Excellent. Welcome to the DC Movie Universe!

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2016)

Please, if you haven't seen this film, don't read below. It contains spoilers (lots of them). You have been warned!
Headline Points.
As I write this review, I'm listening to the soundtrack on Spotify. So good! I have already pre- ordered the movie on iTunes. And I am going to see it again on Monday. So, yeah, I really loved it.
An Uncertain World.
Firstly, I genuinely can't see why people don't like this movie. For people to say it isn't funny or it's too dark, well that's not the point. It never promised to be anything other than hard-hitting (just like the comics it is based on). Having scoured the Internet to get a gauge, it is clear that there are two camps that have chosen not to like this movie. Critics and Marvel fans. I honestly believe that on the basis of some reviews, they haven't even watched the movie. Yes, trolls. They spoil it for everyone. What is clear is that this movie and this universe is made for the comic fans and for that I thank you, Mr. Synder, because, you have created something spectacular. The DC universe is a grown up, dark, troubled world where it's heroes are not even sure they are heroic. And there is a darker future to come. It is perfect.
Who's the Real Threat?
Affleck nails both Batman (a Batman that has been around for 20 years) and Bruce Wayne. Cavill is still the man to play Clark and Superman. It's their show and they both play it really well. Batman sees Superman as a threat. Superman sees Batman as someone that can't be trusted. Luther (Eisenberg does a great crazy Lex) plays them against each other. There are some scenes where you feel that you are right inside a comic (perfect). They are beautifully created and expertly thought out. A few times I caught myself thinking, 'epic' is just not a big enough word to describe this.
Welcome to the DC Universe!
We get glimpses of Aquaman, Flash, Cyborg and Wonder Woman. None of them get much screen time, with Synder, instead opting to give them brief cameos before they get their own film or appear in the Justice League movie. Wonder Woman is the exception and whilst she turns up at the end, I did feel that she is going to be the hardest character to get right in any DC film. That is not a reflection of Gal Gadot, who definitely looked the part and played the character like the comics. I just think that in an aggressive, male-dominated world, it is hard to depict her as anything as powerful as Superman. I hope I'm proved wrong on this.
Frank Miller's Batman.
The comic influences are wide, but The Dark Knight Returns is the biggest story to inspire this film. It is Frank Miller's Batman that appears in this movie. He sees it as his responsibility to take down the Superman. The fight scene between Batman and Superman has been covered in some of the trailers, but it doesn't prepare you for a scene that is truly epic. Since first reading Dark Knight I wondered what this would look like on the big screen and it does not disappoint.
It's been Emotional.
Whilst it is a dark and angry world, there are some fantastic scenes where Synder pulls on your emotional heart strings. The latter part of the film is played out really well and the Kevin Costner cameo is really well done. The music, courtesy of Hans Zimmer, has many of the same themes as Man of Steel, so there are some really nice, touching moments, that many wouldn't have expected.
Darkseid is Coming.
There are two scenes involving Affleck that are just screaming, 'here is a clue to the premise of the next movie and the future of the DC universe.' He has two dreams (nightmares) or hallucinations (unexplained at this point) that nod to Darkseid or some other alien invader coming to earth. There is also the suggestion that the Flash can time travel and that Superman's heroic future may be in question. We see Batman, presumably in a future apocalyptic earth, fighting Superman soldiers. We also see Parademons, which, for comic fans, is the stuff made of dreams. Whilst these scenes may be confusing for the uninitiated, they leave questions for the rest of us to debate over a pint for the next film.
Negatives.
I don't have many issues to highlight. I could really nitpick, but it is such an operatic effort, that crams a lot of content and introduces us to a new universe, that it would be unfair to untie it. If this was made into two movies or a trilogy, it would just get criticised for overdoing it. It can't win! My biggest issue is the fact that the Doomsday fight scene went on for too long but that just seems to be the way with action sequences these days.
Conclusion.
This is a film for the DC fans. And for that I am thankful. The little things, like Affleck's Batman voice and the Batmobile, were excellent. The apocalyptic future is pure DC and the ending What about the ending? I am definitely sold on seeing the rest of this DC movie universe. Can't wait to see it again! 9/10