Don't listen to the critics - form your own opinion

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2016)

OK, so my verdict on Batman v. Superman: See it for yourself, don't listen to the critics, make your own decision. I for one liked it. I can see how a lot of people won't - it's not like the Marvel movies. Don't get me wrong, I completely enjoy the Marvel takes...but an average person can go in and watch one and it will lead you by the hand thru the story and throw in some snappy one liners. BvS is more for the actual readers of comics from the 80s and early 90s, when they were much better than they are now, and the movie makes assumptions that you are at least slightly familiar with the characters. Affleck did a good job as the Batman, brought both the physicality and the gravitas to the role that it needed (and nice to see some actual detective work by "the world's greatest detective"). Also the movie did a good job completely conveying the fact that Superman is really the persona that Kansas raised Clark Kent puts on...and Bruce Wayne is the persona that the Batman puts on. Completely got that from the movie. Not sure I got behind the portrayal of Lex Luthor as the twitchy damaged rich kid; sure it's a different take on the character, but it just didn't ring any bells for me. Again, would have liked to see Superman/Clark not quite so angsty, that's really not quite how I've ever seen Superman being. He should be very much the "Boy Scout" that the classic comics and Chris Reeve crystallized him as. And Gal Gadot - all kinds of yes as Wonder Woman. She gets the look just right, the attitude, and does not disappoint in the action department. Definitely will be seeing her solo film.
All in all, I'm pleased. Some stuff straight out of The Dark Knight Returns, some other stuff added on. I am NOT a fan of the editing in this film, I'll say. It was very choppy and abrupt in places, jarringly so. I know they had to cut a lot out to get it to a manageable theater playing time, so maybe it will be a smoother ride in the Bluray extended version release. It's not perfect, but it's not the train wreck that some critics are putting out there. Honestly, I think the old school comics readers will mostly be pleased, the comic book movie only fans will be more up in the air, but I found it fairly fun. Had some problems, but it's more Superman II than Superman III.