Bold, Brave, Brilliant...Divisive

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 2016)

Lets get one thing straight. If you didn't like MoS, its very, very unlikely that you will not like this. Its that world, it is that Superman, its a direct continuation (and I can't honestly understand why people thought it would be any different). If you are one of the many that did like MoS, its VERY likely you will like this.
Before watching it last night I was worried. The divisive nature of the reviews from critics and fans made me sceptical. Talk of Batman not being Batman, who kills remorsely and sleeps with women not for his playboy attitude but because that's him now...it sounded wrong. And it is wrong as that is simply not true. Some of the reviews I have read are astounding in their inaccuracy. Even those on here.
Its a complicated film. The first hour can either be described as a mess of film directing or a plethora of ideas that are never fully explored but are new, are interesting, and pertinent. If anything, there is too much going on, no one strand is fully explored to its potential, no one investigation is fully seen through to a conclusion. Interspersed through this are confusing (and abstract) dream scenes and premonitions that also have little explanation or build up. There is little action in that first hour other than the opening scene. Its an introduction to this new world, a deconstruction of us, of Superman of Batman, and in a small part, of Wonder Woman.
Yet when it clicks, a little over an hour, the film moves up a layer. Synder's dedication to detail and his love of comic books is laid on its fullest. This is a film for the geek in all of us and it holds nothing back - it explains little that perhaps it should (You've seen all you are going to see of Robin in the trailer). You either take it as a love letter to the comic book fan in all of us, or you criticise it. Too me, what it did well, it did so damn well, none of the problems it has effect the overall film.
Superman's story is one of redemption and it pays off. His whole struggle is littered with divine imagery, as was MoS. its a continuation of that story. His relationship with Lois is believable and important. His interaction with Batman is superb. Their contrast is almost pitch perfect and exactly what I wanted to see.
Batman...well, what can I say. Probably the best Batman I have ever seen on film. The reports of him being too dark are way off. He's no darker here than he was in Rises. We get the best ever Batman on screen, no argument. We get the best Bruce on screen.
Lex is superb. A completely different take that is more layered than you have seen in the trailers.
And as for Wonder Woman - well, this is something I do agree with on the critics - she steals the show.
The film is nowhere near perfect - if anything there is the potential within it to be one of the greatest films ever made. It needed either expanding or trimming of some of that first hour (hopefully the directors cut will give us that film) but as it stands, its a fan triumph if not a critical one. The end fight with trinity was an event to watch only on the big screen. I don't think a smile left my face from about an hour in. Its just sheer entertainment.
Yes it has plot holes all over the place (what Superhero film doesn't) but it dares to be different. It goes to places I never thought it would. The scale and depictions of the main characters raise it above the mediocre and into the lower levels of greatness. It will be interesting to see where this ends up box office wise as coming out of the cinema, there were very few people who were not happy with what they saw.