ARTICLE
‘Batman v Superman’: 5
Reasons Not to Hate the
Superhero Mash-Up
F
orget about Kryptonite — movie critics are trying
to kill Superman. The reviews for Zack Snyder’s
DC Comics mash-up “Batman v Superman: Dawn
of Justice” are brutal, and much less forgiving than they
were for Marvel’s “The Avengers” in 2012. Snyder’s
movie, which introduces Ben Affleck as Batman and
brings back Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel, doesn’t
have the cinematic gravitas of, for example, Christopher
Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy. But such a comparison
isn’t really fair. Unlike Nolan (who turned the comic book
tentpole into a work of art), Snyder
has crafted a popcorn blockbuster roller coaster ride. I mean that
as a compliment — the movie is
high on adrenaline; what it lacks
in story, it makes up for through
super-sized action. Often ridiculous and over-the-top, enamored
by its own monstrous ambitions,
“Batman v Superman” is frequently
an entertaining jaunt through Metropolis and Gotham, anchored by
strong performances and mesmerizing sweeps of cinematography.
Despite what you may have read,
here’s why it works:
1. Henry Cavill is a great Superman.
The role of Superman is thankless,
as many actors with the part have
suffered the curse of being typecast as the man in spandex. In taking over from Brandon Routh (from
2006’s unfortunate “Superman Returns”), Cavill has become a worthy successor to Christopher Reeve (or TV’s
Dean Cain) with his modern-day portrait of Clark Kent.
In 2013’s underrated “Man of Steel,” his chemistry with
Amy Adams (as Lois Lane) and relationship with his parents (Diane Lane and Kevin Costner) kept the picture
grounded, even when Snyder’s erratic camera angles
threatened to give audiences motion sickness. In this
sequel, Cavill once again soars as the heroic movie star
masquerading as an everyman. He might be sharing the
film’s title with another hero, but “Dawn of Justice” is still
Superman’s story.
2. Ben Affleck makes Batman his own.
The fear among many fans was that it was “too soon” to
see another Batman, just four years after Christian Bale
hung up his mask in “The Dark Knight Rises.” Thankfully
Affleck sidesteps any traps (and déjà vu from 2003’s
“Daredevil”) by offering a different antihero: a grizzled
Caped Crusader pushing 50 who is even more disillusioned with life (if that’s possible) than the previous incarnation. Affleck’s interpretation of the character isn’t
among the best — it’s not in the same league as Bale
and Michael Keaton from the Tim Burton films — but
he’s not among the worst either. He gives us a conflicted
Batman with room to grow, which
is wise, considering the number of
sequels Warner Bros. is planning.
3. Gal Gadot as Wonder
Woman.
If “Superman v Batman” is the
launching pad for multiple franchises, it’s already given birth to at
least one star. That would be Gal
Gadot as Wonder Woman. Like
Angelina Jolie in “Lara Croft: Tomb
Raider,” Gadot not only keeps up
with the boys, she could devour
them — if she wanted to. Her role
in the movie is small, yet it’s an encouraging teaser of things to come
with 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Jenkins.
4. Give Snyder credit, too.
He’s become the Michael Bay of
the aughts, dividing critics with hits
like “300,” “Watchmen” and “Sucker Punch.” But despite a mixed
track record on storytelling, Snyder is a gifted technical
wizard; on his best days, he can compete with the likes
of Peter Jackson or Sam Raimi when it comes to epic
action. If “Batman v Superman” seems lost in a fog of
angst during its first hour, don’t give up on the movie.
As this epic picks up speed, it also delivers, especially
during a spectacular fight between its t