By Carlito Gilchrist, Contributing Writer
After Marvel released “Marvel’s The Avengers” in 2012, everyone has been Marvel crazy. So, naturally, DC and Warner Bros. had some catching up to do. After the mixed reviews from 2013’s “Man of Steel,” the gritty reboot of the Superman film franchise directed by Zack Snyder, DC decided it was finally time to bring the Justice League to the silver screen. Acting as a sequel to “Man of Steel” and a proto Justice League film, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” introduces us to this film’s version of Batman, bringing back Superman and for the first time we see Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg in a movie!
Finally, after a long two and a half years of waiting, it’s here and it’s so on. Early reviews surfaced from fans seeing the film and praising it. Later reviews from critics started to look rather bleak. Actually, horrific. While fans seem to be giving the film the thumbs up it needs, critics are literally sticking the films head in the dirt and not letting it breathe. And I will admit, it’s not a great movie, but it’s not horrible.
Ben Affleck as Batman and Bruce Wayne is the best part of the movie. He portrays the character with so much vigor and respect; it’ll even make the hardcore “Batfleck” haters shush. Jess Eisenberg’s take on Lex Luthor is even fun. Those two stand out the most, but everyone’s overall performance is great for both fans and hardball critics.
There are problems, a few, but problems. It’s a little clunky. In a way, the film plays out as a graphic novel, suddenly shifting from scene to scene, two or three things happening at once and a lot of buildup. So, the film worked for me. A few plot points aren’t explained fully which did take me out of the film as I was trying to figure out what happened while the movie was still playing. The buildup is nice though.
The movie plays out as a political thriller for about the first two acts before the action starts, which isn’t usual for a superhero film. I guess what makes the film so unique and hated is that nothing is really clear until the end. It’s hard to tell where the movie is going but the ending will still shock everybody. Even when I saw it, there was applause in the theater – good applause, I hope.
All the movie rating sites are mixed thus far; some say it’s horrible while others are praising its boldness. Overall the movie is definitely worth your money, but I would see this with the fellas over taking a date. If you want to finally ask that girl out in your Bio class then take her to “Miracles from Heaven,” but afterwards, take your wingman to “Batman v Superman.” I am praying that DC and Warner Bros. push through this and still deliver the “Justice League” film as promised, because honestly we’ve waited too long for it.
Nonetheless, go see it. It’s a phenomenon if anything else. So once it passes you’ll be sorry you didn’t see the coming of the red capes.
