Not a perfect film, but a perfect start...

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2016)

I'm starting this review by saying that I have now seen 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' twice, and my opinion has been mostly the same on both occasions, however, by the end of my second viewing, I did come to understand where some of the criticisms had come from. I'll begin with the negatives, and unfortunately, there are several. The first negative is the running time. Now, I was fully expecting a film about the two most legendary comic book characters of all time, to be quite long. The real issue is how that time is used. Much of the film is taken up by the political subplot and Superman being a god. It slows the first half of the film down quite considerably and just doesn't show enough of the two title characters doing what they do. Secondly, this is a film for the fans. If you have a good background knowledge of the characters, then great. However, this film won't mean much to new fans or people looking for something on the level of the recent Marvel films. I don't want to sound condescending, but the film needs dumbing down. It's meant to set up a shared universe and be a major, important moment in that universe, but it just doesn't do enough to capture and captivate the target audience and panders mostly to fan-boys. DC could do with watching the most successful Marvel movies, they have plenty for the fan-boys but they allow you to learn about the characters, if you knew nothing about them before, with a simple plot. Next, the clumsy and random introduction of the other members of the Justice League. It comes late in the film for most of them, and is completely out of place. It feels forced, like it was thrown in at the last minute because they suddenly remembered that the film's subtitle is 'Dawn of Justice'. It's frustratingly easy to see how that see could have worked better earlier in the film, you don't have to be in movies to see it. Had this film purely been about the fight between Batman and Superman, and if we didn't have any knowledge that it was meant to set up Justice League, the scene may have worked. For what we were expecting though, it was very poor. The trailers ruined the film. It happens a lot in films these days, especially one's with big characters that are expected to do well just on the strength of the characters involved. But here, there are no real surprises, because you've seen too much before the film was even released. The inclusion of Doomsday could have been brilliant and the end of the film would have been much more shocking and moving, but fans would have worked out the ending some time ago. My conclusion on the negatives is this, the movie needed streamlining, much of the subplots could have been trimmed down to include much more time for character development, particularly the trinity, but also Lois and the other supporting characters. We just don't care enough about them, and new fans don't learn enough to understand the importance of the major moments. With a bit more thought and attention to detail in the editing stages, the whole thing would have worked much better. The positives and there are plenty. Ben Affleck is the Batman that I've been waiting to see, and with the information that this is an older Batman who has been tested and seen it all in his crime fighting career, I was expecting a much more violent and intimidating character. I got it. The man looks like someone you wouldn't want to pick a fight with, he's a criminal himself and he knows it. He's brutal, efficient and a tortured soul who is driven ultimately by his own fear. It works, it's brilliant. Well done Ben Affleck and the writers for bringing us exactly what we needed. The action sequences, once we finally get to them, this includes the battle between Batman and Superman and the fight against Doomsday. They are impressive, but they're not mindless action for the sake of it, there is emotion involved which gives you the sense that these people are fighting for something. If nothing else, Zack Snyder knows how to put together a damn good fight. Lex Luthor is shaping up to be somewhat of an acquired taste for most. I think that actually, he was a great character and this was a brilliant take. There is so much to him and we needed more time to explore these stories, but what you get is actually a very menacing character, someone who by the end of the film is clearly psychotic and dangerous but for much of the film, seems eccentric and kind of like a mad scientist but never a real threat. It worked for me and I hope he is included in the future. One of my negatives is also a positive. This is a film for the fans. So many of the good reviews have come from fans, and there's a reason for it. It is what we wanted to see, it has everything and doesn't disappoint. The story is on point, the references to the greater DC universe and nods to the comics, the title characters are fantastic, and it sets up a very exciting future. It's all there, for the fans. My final conclusion is this, see the film. Make up your own mind, but I promise, if you're a Batman or Superman fan, you won't be disappointed. If you're not a fan, read up on the back stories, maybe watch the cartoons and then go see the film. It'll mean more. For me, it's what I waited for. Not a perfect film, but a perfect start to a larger universe with some exciting stories to be told.