Classic Review: Batman v Superman (2014)

Remember this little indie flick that came into the zeitgeist back in 2016? Batman v Superman, arguably the most talked-about piece of pop culture this century. One of the most polarizing, divided, and controversial movies in recent memory, it finally introduced us to the possibilities of the Justice League.

After the semi-success of Man of Steel, WB knew they needed to go big for their next movie. Zack Snyder decided to bring in the big guns, which was Oscar-winner Ben Affleck, fresh off a Best Picture win for Argo to suit up and take on the Son of Krypton in Batman v Superman. Affleck was at the height of his power, he had more juice than almost anyone in Hollywood at the time and Zack Snyder convinced this guy to come play Batman for him.

WB had also just wrapped up Christopher Nolan’s monumental Batman trilogy, proving that Batman was box-office gold. How could this fail? Once production got underway, Snyder and his team rolled out one of the most impressive marketing campaigns in history. Everything was a homerun, casting, posters, and more importantly the trailers. Fans couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into this movie and the world was waiting to see what Zack Snyder had in store. Once reviews poured in, they weren’t what WB expected. While not an important marker for success or failure, it can sometimes sink a film.

Batman v Superman served as a launching pad for their future team-up, introducing us to Affleck’s darker Batman. This is a version of Batman who has broken free from his golden rule and has lost all sense of what made him such a strong figure for Gotham City. We never quite got to see this kind of Dark Knight, someone who lives inside a world with super-powered beings all while having 20 years of crime-fighting experience. Without a doubt as of right now he is the definitive Batman because he fills out the suit to perfection and his relationship with Alfred (Jeremy Irons) is the best part of his entire character.

The film also first introduced viewers to the last piece of the Trinity in Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Not as fleshed out as Batman, it was known that she would be getting her own solo flick in the near future. Gadot steals the last third of the film, having one of the best superhero entrances ever. Looking fierce, she only gained confidence on-screen over time. She’s only improved as an actress since her appearance here. Meanwhile, Batman v Superman also offered quick glimpses of Cyborg (Ray Fisher), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa), setting up their future involvement a much larger threat was on the horizon.

Batman v Superman was just so different from anything that was going on in the comic-book world at that time. It was serious and dealt with our heroes in a very thematic and layered way. The MCU was mostly ordinary people trying to be Gods whereas Snyder portrayed these DC heroes as Gods who just wanted to be like everyone else. Superman (Cavill) is a flawed character, for good reason, and his arc through his first two DCEU outings was such a unique take on the character.

From its beautiful score, that hits right away and lasts until the very last moments. Also, the action isn’t what propels the film forward. When it hits, of course, it’s great, that’s never a concern with Snyder, and his visuals always impress. These characters have never looked better in a movie. Jesse Eisenberg who gives his Lex Luthor more of a Mark Zuckerberg than a Jeff Bezos kind of portrayal was met with such criticism but it’s one of the things that works so well. It’s interesting that as the film goes forward we see Batman and Lex go on opposite paths, Batman gliding towards the light, while Luthor slips deeper into the dark. Over time, more people have since come around to on Batman v Superman, but it’s still polarizing impact on the fanbase has largely remained. It will leave a mark on the comic-book industry no doubt, even more so on the events that played out after its release.

In the end, Batman v Superman may be flawed in some areas but overall, it is one of the best comic-book films ever made. It’s rich in context and in texture and it is more than just heroes punching one another. Snyder looks at our heroes through a certain lens that leaves viewers wondering what he had in store for the future. Very soon, we will finally get to see that vision and the world is definitely not ready.

still courtesy of Warner Bros.

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Wannabe Movie Critic