Could have been better but still packing a punch

Rating: Null/10 (13 April 2016)

I rather enjoyed "Man Of Steel" - the latest rebooting of the Superman franchise - so I was looking forward to the sequel but, by the time I was able to see it at the cinema after an extended period travelling abroad, the critics had given it harsh treatment, although audiences had been kinder and it had already managed to recoup its estimated budget of $250M.
When the sequel was first publicised, friends of mine queried how this would be a genuine contest of rival superheroes since Superman has all the powers in the world (OK, out of this world) whereas Batman has no actual special powers but, of course, the explanation was in the clip at the end of "Man Of Steel": it is kryptonite that levels the playing the field.
Again Zack Synder is director which means that visually the movie has lots of terrific- looking scenes. The problem is that the narrative zig-zags all over the place, providing back story for the two main characters and scene-setting for a range of future characters as well as the central story of a conflict between two men who are both misunderstood and misunderstanding. This is a work of excess: too noisy, too loud, too serious, and at 151 minutes way too long.
This is a pity because the movie opens strongly with a revisiting of the concluding battle of "Man Of Steel" seen from the ground's eye view of a Batman who is bitterly critical of Superman's God-like powers which cause so much death and destruction.
But then there are so many themes running into each other: the romance between Superman (Henry Cavill) and Lois Lane (Amy Adams), the relationship between Batman (Ben Affleck) and his butler (Jeremy Irons), the emergence of Wonder Woman (Israeli- born Gal Gadot), and not just one really bad guy but two, the underdeveloped character Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg) and his weird (unnecessary) creation who is a kind of super-giant King Kong without the fur or the sensitivity.
This may be a film that stands taller in the future: if you expect less and understand more, it may feel more satisfying and, if it turns out to be a platform for a Justice League franchise, then DC Comics will be happy.