"People fear what they don't understand"

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2017)

Ultimate edition review
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a cinematic masterpiece. It's artistic and bold take on the superhero genre paves a path seeded with deeper meanings for comic book movies. This part political thriller, part superhero action epic takes a hard look at reality and delivers a hyper-stylized clash between iconic characters that is truly ground breaking.
The story is many things melded into a clever and engaging epic. The film tells a story from the point of view of not only Batman and Superman, but also the world. It is dense, but every scene is executed so well and feels important. From the very opening scene, this film is a stunning reinvention and introduction to this new version of Batman. It also connects so well the the universe as a whole, leaving breadcrumbs for more to come. I truly cannot talk about this film without the depth that it deserves without delving deep into spoilers so I'll just say this: The whole story is magnificent and congregates in an intense and gripping third act. But it also leaves some loose threads that hint at the expanding universe. This film connects so intimately to the previous installment Man of Steel, and I think that is one of its strengths. I really felt like these movies are all one big story.
This version of Batman is the 2nd best one yet. Ben Affleck gives a performance that makes the Bruce Wayne/Batman character feel new, but still honours the core of the character that most previous performances captured so well. His Bruce Wayne is charming, snarky and really damn sexy. His delivery of each and every line feels as though Bruce Wayne is real and exists. But Affleck's Batman is even better. This Batman is brutal, muscular and more broody than ever. It is incredible to watch. Every time Ben Affleck is on screen, with the costume on, he is scary. A good scary. Watching him felt like I was a guilty crook stuck in a dark alleyway. This older, brutal and more stylized version of Batman is compelling to watch. His arc of redemption throughout the film is misunderstood by many, but it truly is so amazing. You really get to feel much more with this version of Batman than any other. His journey throughout is such an enjoyable watch.
Henry Cavill continues his role as Superman and is fantastic. This film explores the Clark Kent reporter side much more and Cavill plays it perfectly. This Clark Kent is smart, determined and charmingly nerdy. I think there is much less of a difference between the two personas of Kal-El, but I feel it's more realistic. His Superman performance is just as great as it was in Man of Steel . In this film we get to see more of how Superman is seen by the public and how he reacts to it. Cavill expresses such powerful emotions when dealing with the way Clark reacts to his public image. It is so genuine and you feel a more emotional impact with Superman's actions. But the essence of Superman is still kept, because even through all the hardships and doubt he faces throughout this film, he still does the right thing. He is still good. This universe is definitely set in a darker, more harsh world, which reflects that of own. But there is a visible light and this film works its way towards that.
The action sequences in this film are gorgeous. Every shot is absolutely breathtaking and courtesy of cinematographer Larry Fong. The use of color perfectly reflects the tone of the film and delivers beautifully in epic action sequences. As this is a very visual film, the cinematography plays a significant part in telling the story. Each shot has so much detail that just enhances what is going on in the plot. Incredible thought and work has gone in to create a world in which this story is integrated in.
Hans Zimmer and Tom Holkenberg created the score for this film and it truly shines. The music is just fantastic and has a very orchestral, epic theme to it. Each track is crafted well for each scene, but where the score really shines is the character themes. The themes for Batman, Superman and Lex Luthor were all so well done. They fit with the characters and are so memorable. But the absolute stand out theme was Wonder Woman's. The electric cello that bursts into your ears with an epic riff is just heaven. I found myself listening to that track the most.
This is such a beautiful film. It totally deconstructs what a superhero comic book movie is and turns it into a deeply philosophical commentary on the world today. Using two iconic characters and putting them in the premise of this film worked so well. Although there are some minor scenes that were unnecessary and moments that could have been executed better, this film was so enjoyable to watch. It is on such an epic scale and is so different from the regular bunch of comic book movies, it is such a breath of fresh air. I could not recommend this movie enough, it is incredible.