Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is glorious

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2016)

(I will try to avoid spoilers, but I will discuss characterization choices. If that's spoilery then this is your warning.) Right off the Bat (see what I did there?) I don't have any idea what movie the reviewers saw, because this film doesn't match ANY of the nasty reviews I've read. Is it because of Zack Snyder? Does his name just evoke that much disdain? It must be, because this movie is one of the finest comic book films I have ever had the pleasure of watching. Or, perhaps, the problem is that it isn't a Disney movie. If that's it then they can go to hell. This movie doesn't follow the Disney model, it charts it's own course and it, and we, are all the better for it.
The Actors: I was on the "let's hate Affleck" bandwagon when he was announced as Batman. I was wrong. I am sorry. Affleck owned the part of Batman/Bruce Wayne better than ANY actor previously. I was stunned by how pitch perfect he was in this movie and I am now eagerly awaiting his stand alone Batman movies.
I was on the "let's hate Eisenberg" bandwagon when he was announced as Lex Luthor. I was wrong. I am sorry. The previews show us a Lex that appears to be merrily dancing around and being playful... Those previews are very misleading. Eisenberg's Lex is a dangerously psychotic man with unlimited resources. This is, mostly, a new take on Luthor and I applaud it. It was, again, a pitch perfect choice for this movie.
I was not a fan of Man of Steel. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like that Henry Cavil seemed to have no on screen charisma. Nor did I like the long journey from emo teen to emo Superman. Cavil's charisma and talent is all here and his journey to being the Superman we know finally becomes complete. All of the principals from Man of Steel are better in this film; Amy Adams as Lois and Lawrence Fishbourne as Perry White are both excellent.
The best for last; Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. I was NOT on the "let's hate Gadot" bandwagon when she was announced as Wonder Woman. I said from the start that she was a great choice and I was right. Gadot is the true standout among these fine performances. She gives life to the character of Wonder Woman and completely sells you on the near immortal, demi-god, warrior woman. After taking a hit during one battle she looks up and smiles and you just know she's about go all medieval on someone's ass. I absolutely cannot wait for her stand alone film. I have no doubt it will be epic. Sorry Linda Carter, I still love you, but there's a new Wonder Woman in town.
The Story: I need to tread carefully here because the plot of the movie was NOT spoiled by the trailers as many complained. There is PLENTY going on that you have to see to believe. So let me say this; the reviewers have complained that the story is a "mess," "overstuffed," or "muddled." I have to wonder if, perhaps, they spent too much time scribbling clever little bon mots in their notebooks that they failed to notice the amazing chess game that was taking place on screen. Moves and counter moves from all the principals, gaining ground in some areas only to lose it elsewhere. It was masterfully done, and when the checkmate is finally revealed you will be shocked to see how far ahead our players were planning.
Briefly I want to go back to Man of Steel. All the issues about destruction and disregard for human life that fans raised are addressed here and Batman V Superman retroactively makes Man of Steel a better film because of it. Witnessing the destruction of Metropolis through Bruce Wayne's eyes is truly terrifying and one can completely sympathize with his distrust and paranoia regarding this embodiment of a Greek God. His reactionary response, while extreme, is understandable and perfectly fitting with Batman's nature. I would love to watch Man of Steel and Batman v Superman back to back. It would be a glorious one-two punch.
Length: At 2 and a half hours I can, at least, sympathize with the length issue. But I do NOT agree with it. For me this movie FLEW by.
The Justice League: Great intros for Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman. I can't say more about this without getting spoilery.
Overview: I loved The Dark Knight, I loved The Watchmen, I loved the X-Men films (mostly), and I've loved the Captain America movies. Batman v Superman is an equal of, if not better than, those films. At this point I consider it better. This movie has so many deep cuts into the DC universe even true comic fans will need multiple viewings to catch them all...
...And perhaps that is the real reason the critics have been complaining; Batman v Superman is a comic book movie that hasn't been dumbed down or softened for the movies. It contains deep symbolism, heavy metaphors, mythological allegories, and some dark commentary on our society. Could it be that Batman V Superman is too smart for the professional reviewer? Go see it and decide for yourself.