A bit forced at times, but BvS tells an emotional and gripping story.

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2016)

Before I express my thoughts and reaction to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I want to say a few things regarding its reception thus far. Critics have unfairly bagged on this movie for not being "fun" and being too "serious." Basically, not enough like Marvel, which most reviewers can't stop mentioning. However, the film was never marketed to be like Marvel and was never marketed to be anything less than very serious and very dark. Also, I have an extreme bias towards DC so take what you will from my thoughts. So with that being said, go in with the expectation of a dark, serious story and BvS will be pretty easy to enjoy. Batman v Superman tells the story of a Superman who believes he is misunderstood because every good deed he does brings around more controversy. In Gotham City, Bruce Wayne feels distrust towards Superman following the destruction of Metropolis in Man of Steel and views it as a personal mission to end Superman. And Lex Luthor clearly has a hand in pinning the two against each other. The motivation behind every character's actions is extremely well thought out and actually makes a lot of sense unlike certain parts of Man of Steel. The movie really sells why the two are fighting and definitely gives emotional appeals as to who to side with. Is Superman really just misunderstood, or is he a danger? Also, the movie really takes time to develop the controversy surrounding Superman and does an excellent job of resolving the criticisms of Man of Steel. Now, back in 2013 when Ben Affleck was cast as Batman, the Internet exploded with rage. Well I can definitely say he's the best live-screen Batman to date. This Batman is brutal, absolutely brutal. Henry Cavill makes an improvement from his wooden acting in Man of Steel to deliver a more conflicted Superman wondering if he's doing any good or wasting his time. Gal Gadot makes for a pleasant surprise as Wonder Woman and has an amazing part in the finale. My personal favorite, however, was the one casting choice I could not forgive. When Jesse Eisenberg was cast as Lex, I couldn't believe it. But he nailed it. Easily the best character of the movie for me, wonderful villain. However, the film had flaws. It feels really long and perhaps has a subplot too many. The titular fight really underwhelmed me and I was hoping for more. Some of the editing was a little off. My biggest complaint would be the forced cameos of the Justice League. At times, the movie feels like a teaser for what's to come which distracts from the central story, making the movie feel disconnected. So overall, Batman v Superman improves on Man of Steel because it actually takes the time to care about the themes it's exploring, but it's not without its flaws. 8.5/10.