Movie Review – Batman V Superman - Dawn Of Justice

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Spoiler alerts – 2016 I had heard reports that this was not proving popular or successful, and overall I have to agree that it is disappointing. The performances are fine, especially from Ben Affleck as Batman / Bruce Wayne and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. The problem is an overall incoherent plot, and the actual showdown between the heroes only occupying about ten minutes of screen time, with a rather too easy victory for Batman. There are several weird flashbacks within flashbacks, with multiple reminders of Wayne’s troubled tragic childhood, and weird dream visions including one with flying monkey-harpies straight out of Oz. Luthor switches from a valid resentment of an alien who could turn on humanity at any time to just being a general purpose psycho, kidnapping Martha Kent to force Superman into attacking Batman. Their battle is soon spoilt by Lois who has discovered the truth, though there is neat confusion for Superman over Wayne’s mum also having been called Martha. It is a cop-out for that alone to be grounds to stop them fighting to the death. What if Lex’s mum turns out to be a Martha too? Will they become one big happy family? The heroes then unite with a brilliantly portrayed but under-used Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in the fight against Lex’s back up weapon, Doomsday, resulting in the sacrifice-death of Superman though he is already showing signs of life again as the movie ends. Batman seems to change outfits in mid conflict at one point, from a heavy armour one that is damaged to hi ordinary Gotham suit. Superman seems to go to pieces over his Mum being kidnapped when his super-hearing or X-Ray vision should have made finding her very easy. The promised appearances by Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash are over in a flash. The search for them is likely to be central to the next team up movie. That is the one that really deserves the Dawn Of Justice subtitle. The film tries so hard to be serious and broody that it is virtually humourless. Only Eisenberg seems to enjoy himself. Some scenes serve no purpose at all as with Luthor’s stammering hesitation during a big public speech. There is no given reason why the public suddenly turn from hating Superman over the deaths caused at the end of Man Of Steel to suddenly loving him when he dies after another city-wide bust-up. Batman uses guns to kill, and brutally brands villains with the mark of the bat. There are good cameos, with Jeremy Irons excelling as Alfred and Laurence Fishbourne’s Perry White is neat too. Overall therefore, bitterly disappointing. Arthur Chappell