If only more super-hero movies could be like this one

Rating: 8/10 (5 February 2020)

Batman v Superman is the proof that Zack Snyder does comic book adaptations like no one else. From 300 to Watchmen, movies that are very faithful to its source material, and then Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, both inspired by DC's classic stories, but at the same time provides a new look at those iconic characters. BvS is an uncoventional super-hero movie, it is 3 hours long (the Ultimate Edtion, and the only one that counts), and the first half of the movie is kinda slow-burning, and the final half is just megalomaniac, the most Zack Snyder thing Zack Snyder ever done, as good as the final fight sequence between Superman and Zod in Man of Steel. Snyder, Goyer and Terrio also did a great job in making a sequel to Man of Steel, even with the presence of Batman and Wonder Woman, the theme of how Superman would affect us, putting him in the real world, is continued and developed, and we see a conflicted Superman again.
Unfortunetely, this movie is so misunderstood. The themes of hope, fear, power and sacrifice present here are powerful and it's why this movie is so special, at least in the super-hero subgenre, where the majority of the movies have this cartoonish look, while this movie is a mature work, like Watchmen, The Dark Knight and Logan. Here we have a Superm dealing with criticism and fear. People fear his powers, what he can do, and because of that he loses confidence, seeing Superman dealing with that is one of the high points of the movie. We also have the 'controversial' Batman, one of the high points of the movie as well. Zack Snyder's vision for the character is great, his arc is phenomenal. This is an older Batman, embittered, as seen in The Dark Knight Returns of Frank Miller, filled with rage and fearing what Superman could do, he feels powerless, in his nightmares he is haunted by the world engine sound, he has PTSD. His redemption arc is great. He went from "20 years in Gotham Alfred, we've seen what promises are worth, how many good guys are left? How many stay that way." to "Men are still good, we fight, we kill, we betray one another, but we can rebuild we can do better, we will. We have to." And then there is Lex Luthor, who is also controversial, many didn't like this version of the character, but I think this is the best version so far in film. Gene Hackman version can be summed up as a rich guy with a thing for real estate, but here we have a Lex Luthor with a more convicing motivation, that touchs Epicurean Paradox, he seeing Superman as the reflection of his own insecurities, but Luthor hates Superman mainly because he is the embodiment of power. There is so many more great aspects about this movie, the cinematography, the costume design, Batman have a badass and comic accurate suit, as well as Wonder Woman, the incredible coreography, principally in the one shot fight sequence in Batman's Knightmare, the magnificent soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL, and so on.
BvS is amazingly well done, the mature tone and themes, terrific character arcs, stunning megalomaniac fight sequences and a great cinematography make this movie one of the best of the superhero subgenre.