First off, let me start by saying that this post contains major spoilers from the film, so if you haven't seen it, you shouldn't keep reading. Since it's release on March 25th, it's been nearly impossible to avoid the shit-storm of negativity surrounding Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, first in the form of largely negative critical reviews and more recently in the onslaught of attention given to the fact that the film's viewership has dropped substantially in the two weeks since its release. Rather than focusing on the fact that it's already made north of $700 million dollars worldwide in less than two weeks, haters are only focusing on the negative, unfairly comparing it with mass appeal Marvel blockbusters like The Avengers. First off, comparing BvS to any of the Marvel Universe films is a mistake. The Marvel films, while highly entertaining and filled with action and humor (sometimes too much), are not really the type of films that challenge people to think and contemplate what they're seeing on screen. For me at least, the Marvel films tend to be one and done, the type of film that I can see once and not dwell on afterwards. Not that there's anything wrong with this and if you're just looking for an action flick to watch while munching down popcorn, then the Marvel films are perfect.
As a life long DC Comics fan, what I so thoroughly enjoy about all the DC films thus far, (with the exception of Green Lantern) is how deeply they delve into the real world implications of having beings like this in our midst. The Dark Knight Trilogy first set DC's more serious tone with its grounded and realistic portrayal not only of Batman and his friends and foes, but also the world they inhabit. Setting these fantastic characters in a world just like ours makes the situations that much more relevant and believable. We can look at these iconic characters as flesh and blood, multi-dimensional people with real flaws and doubts, which allows us to relate to these previously un-relatable Gods among men. Zack Snyder continued the grounded tone established in the DK Trilogy when he reintroduced Superman to the modern world in Man of Steel. Given how much more implausible Superman is, Snyder did an excellent job making his presence in our world believable, although it meant ditching some of the more absurd Superman trappings of the past.
I've seen BvS: Dawn of Justice five times now, and every time I see it I become more convinced that it's one of the greatest superhero films ever made, especially because it defies the usual formulaic trappings of many other comic book films, hence one of the main reasons why it's come up against so much flack. The masses seem to crave easy to digest, predictable entertainment that doesn't leave them wondering. This is why the masses, by and large, are narrow minded morons. Not being creators of any kind, all they can do is critique. If you're hoping for a mindless wall to wall action film, then BvS will be a disappointment. If you're ideas of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are confined to their film and television incarnations from the 70's and 80's, then BvS will be a disappointment. If you're simply hoping to watch a film and then forget about it rather than be immersed in the story and left contemplating the plethora of real world themes that the film grapples with, then BvS will be a disappointment. The difference between the Marvel films and this film in particular is the difference between entertainment and art. Entertainment reassures what we already believe about the world and ourselves; art challenges us to question our preconceived notions about ourselves and the world.
Above all else, this film is a love letter to fans who've spent their lives thinking of these characters as more than just 2 dimensional cartoons on a page. To us, these characters, no matter how fantastic their abilities are, are who they are because of their human failings and flaws are how they consistently rise above these for the greater good. If that means occasionally getting their hands dirty or blurring the thin line between hero and anti-hero, then they take it on to do what they know in their hearts is right. The versions of these characters in the film feel as if they exist among us, grappling with the same moral gray areas that we as a society deal with. The major theme of BvS is the idea of absolute power and if it can in fact be used for the greater good or if, as the saying goes, "absolute power always corrupts absolutely."
In relation to Superman, who's been revealed to the world as an alien with god-like power, the question is can he be trusted to always use his powers for the greater good despite having human emotions and attachments. Affleck's Batman, an older, more cynical crime fighting veteran, naturally distrusts anyone with such power and worries that one day he might be our enemy. This outlook makes sense given that at this point Batman's seen the worst humanity has to offer; he's seen friends killed and allies become enemies and its slowly drained his faith in humanity. The existence of Superman defies the world of logic and order that Batman has fought for. Lex on the other hand, sees Superman simply as a threat to his own narcissistic sense of power; he wants to be the smartest, most powerful one on the planet, believing that his vision of the world is right. In some ways, the film shows how both Bruce and Lex start out feeling that Superman is a threat, although for very different reasons.
One of the hallmarks of the Marvel films is their (over) reliance on humor, the apparent lack of which in the DC films seems to be a point of constant criticism. Yes, the Marvel films are much funnier and lighter, which is a nice addition but should not be the main selling point of these films, just like humor is not really a selling point of their comics. If I want to laugh hysterically, I'd watch The Hangover or Bridesmaids. There's nothing wrong with humor in these films, but only if it flows organically from the situations and is not forced like it often seems to be in many Marvel films. The fact is, the situations in the DC films tend to be much more dire and intense than in Marvel films and therefore having the characters trading jokes would betray the feeling of intensity these films aim to create. Also, unlike Tony Stark or Ant-man, Batman and Superman have never really been known for their humor, despite a few chuckle worthy instances here and there. Batman especially has always been a darker character with a tragic past, so it would be uncharacteristic for him to be cracking jokes like Iron Man. In BvS, much of the humor comes from supporting characters such as Alfred, Perry White and Lex Luthor, who manages to avoid becoming too campy like Hackman's version (sorry Gene). Alfred's humor is dry and witty like in the comics, Perry's humor comes from being the tough but fair editor-in-chief and Lex's comes from him being an egocentric genius who's deeply psychotic. The film's more subtle humor flows from who the characters are.
Some diehards fans probably complain about some of the liberties the film takes will famous DC storylines and characters, most notably Doomsday's changed origin and the film's altered interpretation of The Death of Superman storyline. First off, Doomsday's origin had already been drastically changed in season 8 of Smallville, where he's the genetically engineered offspring of Zod, which the film pays homage to by having Lex use Zod's body to create Doomsday. As for the film's version of the Death of Superman, it wouldn't be the first time a classic storyline was altered to fit a film (i.e. The Dark Knight Rises interpretation of Knightfall in which Bane breaks Batman's back). In both, the end result is the same, with just a few more or less minor changes. Aside from Superman dying at the end, the details of his fight with Doomsday in the comics is not that unique or exciting and therefore the changes in the film aren't really that drastic. The end result is still that he sacrifices himself to stop Doomsday from destroying all life. I thought his film death was handled with the gravity and significance it deserved and it also served to not only restore Batman's faith in good but also acts as his incentive to seek out, with Wonder Woman's help, the others with incredible abilities and form the Justice League. How Superman's return will be handled cinematically is the next question, but I feel the ending opens up many satisfying possibilities.
Rather than throwing one action scene after another at us, one of the unique aspects of the film is how it slowly weaves together a few separate subplots which come to fruition in the end. I'm happy that Lois had a crucial part to play in the film by unraveling Lex's hidden agenda and is not just sitting on the sidelines waiting to be rescued. Snyder has strong female characters who are a crucial part of the action; it isn't all about Batman and Superman. When we finally see the two of them fight, it's clear why it's come to this; both have been unknowingly pushed to the edge by Lex's manipulation and both feel they're out of options. The film does a great job of laying the groundwork of why these two would find themselves at odds with each other. Of course, the fight itself is epic and adrenaline pounding, although I imagine that for some people it's unnerving seeing Batman and Superman beating each other up. For comic fans it's not really anything new.
Critics have also complained about Batman's reason for finally working with Superman against Lex, citing that his learning that Clark's mother is also named Martha is a flimsy reason for him to believe Superman's no longer a threat. Although hearing the name Martha initially causes Batman to reconsider ending Superman, it's not the sole reason. The entire film Batman's been looking at Superman as an alien being with no real ties to earth. When he learns from Lois Lane that Clark's mother is also named Martha, it suddenly humanizes Superman in his eyes; he has a human mother who raised him, he has a connection to earth and its people. Lois revealing this to him and pleading for Clark's life is another reason why Batman reconsiders things given that he knows Lois's importance to future events and trusts her. Once Superman gets the chance to explain that Lex threatened to kill Clark's mother if he didn't kill Batman, Bruce realizes how Lex has been manipulating them both from the start, fanning the flames to get them to fight and take each other out. It's at this point that they put aside their existential differences to take down the real threat: Lex Luthor.
Once Bats and Supes team up and Wonder Woman appears, it makes for arguably the most iconic team up in comic book film history. Just seeing them all together finally makes the audience feel like they earned it. Their showdown with Doomsday is as visually close to the chaos of a comic book battle as I've ever seen before. Even if the rest of the movie had only been a setup to this part, it's totally worth it once we see them in action. It's frustrating to see Cavill's Superman still getting a lot of hate from viewers when he twice saved all of humanity from extinction. Makes me wonder what else he has to do to win some people over. I know that some people just straight out don't like Superman as a character and these people will never be won over. As for others who seem to want him to be lighter and more carefree like Chris Reeve's version, they have to accept that Cavill's isn't simply mimicking Reeve's version. We all saw how that went in Superman Returns. Cavill's version may be darker and more troubled, but he has more legitimate troubles than any past version. He has the same heart and wants to help everyone, but this time around he has to contend with a large faction of the population that fears and hates him, blaming him for what happened in MOS even though he saved the entire world. Someone who feels responsible for everyone like Superman would naturally have a tough time being regarded with fear and mistrust. Even so, he still tries to do right by everyone, impossible as that is, and feels guilty for every person he can't save. Cavill's version is in many ways closer to the Superman of the comics for the past decade or so.
When it's all said and done, BvS may not be the comic book film that everyone was expecting or hoping for, but ultimately I think this is a good thing. The film bucks so many of the formulaic traditions of most superhero films and gives us a film that's for the mind as much as it is for the eyes. Like all great art, the film gets us to address fundamental human questions without simple, black and white answers. These iconic characters grapple with fundamentally human issues, allowing us to relate to and sympathize with them and even ask ourselves what we would do in their position. More than any other comic book film, BvS feels like it's happening in our world, where things aren't simple. Sure the film's gritty and dark, but the realism makes the fantastic elements that much more fantastic when we see them. As the title indicates, the night is always darkest just before the dawn, and now with BvS I can assure you...the dawn is coming.
