A labored series pilot

Rating: Null/10 (28 March 2016)

Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers! Don't read. ;)
Those who have been following the DC superheroes comics in the 1960s or earlier (before my time, i.e.) will no doubt recognize the titular reference to the Justice League of America (fondly known to us as JLA). They will also recall, possibly with a silent chuckle, the uniform of the trio (prominently featured in posters today) back then: Batman with a "mask" that was flimsier than The Phantom's, Superman with his silly red under-pant worn outside, and Wonder Woman in bright red, high heel pumps. How times have changed!
JLA pilot or not, it is not an easy task to pitch the two titular superheroes against each other because of the immense gap between their physical abilities. Even with all the gadgets, Batman would be hopelessly outmatched. The solution is all but predictable: krypton. An even higher hurdle is how to contrive a scenario that is convincing. My summary line says "labored", but it works. It is not entirely out of the realm of belief that, with human nature the way it is (forgive my pessimism), there is an innate hostility and distrust of the "immigrant" Superman. And then, although Batman is one of us Earthlings, the hero of dark Gotham City has a sufficiently matching dark side that has been so successfully manifested in the brilliant work of Mr. Nolan. For the catalyst, we only need a scheming villain, Lex Luthor in this case, well selected from a rich pageantry of candidates (the Joker may serve just as well but none dare touch this one again after the immortal, ironically, portray by the late Mr. Ledger). Warranting special mention is the brilliant initial confrontation, not physical, but verbal, between Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne.
Wonder Woman, I must confess, it actually what brings me into the cinema, through the aforementioned poster of the trio (reminding me immediately of the scene in King Arthur (2004) where Keira Knightley shot her first arrow, standing between Clive Owen and Ioan Gruffudd). It is actually Gal Gadot, to be exact, sorely missed after she died as Gisele in "Fast and Furious 6". An Oscar should go to casting her as The Amazing Amazon, although her appearance in this pilot is brief. There are a couple of scenes with Wonder Woman in evening dress playing a cat-and-mouse game with Bruce Wayne. The climatic battle brings her out in full costume, not the star-and-stripes swimsuit half a century ago, but something that can almost pass her off as Lady Sif in Thor. She is also instrumental to the only moment of humor in this movie, poising between the two superheroes battle-station style. "Is she with you?" one of them asked the other. "I thought she is with you", the other jabbed.
The rest of the cast is impressive. Henry Cavill brought over from his "Man of Steel" reboot of Superman Amy Adams (sweetheart), Diane Lane (adopted mother), Laurence Fishburne (boss) although not some others (Russell Crowe, Ayelet Zurer, Kevin Costner). The Batman side, carrying no Nolan heritage, is represented by Ben Affleck and Jeremy Irons (guess what character he plays). The most notable performance belongs to Jesse Eisenberg, with his unique interpretation of the above-mentioned villain Lex Luthor. Personally, the best delight is seeing long missed Holly Hunter, playing a no-nonsense Senator Finch. It is hard to believe that her Best Actress Oscar win in "The piano" was more than two decades ago.
I have not said a great deal about the plot to justify the opening triple warning. Here it is, very briefly. With details omitted, the titular confrontation is crafted by Luthor who, failing at the verge of success, brings out his final trump card, a monstrous being hailed as indestructible. That is where Wonder Woman drops out of the sky, literally, to trigger the "dawn of Justice". The plot device instrumental to the final cliffhanger is so silly that it threatens to turn the movie into a farcical comedy. The ending though, is anything but comic, as Superman dies a heroic death. Needless to say, he will be resurrected in the first full-fledged JLA next year, together with The Flash and Aquaman. Personally, I am disappointed in not seeing Green Lantern, whether Ryan Reynolds version or other.