A dense, exciting and possibly bloated deconstruction of the genre.

Rating: 8/10 (17 November 2017)

"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is an attempt to continue the "Man of Steel" story while expanding the DCEU and introducing a new character rendition of Batman as the two characters collide with one another in a clash of the decade. Zack Snyder helms this massive and ambitious superhero epic while exploring the ideas of what is a hero, and navigating the complex characters of both Superman and Batman.
Even a year later, this film is still talked about and picked apart by those who love it or hate it. It remains one of the most different comic book films to date because of its non-formulaic story and intense approach to its subject matter. Regardless of the praise or complaints toward the film, there is something in the film for anyone to enjoy and it's a must see for any comic book film fan.
Snyder and Terrio tend to draw on multiple sources for inspiration including his previous adaptation of "Watchmen" from 2009. Both are deconstructions of the superhero genre and strips the characters down to their essentials with strengths and weaknesses. There are even references from both films which creates the argument of giving "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" the title of a companion piece to "Watchmen" both in themes and aesthetic look.
Unfortunately, what makes "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" less accessible to most of the public is its highly layered and dense story. Those who aren't as familiar with the comic source (the majority of the viewing public) will find particular themes and ideas expressed. Since there are also many separate subplots that can distract from the underlying story, the film can feel messy and unfocused.
Performances were great with the exception of Jessie Eisenberg as Lex Luthor who portrays more of a Riddler or Joker-like character. While his character's psychology was brilliantly written and memorable, it's sometimes difficult to watch without cringing or wondering why the strange gimmicks. Ben Affleck as Batman proves to be understand the character of Bruce Wayne with passion and depth unlike previous renditions of the character. Henry Cavil continues to create a solid characterization of Superman while exposing the character's confusion and concern about who he is.
Zack Snyder teams back up with his "Watchmen" cinematographer Larry Fong and what a great decision that was. As expected, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is a beautiful looking film with excellent camera composition and balanced yet stylized color echoing Snyder's visual style everyone's come to expect. While speaking of aesthetics, the visual effects and production design are quite staggering considering its large scope and frankly difficult nature given the genre.
At the end of the day, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is a memorable and epic superhero film with great characters and exciting action. With character arcs and and layered subplots, this film is well worth the time. It's execution for this layered script won't sit well with many but it is a great ride from the beginning to the end.