Director Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) was the sequel to Man of Steel (2013) and the second installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), and it actually had one of the best superhero movie casts. The entire cast included Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Scoot McNairy and Gal Gadot.
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The film grossed over $800 million at the box office, which was considered a failure at the time. In hindsight, these numbers seem astronomical. However, compared to those of the MCU, and especially those of its first two films, Avengers Assemble (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), which both grossed over a billion dollars, BvS had to make over a billion, maybe closer to two billion, to be considered a success. Considering the film features two of the world's most famous superhero characters, we'd expect nothing less.
When the film was released theatrically, some called it divisive and many mainstream critics hated it. They compared it to Marvel and said Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was too dark, too heavy on special effects, etc. Prominent critics like Leonard Maltin had this to say in their review:
It's rubbish. It's not a word I usually use, but I can't think of a better way to describe my reaction to this over-the-top, overlong, poorly written film, awkwardly titled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film is based on a bad idea (pitting two larger-than-life superheroes) and just goes downhill from there.
What I criticize most about Batman v Superman is that it managed to drain these characters and their universe of all their interest, despite an exceptional cast. I thought superhero movies were supposed to be fun.”
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Too dark and sinister
Marvel was considered the more fun studio, producing lighter comic book films. Due to the success of the MCU, critics like Maltin expected superhero films to emulate Marvel's style. Zack Snyder, the director of BvS, wanted to tell stories that followed the actions of a god-like superhero, Superman, and the dark tale of an energetic vigilante, Batman.
Snyder wanted to deconstruct the mythology of superheroes and draw a connection between our adoration of them and the myths and religious cults found among ancient people. It is only possible to fully appreciate Snyder's vision for BvS (Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer wrote the screenplay) if one is aware of the influence of Alan Moore's Watchmen on the work of Snyder.
The director's adaptation of Watchmen in 2009 had a profound impact on him, and this influence can be seen in Batman v Superman. Alan Moore's Watchmen comic book series allowed Snyder to question the role and function of superheroes. His film Watchmen is a classic study in superhero deconstruction.
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Speaking to the Wall Street Journal upon the release of BvS, Snyder revealed the profound influence of Watchmen on his film:
It's all about the ‘why' of superheroes: the political why, the religious why, the philosophical why,” Snyder explains. “Once you absorb this material, there's no way it won't resonate with you, especially when it comes to characters like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, who are basically the trinity,” Snyder said. “In some ways, this will be, I hope, at its best, the version Impossible from Watchmen.
The black Knight
BvS is a realistic film and the story, which features fantastical characters, is nonetheless imbued with realism and has several layers of meaning that touch on politics and philosophy, as evidenced by the destruction of Metropolis, which threw the discrediting of Superman and led to a hearing before Congress. Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns significantly influenced BvS and its themes. Christopher Nolan's realism in his Dark Knight trilogy also had a profound impact on the tone of Snyder's film.
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An underappreciated ensemble cast
Bad reviews and lack of box office success made BvS an $800 million failure. Snyder's vision of a deconstructed superhero film irked average moviegoers, and many Superman and Batman fans were left scratching their heads.
What has been lost in these apparent failures and needs to be better appreciated is the quality of Batman v Superman's cast. Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot played their roles superbly. Gadot is often criticized for her acting, but she delivers in BvS.
The rest of the cast is also excellent, notably Diane Lane as Martha Kent. Lane gives an excellent performance as a tired but wise mother. Superman is a savior to the world, but to Martha, he is her only son, Clark Kent. Lane conveys her compassion and grief without being dominant in the role. His scenes with Lois Lane are also highlights of the film.
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Laurence Fishburne is another veteran actor, in addition to Lane. The actor played a less tense Perry White in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman and was a stunning addition to the cast. Fishburne played the role of Perry White in a relaxed manner, while maintaining a commanding presence in both films.
Jeremy Irons overall is like a cherry on the cake. Irons does an outstanding job as Alfred Pennyworth. His witty one-liners and sage advice are expertly delivered with endearing charm, making this version of the character one of the best after Michael Caine's.
Notable mentions
Jesse Eisenberg received a lot of criticism for his portrayal of Lex Luthor. He seemed young for the role but played Luthor well despite having a huge amount of shoes to fill. Gene Hackman and Michael Rosenbaum's versions of Lex Luthor, as seen in Superman II and the Smallville series, would put enormous pressure on any actor playing Lex. Eisenberg may not have had the looks for the job, but he managed to capture the criminal genius nature of the character.
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Holly Hunter was also great in the movie. She brought weight and intensity to her role as Senator June Finch. The dramatic elements of BvS featuring Finch helped shape the sociopolitical tone of the film. Amy Adams had a lesser presence in BvS, but she gave a standout performance as Lois Lane throughout the Snyderverse, particularly in Man of Steel and Zach Snyder's Justice League, where Lane had more time in the role. screen and benefited from a better character arc.
Ben Affleck as Batman
Ben Affleck was initially greeted with skepticism by many moviegoers. The choice of Affleck to play Bruce Wayne, Gotham City's crime-fighting billionaire, sparked very diverse reactions. Some people said he was fat, others had problems with his chin, and so on, people complained about everything. There was even an online petition on change.org for Warner Bros. Pictures to remove the actor from the role.
Affleck weathered the storm of online backlash and turned out to be an excellent Batman and Bruce Wayne. Affleck's portrayal of Batman in BvS is one of the most complex and nuanced ever made. Affleck's Batman is a world-weary crime-fighting veteran who has seen the worst of humanity.
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He is also a deeply flawed individual, haunted by his past failures. Bruce has nightmares and regrets, he carries the world on his shoulders and thinks he is the only one who understands the threat posed by an alien from another world. Bruce sees Batman as the only one who can stand up to Superman.
Affleck played a jaded Bruce Wayne and a tired Batman, while giving us one of the best physical depictions of the character. His fights and visual look were impressive and made a strong impression on many Batman fans.
Henry Cavill as Superman
Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is one of the most controversial in recent superhero history. Some fans and critics loved his take on the iconic character, while others found it too dark and moody. However, there are plenty of reasons why Cavill's Superman is great, and he deserves more credit for his performance.
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Snyder wanted to create a more realistic version of Superman, a complex and conflicted individual who carries the weight and expectations of humanity on his shoulders. He struggles to balance his humanity and his god-like powers and often feels like an outsider. Cavill captures this conflict in his performance. The scenes where Superman is surrounded by a crowd of people seeking his help are iconic and convey all of these themes in just a few shots.
Cavill also looks a lot like the character. For many, it is Christopher Reeves who defines the image of Superman, but Cavill was a worthy successor, and not just for his physical appeal. Despite the gloom that surrounds him, he was able to convey a feeling of justice and hope in Man of Steel and BvS, giving a glimpse of the lighter and optimistic side of Superman. Cavill possessed the noble qualities of Superman. It's a shame we didn't see the character fully blossom. However, we could see that Clark Kent and Superman were well matched in Cavill's exceptional interpretation.
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman
Gal Gadot's performance as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman was one of the other highlights of the film. This was Gadot's first time playing Wonder Woman, and she brought the iconic character to life with grace, strength, and wisdom. Gadot's Wonder Woman was powerful, compassionate and inspiring.
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One of the things that made Gadot's performance so great was that she perfectly captured the duality of Wonder Woman. On the one hand, she is Diana Prince, a warrior princess trained in all forms of combat. She is also a demi-goddess with superhuman strength and speed. On the other hand, she is a lonely, lost and unknown figure in the world. Gadot conveyed Diana's fierce and noble traits while showing her vulnerability, which made her relatable as a character. Gadot fit in perfectly with Cavill and Affleck; together they created something special.
Together with the rest of the cast, they gave BvS a depth and nuance that is often lacking in the MCU. For example, the entire cast of the Avengers films was excellent. Robert Downey Jr. adds a touch of class to all of these films, but they don't have the lasting impact that BvS had. Realism, grit, and character study give more meaning to a film, and BvS had those elements. Although it did not have the expected success, Batman v Superman managed to spark debate and discussion years later.
TL;DR
- Batman v Superman is a superhero film that failed to live up to expectations, but had an extraordinary cast.
- BvS had a more realistic and gritty tone than the MCU and was criticized for it.
- The whole film was fantastic and should be commended.