne’s massive office complex, and killing thousands.
Bruce (Ben Affleck) looks up and vows revenge –well, he doesn’t really say it but come on, we all knew how it would turn out, right? His hatred for Superman makes him dream about ways Superman can kill without fear. Perhaps he’s wondering about his own mortality and the lack of strength to fight against a bullet-defying alien, which is why it’s puzzling when we see Wayne cross-training to become strong enough to take on Superman. Really? That’s what you do to take on a guy who can fire through his eyes and even survive a bomb blast 10 feet away?
Anyway, coming back to the story: public opinion is divided on whether the world needs Superman, and we meet a fantastic Holly Hunter (a pity she doesn’t get more screen time) as a Senator from Kentucky who represents that debate.
In walks Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), the only saving grace of the film, who, with his nervous ticks and fast speech, sets the tone of what’s to come. Lex wants to get his hands on Kryptonite, which he does through backdoor dealings with the government, and wants to weaponise it for protecting humanity. Meanwhile, Clark Kent has no charitable thoughts to spare for Batman who he believes is a vigilante with his own agenda.
When Clarke and Bruce meet at Luthor’s party, you’d expect the tension to be palpable. Instead, we get to see two bored men who are forced to snipe at each other, and their supposed cold war before the epic battle feels like a joke.
Fortunately, the glamorous Gal Gadot, in her role as a somewhat unconvincing Wonder Woman, saves the scene and also has Wayne intrigued.
While the Bat is trying to find ways to kill Superman, the latter is busy rescuing children from burning buildings and of course, Lois Lane (Amy Adams). Even during the final battle, where he should be kicking some serious butt, Superman is distracted by a drowning Lois. Jeez woman, just how many times do you need to be rescued? Enough already!
Oh, did we forget to mention the back stories of how Batman came to be? If you had grown up on these comics, such stories don’t need a revisit; and even if you’re new to the characters, you’d have to be living in a cave – pun intended, to not know where the Bat came from.
There’s a scene where Mama Wayne’s pearl necklace breaks after she’s shot. We can’t help but feel it’s a metaphor-of-sorts – for a beautiful film that falls apart because of one too many storylines with nothing except SFX to hold it together.
Somewhere in all this mess, in a blink-you’ll-miss-it scene, we’re introduced to the Aquaman (played by our very own Khal Drogo aka Conan the Barbarian aka Jason Momoa). Thankfully, we’re spared the histories of how an Amazonian warrior became Wonder Woman and the origins of Aquaman. Quite the stage Synder has set for The Justice League!
One of the biggest criticisms that Man of Steel faced was its utter disregard for human life, which was a huge casualty when Superman and Zod collided. Is that why Dawn of Justice has random characters pointing out that the island – where Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are fighting the deformity that-used-to-be-General-Zod – is devoid of human life? It’s laughable really.
And that’s the problem with the film! With some of the most archetypal of American superheroes featuring in one film, there are way too many stories, grunts and snipes, and the need for equal screen time, spoiling what could have been a masterpiece of directorial perfection of characters from DC Comics. It’s a shame really, that it’s a huge mess!
Nevertheless, the visual effects (especially the battle scenes) and graphics are stunning, no doubt. Though Jeremy Irons cannot hold a candle to Michael Caine or Francis Michael Gough as Alfred, his accent (like his upper lip) is stiff enough to carry him through the series.
Even as a controversial casting, Affleck is superb as Batman, and what more can we say about Cavill – that he makes Kent/Superman delectable and sympathetic says a lot about his prowess as an actor. Lawrence Fishburne’s Perry White (Editor of the Daily Planet) and a tired-looking Diane Lane’s Martha Kent, two powerhouse performers, have little to do except look frustrated and helpless. We empathise, ofcourse…we felt the same when we watched the film!
Review
Film: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; Director: Zack Snyder; Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot