Unworthy of Your Worship

Rating: 3/10 (22 June 2016)

Does the world really need Superman? Why would the world feel a need for Batman?
I will have to say for myself that I am in no support for the blessed Man of Steel. I see little appeal in his uninspired character and ability, and he has played a small role in my years growing up. As for the Dark Knight, he led a much greater influence on my childhood, as he showed great persistence and strategic planning to maintain social order. Does Zack Snyder's new interpretation do justice to developing the images of either of these idols of citizen worship? In truth, Mr. Snyder has zero sense of what to communicate about our matters of worship in a single deity, no matter how intentional his attempts.
It's unbelievable how little he hides Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice's symbolic ties with the Holy Scriptures. He starts it up with a dramatically overdone opening of Bruce Wayne as a child fleeing from his parents' funeral while flashing back to their deaths. He falls into a pit in a forest where hundreds of bats either carry him out or help him to float out, a scene I'm guessing is meant to be open to interpretation. The very next event we see of Bruce's life is ironically where Man of Steel had ended: right in the battle between Superman and General Zod. It takes you through Bruce's perspective of the destruction, and how he rescues a little girl whose mother was just killed in the mayhem. It's a savior figure of September 11th proportions, but the screenwriters Chris Terrio (Argo) and David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) had no sense of structure to plot Bruce's growth into Batman emotionally right.
Then Lois Lane goes to Africa to track a crime organization, a racially insensitive and unnecessary subplot if anything. Then Lex Luthor investigates the remains of Krypton through explorations in the Indian Ocean, in order to gain world domination as the devil overthrowing Metropolis' god. Then Clark Kent looks upon Metropolis' criticism toward him, all questioning if he deserves the honor as he has let several people die. I will admit, their responses are shockingly realistic to how the world would react to a Superman, but when aligned with the film's three other subplots, this philosophy lacks its intended purpose.
Although an excellent dose of reality is added by the various people who come out to declare against the Man of Steel's actions towards humanity. You will see a legless man working under Bruce Wayne who defaces the Superman statue. You will see Neil DeGrasse Tyson speak on CNN about the hero's controversial actions. The people had looked up to Superman as their god, and they felt let down. So who other than Lex would come to force god to bow to him?
Batman has also failed as a messiah for the people, yet in a different level of failure as he never even earns your respect and empathy to begin with. He always burns his bat emblem to the criminals he stops, and shoots soldiers dead in the broad daylight of Africa like some killer. Definitely not the Batman we've come to hope for. But eventually, he and Superman had to meet through Lex Luthor's dinner party, forming a connection as they were both assumedly responsible for the deaths of their families. Then Lex tests Superman's godliness by forcing him to kill the Batman in order to save the life of his mother. This battle between god and man sounds promising as you've just read in the film's title, yet the promised battle composes of the same blasting through walls and heavy punches that was mindlessly tossed around in Man of Steel, except now with no Ihop to complete the consumerist picture.
Eventually, you just have to ask, when will Wonder Woman come in already?!
It may not all be director Zack Snyder's fault for creating a jumbled mess of a social message, another part goes to the superfluous 3D cinematography by Larry Fong (300, Watchmen) that overuses its high contrast, underexposed low-key lighting, and painfully bright flames. But the greatest blame of the tremendous lack of passion belongs to the atrocious miscasting. Ben Affleck is a sheer bore as Batman, backed with no motivation nor grief. Jesse Eisenberg is the last one I would want to play the nemesis who seeks world domination. He looks more threatened than threatening with his amateurish, high pitched speech of a college know-it-all who's trying to act like a jock. There's also several random uncomfortable moments of actors Henry Cavill and Amy Adams appearing semi-nude on screen for the sake of it, but it's ultimately Mr. Eisenberg who will make you feel most embarrassed.
Just take a look at our religiously unstable time, and you'll see how we're all susceptible to worshiping whatever god fills our immediate need, be it an iPhone or a significant other or a political figure, none of which saves us from when all hell breaks loose. I fail to see how Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice helps us to flee from those unfulfilling gods, nor deliver us to the greater saving power. I don't see any hope either that the future Justice League or Wonder Woman movies will continue what Zack Snyder is supposedly starting. Mr. Snyder, I hope you are reading this right now, because it's time you listened good: I understand your proper motives to attempt a message of belief in a false deity through these famous figures of American culture, but you also ought to listen to what the people of your Metropolis are saying about Batman and Superman's lack of heroism. They're in the proper mind. It's time you listened to the people.
Overall Grade: D-