SPOILER ALERT!!!

Nnenna Umelloh: Pre-viewing Expectations

I have been a Detective Comics fan for longer than I can remember. I have very high expectations for this movie. This is an opportunity for DC to showcase some of their best theatrical work with some of their most well-known characters in the DC Universe. I hope to see a fair balance between action and plot and character development. I am more than willing to sacrifice some intense battle scenes if that time is used to develop the plot and add more suspense.

I am also hoping to see genuine character development. I am crossing my fingers that the main characters are portrayed with dynamic characteristics. I want to see them grow and develop throughout the film or at least show the start of that progress. I understand if true character development takes a couple of movies to portray.

I have very high expectations for Wonder Woman, but one thing I do not want to see is her portrayed as a dainty damsel in distress. I hope the creative directors as well as the actress recognize the potential in Wonder Women as a full bred heroine. I also hope to see her portrayed as strong, independent warrior who happens to be a woman. Wonder Woman is stronger than Superman, so I hope that we as an audience get at least a glimpse of that quality. I understand if she is not referred to often in this film because the main focus is between Superman and Batman.

Mehreen Baig: Pre-viewing Expectations

I’ve had tickets booked for about three weeks now, and today is the day. I’m finally going to see "Batman Vs. Superman," and I could not be more excited. I know I’m going to love Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot, and I’m completely ignoring all the critic reviews that have been slamming the movie because it’s different from Marvel movies (news flash: it’s not a Marvel movie!)

I’ve heard rumors that there are some great cameos, which has me hyped. I can’t wait to see which DC characters pop up in this movie. I’m hoping for some justice league appearances, or maybe some secondary characters from the Batman Universe.

Mehreen Baig: Post-viewing Review

Wow. Just wow.

Starting off, the casting in "Batman Vs. Superman" is brilliant. Ben Affleck is an excellent Batman, my favorite one by far, and I am so glad I don’t have to see Christian Bale trying to be Bruce Wayne anymore. Ben Affleck is literally Bruce Wayne, I can’t put it any other way. And Wonder Woman, oh lord. The costume, her kicking butt, her accent, just…everything was so good. That sneak peek of Jason Momoa as Aquaman was also just perfect. Now I’m so excited for all the other DC movies coming out in the next couple of years.

I will say, I understood some criticisms of the movie, but it was definitely not awful, as critics claimed. I feel a lot of them were just unnecessarily harsh. The plot was a little simple, Batman was a little too violent, and I felt like the soundtrack was a little excessively dramatic at times, but the entire movie felt real, and that is no small feat. To make me feel like the characters of the comics I so love are actually in front of me, fighting bad guys and saving the world does not come easily, but "Batman Vs. Superman" made it happen.

I feel like that was the best thing. As my friend pointed out, the whole movie played out like a comic book does. It jumped from scene to scene with multiple points of views, and there wasn’t anything unnecessary or prolonged.

I am so blown away. I think DC did a great job with this movie, and if you’re on the fence because of some of the reviews you heard, ignore them and go. "Batman Vs. Superman" is a movie you need to see at least once in your life.

(or twice. I’m definitely watching it again.)

Nnenna Umelloh: Post-viewing Review

"Batman vs. Superman" was able to successfully take the narrative of both characters in a unique direction while at the same time laying out the groundwork for a potential Justice League movie. Overall, it was well done. I am very happy to say that Ben Affleck surprised me. I could appreciate what he did with Batman. Batman was much more jaded than Christian Bale’s portrayal. I also liked that the character is a little older than we are used to seeing. Superman was not a complete boy scout either. Oftentimes, he is seen as the man who can do no wrong, but in this movie, we are able to see the cost and some conflict in having a hero of his caliber. Jessie Eisenburg’s rendition of Lex Luthor was phenomenal. He was excellent. Lastly, I was underwhelmed by Wonder Woman. Gal Gadot is a beautiful woman, but she did not strike me as Wonder Woman. I still cannot see her as a fearless warrior and leader that I need her to be. On the other hand, she was not a damsel. I also did enjoy the hint of bloodlust she had in the fight scenes.

The plot development was executed well. There were some questionable plot holes, but nothing too distracting that I could not get over or ignore. I did see a fair amount of character development as well. This movie did a good job of showing dynamic characters. I look forward to seeing how they will further develop.