Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Apple pie is an American classic.  You have a pie crust, apples cinnamon, and a fluffy light baked crust top.  It’s a cherished dessert.  But like any food how it tastes all depends on how you prepare the ingredients you are given.  Ingredients included in a pie are much like those herculean efforts needed to successfully pull off starting a film franchise.  The metaphor I just gave is an apt one for Zack Synder’s latest directorial effort Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  In the film, Batman (Ben Affleck) is upset that Superman (Henry Cavill) seems to be this all powerful being who refuses to answer for the destruction he caused to Metropolis when he was battling Zod in Man of Steel.  For Batman there was a personal cost during that battle where large parts of the city were destroyed because Bruce Wayne actually had a tower in Metropolis that fell where people lost their lives due to the building’s collapse.  This set Bruce Wayne on a vendetta against Superman because of the lives that were lost.  Throughout this film we meet Lex Luthor who utilizes his power to try and manipulate people into helping him bring down what he calls a false god.  Kryptonite plays a vital role in discovering more about Superman and his planet.  There’s also Lois Lane who needs to prove Superman is a hero and a good force for the human race.  There’s a lot going on plot wise and what I like is that nearly all of it has something to say about how society views things and individuals that are different.  But do all of these ideas mesh well to make a cohesive and fun movie?  I say yes.

BvS is a film that makes many mistakes almost all of which can and should justifiably be forgiven.  My peers have said the narrative to this film is a mess and I’d agree it is very scattered in how all the ideas connect to each other and how one idea transitions into looking at a different idea but anyone who has criticized Zack Synder for a lack of cohesive direction should remember that this man is more of a visual director than a person who feels it is imperative for the story to be key.  All of the visuals in this film are a feast for the eyes and when those big battles come between Batman and Superman there is an emotional reason behind why the conflict exists.  The philosophy at play involving the Jesus Christ comparisons regarding Superman’s role as a protector on earth have always been a part of the character’s mythos so I’m no longer surprised when that religious symbolism is utilized to either describe the hero or define who people think he is.  I love that the film plays into those similarities rather than shying away from them and the visuals given aid in given that symbolism validity and a place within the film.

Bruce Wayne is by far the most compelling character in the film because of the psychological trauma he experienced as a child.  The psychosis of this character is fascinating because his reasons for hating Superman are entirely valid.  There was such a high cost at the film’s outset for him that in almost no way could you be against him.  What I love most is that throughout the entire film his quest to make Superman pay is relentless but a moment directly at the climax of their battle is something many fans of either character have never thought about and would never suspect and it is perhaps the most powerful moments of the film.  I was spellbound once the reveal occurred and it gave me an emotional chill just to know that someone’s hate can be altered by caring so deeply about a life altering moment from the past.  Ben Affleck plays the character as tortured and decisive which in my mind is all that I ever look at when wanting a good Batman portrayal and you see Batman in Bruce Wayne when he is talking to Clark Kent and when he has conversations with Lex Luthor.  You can see the lust for vengeance in his heart and decidedly dark notions about whether people who do criminal acts really deserve redemption.  I love this aspect of Affleck’s portrayal because the very fact that he hesitates to allow redemption to anyone makes him the best and darkest portrayal of the character I have ever seen and I savored every moment he had on screen.

Aside from Affleck being superb the only major negative happens to be the performance of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.  Eisenberg’s portrayal felt like an egotistical callback to his star making turn as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.  I feel as if there’s so much that could have been done intellectually with the character that was not explored.  What was utilized was Luthor’s daddy issues as it relates to hating people more powerful than himself and bringing someone untouchable down to a human level.  While his intent is admirable I believe Luthor’s ability to manipulate people and situations should be subtler and calculated.  I was frustrated with the fact that Luthor’s thought process was well this idea failed so I may as well try this.  The villainy of that character could have been so much stronger than he was portrayed here and Bryan Cranston or even Kevin Spacey would have been stronger choices than what Eisenberg chose to do.

Gal Gadot was a surprising pick for Wonder Woman but her portrayal of the character is nothing short of revelatory.  She is very much exhausted from fighting the wars caused by man and very much wants to stay out of the conflict involving Batman and Superman but reclaiming an item from her past forces her to get involved in helping to save the world.  I like the few action moments we get with Wonder Woman because it shows the fact that her heart really is when she fighting on the battlefield.  I also love the fact Gadot has military service and fought for the Israli Defense Forces and I have respect for her immense courage as an individual and in taking on such a strong character.

BvS can be and is immensely fun but its dark and gritty tone needed a slightly better injection of humor to help manage all the plot threads within the film.  If there was an ounce of humor within the film that really struck a chord within all the chaos I would’ve enjoyed the film more but the grim tone just doesn’t make that possible and that’s a shame because that could have made the film stand out just a bit more in positive ways.

Overall while the narrative is incredibly busy Batman v. Superman is a compelling tale of the consequences of being a hero and what it means to battle not only your enemies but the vulnerabilities you yourself internally possess.  This is a slightly stronger follow up to the beginning of the DC Cinematic Universe and I’m cautiously optimistic about seeing more of these iconic superheroes come to life.  The ingredients made a tasty pie but future versions of this franchise need to work cleaner so that the taste has more clarity in flavor throughout each bite.