The want-to-see factor is through the roof!
And if advance ticket sales are any indication, BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE could capture the Easter weekend box office to the tune of $165 million—that’s my prediction anyway.
Whether the movie itself lives up to fan expectations is another story.
Imagine, the DC Comics cinematic universe finally in an all-out effort to match Marvel’s steamroller with JUSTICE LEAGUE already in the wings for 2017 and 2018.
So why then am I not pouring on the love?
After all, we’ve got two of DC’s biggest super-heroes in play here!
Maybe it’s because this new Zack Snyder directed showdown of titans is dark, gloomy and humorless.
I found myself chuckling maybe three or four times during the entire 2.5 hour running time.
Batman v Superman is presented in basically three acts.
The first re-acquaints us with Batman’s origins followed by a spectacular monster spaceship invasion of downtown Metropolis. WOW!
Then things slow down and—well, I’m not sending spoilers your way here. Suffice it to say things get talky, psychological, dark and………
(TTW, this part could easily have been tightened up.)
Thankfully, once we get into the third act it’s back to full-blown action of the final battle and a visual spectacle that only the big screen can give justice to.
Henry Cavill reprises his role as The Man Of Steel with Ben Affleck stepping into the role of Bruce Wayne (a.k.a. Batman)—a role last portrayed by Christian Bale in director Christopher Nolan’s DARK KNIGHT trilogy.
My preference of the two?
Probably Bale- more mysterious.
Rounding out the big name cast are Kevin Costner and Diane Lane in posthumous apperances as the elder Kents.
Amy Adams is Lois Lane, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Holly Hunter as U.S. Senator Finch and Laurence Fishburne as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet.
All good, solid performances.
But when it comes to Lex Luther in the film, OMG.
Jesse Eisenberg is not only badly miscast but totally annoying.
The only scene that brought scattered applause from our screening audience was the introduction of Wonder Woman played by sexy Gal Cadot.
She, of course, will have much bigger fish to fry in upcoming theatrical DC outings.
One more note of interest!
Nearly half our screening audience strayed through the extremely long credits at the end of the film.
Surely there would be some kind of bridge scene tagged on hinting of the further adventures in the extended universe?
DIDN’T happen.
So don’t waste your time.
The $64 million question: Will DC’s justice league ever measure up to Marvel’s power houses?
That remains to be seen, but my money’s on Marvel.
BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE.
My grade: B-
(Reviewed at AMC Barrywoods)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 FM, KMBZ.
Only review of the film I have read that didn’t come with a barf bag.
One VERY long trailer for the next 10 Marvel movies?
not surprised it rates an ‘almost blows chunks’ just from what little i’ve seen and heard. but, i’ll watch it… when it shows up on FX.