It's finally here!
No, not that... THIS:
"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" released on March 25, and quickly shattered multiple Box Office records, unfortunately the commercial success did not translate into critical praise. Critics online called the film "a mess" and "too dark for a superhero film." But, as a lifelong Batman/DC comics fan, I disagree with the abysmal reviews and offer my own take on this excellent franchise-launching film.
Left: Scene from "The Dark Knight Returns" comic
Right: Scene from Batman V Superman
Spoilers Ahead
"Batman v Superman" does a fantastic job of giving fans scenes that we have been clambering for for years. So many scenes were borrowed directly from the pages of classic comic stories. "The Dark Knight Returns," "The Death of Superman," and "The Flashpoint Paradox" are all showcased at some point in the film and give us a taste of what we can expect in the future. We also get a hint at a possible Red Hood/Death in the Family story adaptation coming to the big screen. As a fan, every little tease and hint had me at the edge of my seat. As a fan, I could not have asked for more from this movie.
This is where the negative reviews come in. Critics are not always fans of the source. When a critic who has no connection or experience with the stories sits down and sees The Flash burst in from a worm hole and tell Bruce Wayne that he was right about superman, an ignorant viewer would have no clue what that scene caries with it. One reviewer even referenced the scene saying "that dream sequence with the ghost of robin telling Bruce not to trust superman." This is exactly what I mean by critics not understanding the source. Any DC fan should instantly recognize the Flash and should probably understand that the scene is a reference to the Flashpoint Paradox, one of the most important DC stories of all time.
On one hand, I understand that a film should have mass appeal and should be accessible for anyone, but on the other hand we should expect and praise the level of respect Zack Snyder paid to the source. Critics giving the film a 5 or 6 out of 10 simply because they did not understand the references is unfair and can harm the film by discouraging viewers who would have otherwise loved the film. Calling it a "bad film" isn't fair, the cinematography is fantastic and the score is one of the best I've ever heard. The writing and the performances given are great for the most part, and critics are not acknowledging these points just because they went in expecting another bright and colorful Marvel film and got a faithful adaptation of classic DC stories, which are far from cheery. It's Batman, not Ant Man.
I understand I probably just sound like a pissed off Fan Boy at this point, but in reality I can't understand how this film is getting so much flak. It is disappointing that ignorant critics could alter future films, because the foundation that this film lays down is incredible. If you haven't seen the film yet, give it a shot. Especially if you are a fan of the characters and have been wanting to see the true-to-form characters from the classic comic book stories.
