Decent Film with Lost Potential

Rating: 6/10 (29 March 2016)

I came into the theater to watch Batman V. Superman knowing very little of it. I had only seen one trailer (that was not the infamously revealing trailer containing the whole plot of the film) and done basic research on the comics. This lead me to a very pleasant but off putting experience.
As I did enjoy many parts of this film, I shall start with the positives. One surprising element of this film was Batman (duh). Ben Affleck gave a stellar performance as the caped crusader and captured the love and pain in the complex character of both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Jeremy Irons, likewise, captured the wit of Alfred. Henry Cavill's performance as Superman was passable, and so was Gal Gadot's as Wonder Woman. The action sequences were also fun, fast paced, and lacked the notorious shaky cam.
For the first act and a half of this film, I was genuinely impressed. It almost felt as if Zack Snyder directed this as a part superhero part law drama film. That element brought something new to the genre, proposed the moral dilemma of both Batman and Superman's characters, and made the action sequences feel quite well deserved and satisfying. Had this continued throughout all of this movie, I would have been considered this an A+ grade movie; but it didn't.
After a certain very thrilling battle that I shall not delve into the spooky realm of spoilers about, the film took a turn for the worse. Character after character were forcefully introduced into this movie and it completely abandoned its original plot. To follow were many (while still fun; I guess) cliché fight sequences and so goes the average superhero movie. While I definitely have nothing against this clichéd style, I can't help but feel this film has much lost potential.
Some other major turn offs in this film were that one, Batman murdered people. This undermines the whole moral dilemma of The Dark Night with no explanation. Two, while I like Jesse Eisenberg as an actor, I think it was a mistake casting him as Lex Luthor. Finally, a minor detail, but the CGI in one scene featuring Superman was notably unrealistic and cringe worthy.
So would I recommend that you go see this film in theaters? Yes, actually. While I do have major complaints, this movie manages to bring some of our favourite superheros to the big screen once again, in a fun and at moments enthralling film. Moreover it makes me all the more excited for the Justice League movie!
Grade: C