Batman v Superman: A Film for the Fans

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2016)

This film made me realise that critics reviews do not always mean you will not enjoy a picture. Despite me agreeing with so many reviews for films such as Dallas Buyers Club and Silence of the Lambs to name a couple I do believe this film was harshly criticised. As a huge fan of both Batman and Superman I, like many others went into this film with high hopes and least to say I was not disappointed.
Ben Affleck IS Batman. I personally love this incarnation of the Dark Knight as it is very reminiscent of The Dark Knight Returns comic by Frank Miller. From the first time you see The Bat on screen you know he means business, branding a thug for a Gotham PD Officer to find and sticking to the shadows. Instant Badassery. The mission for Batman in this film reminds me of how the character should be, a protector of the greater good. He feels that Superman could one day become a threat to humanity therefore he must stop him. This is how Batman should be! Willing to take on an all powerful alien and possibly give his life to save countless others.
Continuing on the subject of Ben Affleck he also completely nails Bruce Wayne in a way not seen on screen before. He is a damaged human being as a result of living a double life for twenty years and losing people he loves (Jason Todd's suit on display in the Batcave?) thus you can see in the subtle micro expressions seen on his face when certain topics come up in the film such as the look of sorrow on his face at the aforementioned Robin suit as well as the proud and smug grin he gives Clark Kent when discussing 'The Bat Vigilante'.
Moving over to our other titular character, Superman. There is a massive improvement over Man of Steel here. Henry Cavil has settled into the role of the hero perfectly. In the film we find Clark Kent torn over if the world needs a Superman but wanting to protect those he loves. The feel of the fearful Superman is amazing as it shows he has humanity despite being from another world and that he is not this evil monster depicted by both Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor therefore grounding the character as a honourable and almost human hero.
The supporting characters really flesh out this film when comparing other variants of the characters seen in DC films of the past 30 years. I have to say Jeremy Iron's Alfred is without a doubt a shining star in BvS stealing the show in every scene he is featured in. He sarcasm and wit of this incarnation of Alfred is so apparent and amazing it it almost makes you think he is reluctant to go along with Bruce's shenanigans for over twenty years as shown through certain lines throughout the film putting Bruce down or putting him in his place. This reminds me much of my Dad as he often put me down and told me not to do something I may have really wanted to do and if I went ahead anyway nine times out of ten I'd be disappointed or hurt by what I've done, Alfred in this film does this exact thing, he is stern and hard but does it to defend what he loves. A tea serving Batman if you will.
I am going to call Wonder Woman out as one of the best things about this movie yet wishing she had more of a purpose in the narrative. Her role is to assist in the climactic fight at the end of the film and not much else except perhaps to initiate the Justice League cameo's and this disappoints me. Gal Gadot is a total badass and I am left wanting more from her character and instead she feels more like an afterthought in terms of the narrative. Diana Price is after a photograph stolen by Lex Luthor of herself which she manages to steal back from him with the unknowing help of Bruce Wayne but that is pretty much it. I am looking forward to what 2017's Wonder Woman solo film will bring for the character but at the moment I am left wanting more from her appearance in BvS.
Jesse Eisenberg is a bit of a strange one. Watching his version of Lex Luthor was so peculiar as I felt like I was watching The Riddler more than Lex. The socially awkward nature this version of Lex has brought to the table somehow fits the tone of the film in my opinion as the cinematic universe being built seems to be full of psychotic villains that will fit for all members of the Justice League.
I will only briefly touch on the story due to spoilers but I now see that Zack Snyder has a thing for the three act narrative as seen with many of his other films. There is a few scenes scattered throughout the film that I think could have been removed as they did nothing for the film both visually and from a narrative standpoint. The dramatics of both the opening and ending will prove to you that this film is worth seeing. But as I stated at the beginning, this is a film for fans as it truly feels like you are watching a moving comic book and will hopefully raise excitement levels for what is to come.