From IMDB: Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Fishburne
TL;DR Good characterization of Batman (maybe my favorite) and Wonder Woman. Terrible Lex Luthor. Meh story and plots.
I wanted to love this movie. I really did. I went in with zero expectations. I only watched the early trailer.
This is not a great movie. It has some awesome performances. But those can only elevate a movie so far.
Before I get all ranty, let’s talk about what I loved about this move.
- Ben Affleck as Batman. He did an amazing job playing Bruce Wayne and Batman. We finally had a Batman who did some detective work. And he had the best costume for Batman.
- Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. While she didn’t have enough screen time, her performance has me highly anticipating her solo movie.
- The Cameos of Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg. I won’t lie. Seeing more meta humans in this “universe” is exciting.
- The action sequences. Most of the action sequences were pretty good. I liked the Batman warehouse scene.
- Hints of Apokolyps. Mother box. Parademons. Fire pits. Ominous hints at the end.
- Opening with Bruce Wayne. Loved seeing Bruce rush to his building during the events of Man of Steel. It was also worth seeing the destruction from the ground level.
The stuff I didn’t like may seem like huge list.
- Feels more like a setup chapter in a book than a stand-alone story. At least with early Marvel movies, we got a complete story and a stinger at the end to build up to Avengers.
- Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor. I prefer my Lex Luthor to be more sane, business man than crazy mad scientist. He didn’t need Daddy-issues to want to see Superman fall. Make him an arrogant business man. Someone who does see the alien Superman as a threat that he needs to contain/destroy. For the good of the world and his company. This Lex Luthor felt more like a cross between the Joker and Riddler.
- Convoluted plot. It did not have to be this convoluted to introduce the characters. And really turning Zod into Doomsday? This early in the franchise? I think this would have been better in Man of Steel 3.
- Dream sequences. They were so frustrating to see and took you out of the movie. We do not need to see more Christ-imagery for the super heroes. Having a young Bruce Wayne lifted out of the cave by a cloud of bats served no purpose. Seeing a knightmare future with Parademons and Super Troops – while cool – were unneeded. It just padded the time.
- Enough with Batman’s origin story. We do not need a new origin story every time someone new puts on the cowl.
- A GrimDark DC movie universe. DC comics were originally happier than their Marvel counterparts. DC was fun and light while Marvel took the grim and realistic approach to stories. Now Marvel movies are fun and DC movies are the dark ones. Superman should be a lighter character. Someone to inspire people. Starting with Man of Steel and carrying into this movie, that is just not the case.
- Lois Lane felt more like a character shoe-horned into the story. Someone to be threatened to get a reaction from Superman. Not a fully realized character in her own right.
Given all that. I still thought the movie was ok. I will be getting the extended cut when it comes out.
I really hope we can see a solo Batman movie with Ben Affleck. Something with a meaty detective story in it.
