OT: Batman v Superman

WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS

So after all the wait and fanboy flame wars, DC comics has taken its first major stride to catch up to Marvel in establishing a cinematic universe. I saw the film on Friday, and to be honest, it's the definition of a mixed bag. The best way I can describe it is, it's exactly the movie I wanted to see, with a whole extra movie added in.

THE GOOD
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. After all the criticism of this casting choice, Gal absolutely stole the show as both Wonder Woman and Diana Prince. Her on-screen debut in costume was the best entrance since Tony Stark showed up in the end credits scene of The Incredible Hulk. I am now looking forward to the standalone Wonder Woman movie more than any film in the Marvel pipeline.

The Batfleck. Speaking of casting controversy, the Internet howled with rage when Ben Affleck got the nod to succeed Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader. I personally always agreed with the casting, and I feel vindicated when I say Affleck is both the best Batman and Bruce Wayne the silver screen has ever known. This is the first Batman that feels like has stepped right off the page, and the scene when Batman assaults a warehouse full of gunmen is by far the best sequence of the movie.

The Setup for Justice League. It's clear that Zack Snyder was trying to cram too much into this movie, and the film suffers for it. But what Snyder did right was pave the way for a cohesive universe that features a Justice League, and cement Batman's place as a leader on a council of vastly more powerful superheroes.

THE BAD
Three Subplots Too Many. Far too much going on. I wound up intentionally trying to tune out the Lois Lane subplot and Holly Hunter's entire character. There was enough to accomplish in this film just by bringing Batman and Wonder Woman into the Man of Steel universe and setting the table for Justice League.

The editing. Holy crap, whoever edited this thing should never work in Hollywood again. The editing was exclusively hard jump cuts with no transition. We're in Metropolis! We're in Gotham! Now D.C.! Now a dream sequence! Metropolis aga... JUST KIDDING, another dream! If you're gonna juggle too many subplots, the editing has to save you. This made it worse.

Lex Zuckerberg. I get the direction Zac Snyder was trying to go, and applaud him for attempting a new take on a classic villain, but Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor doesn't work. Someone in my theater whispered "he'd made an excellent Riddler," and there's no better way to sum up how he failed at being Lex Luthor. Lex is brilliant and diabolical, but not manic. They should have gone with Brian Cranston.

MIXED BAG
Doomsday. No qualms about his presentation or altered origin. I take exception to him being in the movie at all. Doomsday isn't a core villain in terms of repeated use, but he is THE VILLAIN THAT KILLED SUPERMAN IN THE COMICS. That means he deserves his own dedicated film. I applaud Snyder for capturing the essence of Doomsday's invincibility in such limited screen time, while also faulting him for limiting his screen time. Doomsday would have been a perfect villain for the first Justice League film as a threat so great no single hero can defeat him. Instead he's the quick fix that brings Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman together. This was a well done villain and a wasted opportunity.

Oh boy, here I go killing again! I won't bemoan the decision to make this Batman kill. Snyder did a good job of establishing that this Batman is jaded from two decades of fighting crime, and bitter over the death of his sidekick. But this isn't a Batman who is just okay with collateral damage. He straight up murders at least six people. And the movie falls short of juxtaposing Batman's grittiness with Superman's valor, since Superman sends a guy through a concrete wall within 30 seconds of his first appearance. These are deadly heroes, and I think they've gone down that road a little too far.

All in all, I enjoyed BvS while wishing for more of what worked and far less of what didn't. I am not on the Zac Snyder hate train, but I do believe Affleck should be allowed to be a guiding voice in the direction of the Justice League films. Snyder's visuals and Affleck's storytelling could be epic.