A Classic of the Superhero Genre

Rating: 9/10 (25 May 2020)

Batman V Superman was made by people who know, love and understand comic book history and superhero mythology to their core. This movie is in the great tradition of mature superhero graphic novels that DC Comics started with The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen. It doesn't give us the simplistic, one-dimensional heroes that other film franchises do. It portrays superheroes at their most realistic, complex, conflicted, complicated and fascinating. As they would if they existed in real life, the Batman and Superman of this movie have to face not only the obvious threat of supervillains but also a skeptical, sometimes hostile public and the risk of moral compromise within themselves. Director Zack Snyder understands that the greater the challenges a superhero faces, the more heroic they are when they finally overcome them. This storyline is one of the most relevant, dramatic and fascinating ever seen in a superhero film.
Aside from its powerful thematic material, the movie is absolutely gorgeous to look at. But not in a flashy or obvious way. The cinematography takes some of the grungiest and grimiest environments you can imagine and makes them look incredibly detailed, dramatic and cinematic. The combination of artful camera angles, moody lighting and a hypnotic Hans Zimmer score makes the film a uniquely captivating experience. The movie gives us the greatest-looking Batman costume ever seen on film. The creepy all-black fetish look the character has been cursed with in live-action since Tim Burton's 1989 film is finally, mercifully gone. The movie's Batmobile displays the best combination of style and function seen yet in a Batman film. And the movie's Batman action scenes are hands-down, bar-none, the greatest Batman battles ever put on film.
Ben Affleck overcomes all doubts in this movie to prove that he is as well-suited for the Batman role as anyone ever has been. With his square jaw and thick hair, he resembles the comic book and animated series Bruce Wayne better than anyone ever has. He brings an intensity to the role that is nicely tempered with a sense of sensitive humanity, crucial to keeping the character from going so far over the edge that he can't find his way back.
The other actors make an impact as well. Henry Cavill continues to look like the picture of reserved strength. His quiet intensity makes the movie's most magnificent sequence work, a montage of Superman's feats of power set to a thoughtful narration ruminating on the meaning of superheroes. Amy Adams is a more believable and feminine Lois than she was in Man of Steel. Jesse Eisenberg makes for a young, devilish version of Lex Luthor who dominates his scenes with ingenious dialogue full of the zaniest mix of highbrow historical references and lowbrow pop culture references since Gene Wilder's in Willy Wonka. Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons and Diane Lane provide absolutely expert, professional support while Gal Gadot makes a smashing debut as Wonder Woman exhibiting all the beauty and power anyone could've hoped for.
Any discussion of the film has to address the mixed reaction it received from critics and audiences. As someone who loves the film, it's almost impossible for me to understand why someone would hate it. Looking back in history on films that were not well-received in their original release but eventually became regarded as classics, there seems to be a common thread. Willy Wonka was considered too scary and disturbing a fantasy for the young children it was aimed at. Blade Runner was considered too dark, violent and intellectual for audiences who were accustomed to seeing Harrison Ford in traditional action-adventures. Look at other films like It's a Wonderful Life, Citizen Kane, Fight Club, Heathers, Brazil, Shawshank Redemption, etc. The films that most often take years to achieve high recognition and cult status are most often films that deal with dark, depressing or dystopian subject matter. Very often these films are more popular overseas at first than they are in the U.S.A. All of these are patterns that seem to be evident with Batman V Superman. I firmly believe that, in time, BVS will be widely regarded as an absolute classic of the superhero genre. It will never be forgotten or lost to history. It will be a film that people who grew up on superhero films look to when they're older for a deeper, more thoughtful, more artistic exploration of the genre.