Nerds That Geek Movie Review - 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​I have to admit, that after all this time I'm still quite taken aback by the incredibly negative reception that surrounded Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. I remember a couple of people I know telling me to save my money on something that was 'going to suck' well before the movie came out and you can still feel the heat from the critical fury after all this time. 

In all honesty, I just don't get it. We all knew exactly what we were getting into with a title like that; two superheroes kicking the living crap out of one another, not the meaning of life. It's a film that was designed to bring forth some of the most iconic moments in DC Comics history and well, I'm glad to see the fans disagree with all of the critics because when all is said and done, this is actually a wonderful motion picture. 

There are several reasons that this film is so incredibly good, the most important one being that this movie takes some serious risks, especially with its characters. After all, this is a new breed of Batman on the silver screen, one driven by anguish and fury and one that breaks the golden rule he has abided by for as long as we can remember since this Batman is willing to take lives. It's a bold gamble and it pays off in spades thanks to a stellar performance from Ben Affleck, but the risk taking doesn't end there. 

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This movie also features a Superman unlike any other we have seen on screen. This Kal-El is questioning his place in the world like never before, even contemplating stepping away from being the savior of humanity and I must admit seeing Superman fail in this film is also a little off putting at first, but necessary to allow his character to grow. Not to mention, we finally get a top-notch Lex Luthor courtesy of Jessie Eisenberg's performance. This is what we have all been waiting for when it comes to the Superman franchise, a Luthor that isn't big on fancy speeches but controlling those around him to shape his vision of a twisted world, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get that. 

But what surprised me most about this movie, was the fact that it was so incredibly dark and fascinating all at once. Despite the fact we go to some ugly places within the human psyche, and let's be honest, Ben Affleck's Batman needs some serious help; you want to know what is going to happen next and you root for these guys and gals to get over their fears and insecurities to come together and save the day. Plus, as an added bonus, the movie even bothers to fire off a little social commentary our way, taking a stab at the over the top rancor we see on television day in and day out and the little slight at America's xenophobia is done in subtle and effective fashion.

To top it all off, the movie delivers on the action it promised in the trailers time and time again with some breathtaking sequences, and I also loved the grand set up for the future of the DC Cinematic Universe by giving us some quick but proper introductions into the Justice League that will assemble on screen in years to come. In the end however, all that matters is that Dawn of Justice is a damn entertaining film, one that provides chills and thrills and a few surprises along the way and I highly recommend you see it to see Ben Affleck's outstanding take on Batman, and to witness the Dark Knight square off against Superman on the silver screen at last. It's a fun film, plain and simple and one worth your time.

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