<b>Movie Review:</b> The 'almost' epic battle in Batman v Superman

What could've been the greatest gladitorial fight is reduced to a brooding match between Man and God

Unlike Marvel, DC Comics-based superhero films have never been clubbed together. Whether it be Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy or the various Superman films the world has seen, each film has been praised or panned independently. But Zack Snyder-directed Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice did an Iron Man and officially kicked off the Justice League franchise.

Ever since the film was announced in 2013, comic book and film aficionados were both speculative and excited for the film’s release. I, too, had been waiting with bated breath, especially since Christian Bale’s Batman would now be replaced with a darker, grittier one. The trailers showed promise but the two-and-a-half-hour-long film turned out to be an incoherent jumble of unnecessary sub-plots and an overall weak storyline. The film stars Ben Affleck and  Henry Cavill in titular roles, while Amy Adams and  Laurence Fishburne reprise their roles as Lois Lane and Perry White, respectively.
 
The film revolves around Batman (Affleck), the protector of Gotham, and his fear that Superman (Cavill) could turn to the dark side if left unchecked. After battling General Zod in Metropolis, Superman fails to consider the destruction he leaves in his wake, thus incurring Batman’s wrath. What follows is not the much-awaited showdown between the two but various sub-plots, such as the one where Lex Luthor (Eisenberg) tries to create a weapon made of kryptonite found at the bottom of the Indian Ocean or the one where Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (portrayed by Gal Gadot) searches for incriminating evidence about her secret identity. The showdown comes much later in the second half and, perhaps, is the only satisfying bit of the film.

Snyder’s Watchmen had garnered a lot of praise for the way it was executed. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Batman vs Superman. The first half is excruciatingly slow and rotates between Superman and Batman taking turns to brood. The film’s Batman is a far cry from Nolan’s and Affleck manages to portray it effectively. That said, it doesn’t matter much mainly due to the absence of a watertight plot. Cavill, who reprises his role as Superman, is reduced to nothing but a brooding pretty boy with superhuman strength. Though it sounds like a broken record, the weak story structure also restricts both Affleck and Cavill from giving their best. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is more a pretty face than a superhero, only springing to action during the film’s climax.

The second half contains the fight everyone had been waiting for. Snyder has tried to allude the ancient battle between Man and God. Superman represents a God, the omnipotent and the indestructible. While Batman portrays the bravery in men and the courage to stand up for what they think is right. In the end, you get a satisfying brawl between the two. The fight is well-directed but sadly not worth the 180-minute torture that Snyder puts us through.

The film does have one saving grace — Lex Luthor. Jesse Eisenberg's Luthor is probably the only character who has more than one expression. Ranting about hell and power, Eisenberg’s spasmodic Luthor brings to mind Heath Ledger’s Joker. Coaxing Superman for a death match against Batman, while playing with a kitchen timer, is akin to the insanity Joker shows in The Dark Knight. Eisenberg not only gives a stellar performance, but also reveals his acting range. Having replaced a stalwart like Kevin Spacey as Luthor, Eisenberg holds his own with unparalleled ease.

What could have been the biggest blockbuster of the year has been reduced to another run-of-the-mill film churned out by Hollywood studios. Marvel has nothing to worry about, the DC franchise will need nothing short of a miracle to be as successful.