ARegularJoe’s review published on Letterboxd:
There are few superheros who reach the ionic status of Batman and Superman. Director Zack Snyder packs a lot into this two and a half hour spectacle to justify the two of them battling each other, but the build-up is worth it. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a film that will certainly benefit from repeat viewings as there is a lot to absorb the first time around. This is not a cheerful picture, but that’s understandable given the tone Snyder is trying to achieve. There would not be much time for levity when two angry and frightened beings are afraid of what the other is capable of.
Snyder crams the first act with tons of information. The film jumps location to location, with the addition of a well-known origin story, and a different POV of Man of Steel's climax, in rapid succession. At times, it does feel excessive. However, reflecting on what follows, everything manages to fit into place by the end. There are four central story-lines fighting for attention. While Bruce Wayne plotting his revenge against Superman is the most compelling, the others are certainly riveting in their own right. Bruce’s resentment is understandable, even as we root for him not to destroy Superman. Mostly, he’s scared of what this god-like man will do to the world. It’s the fear of the unknown and while that is a dangerous thought, it is coming from somebody who has fought many an unusual person or even thing. Superman is also frightened of those who don’t trust him and if they will continually beat him down and persuade everyone to be against him. His romance was sweetly portrayed in Man of Steel and that is what truly drives Clark Kent in his pursuit to not scare the rest of the populace.
Lois Lane’s investigative journalism was one of the highlights of Man of Steel and her subplot in Batman v Superman is similarly engaging. This is a Lois intent on finding the truth and even though most viewers will certainly know the outcome, her scenes do bring a special something to the plot. Lex Luthor has been portrayed on screen more than any other Superman villain, but this depiction thankfully brings a fresh interpretation to the table. He’s a psychotic and hair brained maniac that manages to be quite threatening. Jesse Eisenberg delights in chewing into the role and making him a serious threat. This is a Lex Luthor who gets a spring in his step at the mere thought of apocalyptic destruction.
Zack Snyder is a primarily visual director and he packs a punch during the action scenes. One desert-set sequence with Batman shows his fighting skills and vulnerability to an impressive degree. However, it’s the lengthy climax that has one both smiling in excitement and heart pumping with tension. Batman and Superman’s points of view have been established and seeing them go fisticuffs with each other is incredibly thrilling. The upper hand goes back and forth with intense ferocity. Yet the hero who most steals the spotlight is neither the Son of Krypton nor the Bat of Gotham, but rather the Amazonian Wonder Woman in her live-action big-screen debut. As portrayed by Gal Gadot, she appears sporadically in her Diana alter ego through the course of the film, but when she finally shows up in full costume, it becomes difficult not to squeal at her grand entrance. It’s clear to see why her starring vehicle is already busily shooting for a release next year.
From a production standpoint, all of the participants help in making Batman v Superman deliver. The special effects have improved greatly since Man of Steel and Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL’s score is a major component of each character and their internal and external battles. The decision to have Ben Affleck play a grizzled Caped Crusader was a smart one and he manages to capture both the gruffness of Batman and the charm of Bruce Wayne. The script nicely sets up the later chapters in this universe and while some of Zack Snyder’s directorial decisions may be controversial, they nonetheless bring a spice to this franchise and two heroes who continue to captivate every generation.