Dark, gritty, Watchmen like take on the most beloved characters in the American consciousness

Rating: 10/10 (28 March 2016)

I loved this film. As a life long Batman fanatic, I was terrified Ben Affleck would ruin the film, but I came away believing I had watched an older, cynical, paranoid Batman try to kill the Man of Steel.
I hate spoilers so I'll avoid them here, but there is absolutely a lot happening. Having read the comics for decades, there are many references in the movie to a host of plot lines, which provide the basis for an on-going story. On my second viewing, I could not find a weak scene or anything that I would remove. I won't say it was perfect, but it so far exceeded my expectations that it might as well have been.
I will say the movie is demanding, requiring the viewer to both pay attention and have a significant knowledge of the DC Universe. As a die hard fan, this is remarkable. Unlike other recent superhero films I could mention, it is much darker and does not give the story short shrift to maintain a needlessly frenetic pace.
I was most reminded of The Watchmen if you need a comparison. If you really like The Watchmen or Man of Steel, this will not disappoint you.