Good, but not the masterpiece it could've been.

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2016)

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice is by far one of the weirdest movie going experiences I've ever had. First off, I did enjoy it, but it's a flawed film make no mistake about it. This was like watching Alien 3 all over again. I've never been to a movie that felt so dead but alive at the same time. If that makes sense?
The first hour and half is all build up and it's so depressing. But I think that was the point. The film felt a lot like David Fincher's horror classic "Seven" and I got the impression that Snyder was trying to get something off his chest here. For me it didn't come off to preachy like some critics have stated, but there's an underlying theme of frustration that runs constantly throughout the film, especially when Superman shows up.
And as much as everyone says that Snyder hates Superman I found that he was relating to that character the most. You can tell that Superman wants to smile and feel good, but he's stuck in a world that doesn't want him to. I can understand that and I found myself enjoying this part of the story.
The film's story though is its biggest problem. There's to much going on. A lot of the supporting characters suffer because of this. Lois Lane and Martha Clark being the main ones.
It also feels like this was a sequel to movie that was never made at times. Man of Steel should've had a stand alone sequel and then they should've done the team up. I wanted to see more scenes between Lois and Clark like at the beginning showing the audience how their relationship had blossomed over the past eighteen months. But it's just business as usual once these opening scenes are over. This is not an empty headed movie, far from it, but it just lacks some in the character department.
As for Batman? Affleck pulled it off like I knew he would. He puts the Nolan Batman to shame. I know that might upset some fans but that's how I saw it. This Batman is crazy for sure. This is the Batman I've always wanted. Its Frank Miller's version come to life. Another surprise was actor Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. I thought for sure that he would get on my nerves but he was a surprisingly effective villain. And he's interested in more than just real estate for a change.
I also enjoyed how the story brings Batman and Superman together. It's well thought out and makes sense. I was always concerned about this but I'm happy to say that it didn't feel awkward or forced. And it was cool to see Wonder Woman. I don't know much about that character but after seeing her in this movie I know I want to see her solo movie.
With Rey from "The Force Awakens" and now Wonder Woman, it's good to see stronger female characters appearing in films. Let's hope it continues.
But at the end of the day BvS could've been so much better. There are parts in this movie that promise a film that could've been a masterpiece. But with this story I think that Snyder bit off more than he could chew. 7.5/10