Despite receiving mixed reviews, Man of Steel was a massive hit, grossing over $668 million on a $225 million budget. Following its release, Warner Bros announced that writer David Goyer and director Zack Snyder would reunite for a sequel. However, due to prior commitments, Goyer left the project and writer Chris Terrio was brought in for re-writes. Alongside the returning cast, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Jesse Eisenberg would play Batman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor respectively. This casting drew criticism from many fans, many of them even protesting similar to Michael Keaton’s casting in Batman. Though originally slated for a 2015 release then delayed initially to May 2016, it finally released in March 2016. Coincidentally, May 2016 would see the release of Captain America: Civil War, which Warner Bros. wanted to avoid competing with. Finally, on March 25, 2016, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released.
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Synopsis
During the climax of Man of Steel, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) witnesses the destruction of Metropolis firsthand. Operating in Gotham City as the vigilante Batman, Wayne sees Superman as a threat and tries to expose him. Meanwhile, eccentric entrepreneur Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) asks Senator June Finch (Holly Hunter) permission to investigate the wrecked Kryptonian ship. He explains that he wants to extract kryptonite to use as a deterrent against Superman, but Finch denies him. Wayne is trailing Luthor as he also seeks the kryptonite to use against Superman, and he manages to steal it. Following a Congressional hearing gone wrong, Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) goes into exile, fearing he might be dangerous. Then, Luthor kidnaps Clark’s mother Martha (Diane Lane) to draw him out to confront Batman in a one-on-one fight. However, the two realize there’s something else going on and decide to team up, but they’ll need help.
Review
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a bloated mess marred by a convoluted plot and overuse of CGI. While much of the film doesn’t work, there are a few positives here, such as some of the performances. Though the characterization is off, Ben Affleck makes for a solid Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Jeremy Irons’ Alfred complements him. Gal Gadot, despite having limited screentime, is phenomenal as Wonder Woman, nailing the look and having some charisma. While his material mostly consists of moping about, Henry Cavill still shines as Superman, and he’s clearly trying. The fight between Batman and Superman, though brief, is fun to watch, inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Once Wonder Woman enters the fray, the action-packed climax improves, even if it becomes CG caricatures smacking into one another. Unfortunately, you have to sit through plenty of weak material just to get there.
The rest of the acting is decent but forgettable, though Jesse Eisenberg is the worst offender in terms of acting. While Michael Shannon was over-the-top as Zod, he was at least intimidating and came across as a genuine threat. Eisenberg, on the other hand, comes across as more annoying than intimidating, almost channeling Jim Carrey’s Riddler from Batman Forever. On top of that, several subplots go nowhere or are ignored, creating numerous plotholes and making the story more complicated. For instance, there’s a subplot revolving around a man who lost his legs during Superman’s fight with Zod. Just as soon as he appears, he gets blown up during the Congressional hearing, only there to advance the plot. This, combined with the dreadful pacing and overall tone of the film, make for a pretty miserable experience. Overall, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a depressing slog to get through.
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