‘Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ is as two-dimensional as the plotted rivalry at stake.
Two of the most renowned and beloved superheroes, Batman and Superman, are finally sharing the silver screen for the first time in cinematic history, with March’s monumentally hyped Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Nonetheless, comic-book fans are in for more than they bargained for, having other comic favorites join in on all the fun. With a league that ranges from Aquaman to Wonder Woman to even the Flash, this spring blockbuster might carry enough weight to make you believe that it’s more than just “polished trash.”
After the outpouring of negative criticism persuaded me towards gaining my own opinion on the matter, I must be the bearer of bad news in saying that the reviews are more than accurate. Batman vs. Superman tries to follow in the footsteps of Marvel’s successful superhero film franchises, from witty one-lined batter to flawed characters with a past to even quickly-paced action sequences among the dialogue breaks. Throw in some celebrity cameos, and you might actually be watching 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Director Zack Snyder creates this frustrating bi-universe where Metropolis and Gotham City are directly “across the harbor.” Nonetheless, as the plot of the film goes on, you become more agitated about how it loses itself. It’s enough to make you question why the core element of Batman’s revenge plot towards the superior man in the sky is being bombarded with blotchy foreign affairs and Jesse Eisenberg’s squeaky take on the unstable Lex Luthor.
What I believe is the biggest flaw in this continuation of DC’s “identity crisis” is that it is missing the one thing that Marvel films tend to work so well with: its genuineness. With the Avengers, for instance, you get their sense of humor, you understand their relationship struggles (both friendly and romantically) and the dramatic action sequences have a vital purpose to the progression of these authentically unreal beings. In Batman vs. Superman, however, we are given Ben Affleck in a bat suit, running around in a realm of existence that is too dark and dramatic to feel any sense of intuitive understanding (or even humor).
However, not many fans of the dynamic duo share in my disappointed perspective. Just ask Jantzen Rogalski, a Wayne resident and longtime superhero fanatic. “As a huge Batman fan, I don’t like all of the bad talk surrounding this movie,” said Jantzen, despite not seeing the film for himself just yet. “I really like anything that has to do with Batman. So, hearing all the ‘smack talk’ is getting to be somewhat annoying.”
In the end, it’s the dawn of a new era, for both comic books and film adaptations alike. No matter how much we complain, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice will continue to thrive on bringing in commercial success and sequels galore. Why? Because both Batman and Superman are such prestigious characters that their reputation among their fandom cannot be tarnished in the matter of two and a half hours.
Don’t let my own words be your kryptonite. Once a fan, always a fan. Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice is now playing in movie theaters everywhere! Some venues include AMC Clifton Commons 16, Bow Tie Caldwell Cinemas and even Bow Tie Bellevue Cinemas in the heart of downtown Montclair. For a list of even more theaters and accompanying show-times, visit fandango.com today!
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