Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice movie review

Guaranteed no spoilers.

When I first heard about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I felt it was an ambitious and desperate move after Man of Steel which did good beyond my expectation. I said ambitious and desperate because DC movies didn’t do well with Green Lantern but was able to redeem itself after the Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.

Although Nolan did well with his Batman trilogy but integrating other characters is another task. The mistake DC movies made with Green Lantern were able to redeem themselves with their direct-to-home video animated movies and CW’s TV series.

What made the home videos and the TV series successful was they already got a plan layout for them. The home videos can be watched as a separate story but you are sure they are all connected because they are consistent with the same voice actors. CW even got it better because they are slowly integrating by cameo appearances.

Batman and Superman are two of the three giants of the DC Universe. The third one is Wonder Woman. Why Batman and Superman is the title instead of Dawn of Justice? This is not to make the movie patriarchal. Batman and Superman represent two different ideologies in superheroes.

Superman represents a beacon of hope. He represents everything that is good. That is why he called a boy scout from time to time. Batman uses a different approach. Because of the murder of his parents, you can’t blame him if he a vigilante. After the reboot in the DC comics in the mid 80’s, Batman was made into a darker character close enough on being an anti-hero. Both Superman and Batman represent the Yin and Yang or the balance in the DC Universe. Wonder Woman is the mediator to make sure that balance is in check. That is why they are called DC Comics’ Trinity.

Here are some reasons why a comic book geek like me is recommending this movie:

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

*There had been many clashes of Superman and Batman in the comic books and the animation. Most don’t realize that the two are total opposites but they are equally match. Each clash is differently executed and you can be assured that this one is no exception.

*Ben Affleck’s and Zack Snyder’s Batman is based on Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Even the armor looks like the one Batman used in the graphic novel. How Batman moves and fights was very similar to Batman: Arkham games. And finally, the way Batman uses his grappler gun is perfected like in the comic books and animation. Bear in mind that this is not the same Batman that was interpreted in Nolan’s Dark Knight. I feel the need of having another Batman movie to give a back story because there seems to be a gap.

*Wonder Woman was based on the New 52 version. Gal Gadot is really the best choice. I can’t wait for her solo movie.She really did good playing an Amazon princess and she is really Greek. In twenty five years or so, we are now going to start celebrating their(Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) centennial birthdays. I remember clearly when I saw how Superman was celebrated in his 50^th.

*Unlike the Lex Luthor in the previous movies, the Lex Luthor Jesse Eisenberg portrayed is no mad scientist but more closer to reality: A corporate CEO. In the real world, the most evil that is personified in existence is a corporate. As long as there are rules, the businessman or businesswoman, so I can’t sound exclusive, will do anything to manipulate the rules of engagement and can do whatever is necessary to get what he/she can gain. The CEOs can be considered the modern ganglords. That is what Eisenberg did with this iconic villain.

*At last, we have a real Batmobile. Unlike Nolan's Dark Knight, the Tumbler can be or can't be a Batmobile. Because it was first intended to be used for military.

*The story is not what I expected. It got me gasps every time when I saw the hidden “easter eggs”. That is far I can tell for now. But it is a good development for the next movies they are planning to do.

*As for the IMAX and 3D, the IMAX format didn’t look expanded so it’s also worth watching in IMAX. For the 3D, there are most scenes that the frames are good like when something moves that is dominating the frame. Overall, this movie is not to be missed watching in cinemas. Don’t wait for it to be premiered in movie channels or released in home videos.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens Black Saturday, March 26 in the Philippines.  Screened first in SM Megamall IMAX Cinema last March 22. For more movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.