It's Not a Marvel Movie--and That's Not a Bad Thing

Rating: 9/10 (3 April 2016)

I understand that critics will do what they do best. Not a problem. It's how the game is played. However, I must say, that I do believe many of them aren't viewing this film through the appropriate lens.
The bottom line is that Marvel has spoiled us. It's the "gold standard" for superhero flicks, right? Non-stop action, simple dialogue that can reach the masses and a comedic line delivered every couple of minutes in order to demonstrate that the films (and the film makers) don't take themselves too seriously--and neither should you.
Dawn of Justice is none of that--and that's not a bad thing! The film is dark; it's brooding and there's a sense of consequence here that has largely been absent from this genre. It doesn't take much to realize there's a unique parallel here between the film's three main characters (Superman, Batman and Lex Luthor). All three have lost their parents (we all knew this)--and their life trajectories could not have been more different. Watching them come together on the same screen is quite unsettling. Lex is crazy and it shows. Batman has trust issues and Superman is caught somewhere in the middle. There aren't many laughs. There aren't corny one-liners. There's pain and confusion and a fair amount of rage. It's exactly what's been missing from superhero movies up until this point--the darker side of this "reality." This is definitely not a marvel movie--and I find that quite refreshing to say the least!