Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) | Movie Review

After witnessing the destruction in Metropolis firsthand, Bruce Wayne declares war against the Man of Steel, unaware that Lex Luthor is orchestrating events to pit both heroes against each other while an ancient evil emerge to destroy them all.

The world watches in awe as two of its most powerful protectors turn against each other, unaware that their conflict is exactly what a more dangerous enemy needs to emerge from the shadows and remake the world in its own vicious image.

BvS shows superheroes as figures who would genuinely challenge our understanding of power, responsibility and justice, not escapist fantasy. Snyder's deconstruction continues from Man of Steel, asking what would really happen if godlike beings existed in our world.

Batman V Superman picks up eighteen months after the events of Man of Steel, with the world still grappling with Superman's existence. Bruce Wayne witnessed the destruction of Metropolis firsthand and since been preparing for what he sees as a threat from an alien among us.

Meanwhile, Clark Kent is busy trying to establish himself as both Superman and a reporter at Daily Planet while navigating a world where public opinion remains sharply divided about whether he's humanity's biggest savior or its greatest danger.

Lex Luthor enters the picture as a tech billionaire with his own agenda, manipulating events to push Batman and Superman toward a conflict. As both heroes investigate the other, they are drawn into a larger conspiracy that forces them to confront not each other.

The film's character work is strongest when it focuses on how Batman and Superman's different approaches to justice put them at odds. Bruce sees Superman as an alien threat that needs to be eliminated, while Clark sees Batman as a vigilante who's lost his way.

BvS culminates in the promised battle before pivoting into something that sets up the larger DC universe. When a greater threat emerges, these two heroes are forced to put aside their differences and work together, establishing the foundation for future team-ups.

Snyder and his team pulled from several major comic storylines, most notably Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns for the older, more brutal Batman and John Byrne's Man of Steel for Superman's conflicted relationship with humanity.

BvS version of Lex Luthor draws more from the modern interpretation seen in comics like All-Star Superman rather than classic real-estate mogul version, presenting him as a brilliant but unstable young billionaire obsessed with proving that gods can bleed.

The movie also incorporates notable elements from The Death of Superman storyline and various Batman/Superman team-up stories that explored the philosophical differences between two of the world's finest heroes.

The religious and political themes surrounding Superman's role in the world echo known comic-book arcs like Kingdom Come and Superman: Red Son, which examined what happens when larger-than-life, godlike beings try to help humanity.

The film's version of Batman is closer to the Frank Miller interpretation than most movie versions, while Superman continues to grapple with the burden of being Earth's protector in ways that echo the best of modern DC Comics.

Ben Affleck brings a weathered intensity to Batman that feels intimidating and grim. This isn't the controlled vigilante from previous films— this is a man who's been broken by twenty years of fighting crime and seeing too many good people die.

Affleck sells both Bruce Wayne's public charm and Batman's barely contained rage, creating a version of the character that feels like he's been through hell and came back harder, more ruthless and willing to cross lines that would have been unthinkable in his younger days.

Henry Cavill continues to develop his conflicted Superman, showing a man trying to do good while being constantly questioned and criticized. His Clark Kent feels more confident than in Man of Steel but his Superman carries the weight of every life he couldn't save.

Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Lex Luthor is the film's one of the most divisive element. His manic, twitchy performance completely re-imagines the character as a tech-savvy millennial with some serious daddy issues and a god complex.

Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman doesn't get much screen time but she makes every moment count. Her role as Diana Prince is mysterious and confident, while her Wonder Woman entrance in the final battle feels nothing less than epic.

Amy Adams' Lois Lane and gets caught up in the plot but doesn't have as much agency as she did in Man of Steel. Jeremy Irons brings dry wit to Alfred, though the character spends most of his time explaining Batman's plans rather than developing as a person.

The performances, particularly from Affleck and Cavill, ground the fantastic elements in genuine emotion. When the film focuses on these characters as people rather than symbols, it achieves moments of real power and insight.

Director Snyder and cinematographer Larry Fong created striking images that function as both spectacular action and symbolic storytelling in BvS. Every frame is composed to emphasize the mythic nature of these iconic DC characters.

Zack Snyder approaches these characters as modern-day myths, treating every frame like a classical painting. His visual style emphasizes the weight of being a hero in the real world, where every action has consequences and choices carry moral complexity.

The shot of Superman floating above a group of flood victims like a religious icon or Batman standing on a gargoyle at the dark of night overlooking an unsuspecting Gotham City are designed to look like they could hang in a museum.

Production design creates distinct visual languages for each hero's world with stark contrast— Gotham feels decayed and gothic, matching Batman's darkness, while Metropolis is brighter but still scarred from the previous film's destruction.

Visual effects work is generally strong, particularly in bringing the final battle to life. The creature design feels genuinely threatening and the destruction has more weight than typical superhero movie carnage because we've seen the human cost of such battles.

The opening sequence showing Bruce Wayne's perspective during the Metropolis battle is genuinely harrowing. We see the human cost of superhero battles from ground level, which immediately establishes Bruce's motivation for everything that follows.

Clark and Bruce meet face to face at Lex's Mansion. They exchange veiled jabs at each other while Diana Prince lurks in the background, stealing Lex's drive. This is where seeds of conflict are planted but their ideological rift is still mostly implied.

The titular fight between Batman and Superman works because both characters have legitimate reasons for the conflict. Batman's kryptonite-powered suit evens the playing field, while Superman's reluctance to hurt Bruce adds tension.

Then the warehouse fight scene showcases Batman's brutal efficiency in a way we've never seen on screen before. The entire sequence demonstrates his tactical brilliance and willingness to cross lines that previous film versions wouldn't.

Batman V Superman suffers from trying to accomplish too much in one film. It's simultaneously a Man of Steel sequel, an introduction to Batman for DC Extended Universe, a Wonder Woman setup and a sneak preview for upcoming Justice League.

The film jumps between multiple plotlines and timelines in ways that can feel disjointed, especially in the theatrical cut. Its middle act gets bogged down in conspiracy plotting and congressional hearings that, while thematically relevant, slow down the emotional momentum.

BvS works better when it focuses on the personal conflict between Bruce and Clark rather than the larger machinations driving them together. The third act shift from personal conflict to team-up against a common enemy for larger universe-building goals.

The resolution of the conflict between Batman and Superman happens pretty quickly once they realize they've been manipulated all along, which might leave some viewers wanting to see more development of their eventual partnership.

Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL create a score that feels massive and operatic, matching Snyder's visual ambitions. Batman's theme is darker than previous versions whereas Superman's theme has evolved from Man of Steel to sound more hopeful but still conflicted.

Wonder Woman's electric guitar-driven theme became instantly iconic and perfectly captures her warrior spirit. The sound design during action sequences continues the overwhelming approach from Man of Steel, making every punch and explosion feel earth-shaking.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is an ambitious, flawed film that swings for the fences and doesn't always connect. Its greatest strength is its willingness to take these iconic characters seriously and explore what their existence would really mean for our world.

The film raises important questions about power, accountability and the nature of heroism that most superhero movies avoid entirely. Its greatest weakness is trying to service too many aspects without enough time to do justice to all of them.

BvS would have benefited from focusing more narrowly on Batman/Superman conflict rather than trying to launch an entire cinematic universe. Its action sequences are spectacular and the visual design is striking, even when the story struggles to hold everything together.

Batman V Superman is ultimately a film that respects its audience's intelligence while sometimes forgetting to earn their emotional investment. It's a rare superhero movie that aims higher than entertainment but doesn't reach its ambitious goals.

Whether you're watching the theatrical version or the Ultimate Edition, Batman v Superman is currently streaming on Max and available for digital purchase or rental on services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.