There was a lot of hype for this movie, so much so, even Turkish Airlines have associated themselves with the movie. I for one was looking forward to this movie for the sole reason that I was getting tired of the Marvel movies that felt more like family friendly films. I missed the intensity and maturity of superhero films like The Dark Knight trilogy.

Having read critics review before going to the movie, it was disappointing to know that they more or less didn’t like the movie. With current approval ratings of 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, I seriously lowered my expectations.

At the beginning of the movie, Zack Snyder, the director, makes an impassioned plea to the audience to not share the story line or spoil anything to those who have not yet seen it. So with that in mind, I will not discuss the plot line.

Needless to say, I came out having enjoyed the movie, somewhat. Before I get into what didn’t work for the movie, I do want to point the positives:

1. Ben Affleck as Batman is excellent. I don’t understand why so many people were upset with his casting. I thought he did perfect justice to playing Batman. I am actually looking forward to more movies with Affleck as Batman. (Christian Bale was good too in the Dark Knight trilogy, but the characters were different).
2. Wonder Woman was a very welcome addition to the movie. There was a point in the movie when I was slightly distracted and feeling a little bored, and boom! Wonder Woman enters and the fanboys all cheer out in delight. I took notice too and was drawn back into the movie.
3. The action sequences were awesome. Zack Snyder surely knows how to stage a fight sequence. The fight sequences between Batman and Superman were a visual treat.

Now, on to what went wrong with the movie:

1. It is incoherent and has an inconsistent flow to it. The scenes don’t flow seamlessly and felt like as if were watching a series of independent set pieces. Clarity and a sense of purpose were lost.
2. Though the build up was intense and strong, with an insight into Batman’s psyche, it didn’t follow that through towards the denouement. The psychology and the back story could have provided for a meaty storyline, but instead never fully blooms.
3. Henry Cavill is wonderful as Superman, but in this movie, it’s more about him moping around why the world has turned somewhat against him. There is a brief glimpse of his parents, but that’s about it. I couldn’t invest myself into Superman, who was relegated to an inferior position to Batman.
4. There is a huge sense of disconnect between the audience and the superheros: there just isn’t enough going for us to care about them. Yes, they look cool when they fight, but then that’s about it. Throw in subplots after subplots, the audience is overwhelmed with too many things happening.
5. Last but not the least, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor was too annoying. I just disliked the way Eisenberg essayed out the character: annoying, irritating and just getting on my nerves. He reminded me of his character in The Social Network.

The movie will go on to make a lot of money, and I hope the makers of the film take into consideration the feedback from the critics to allow them to make a better film next time.

Despite the strong acting of both Affleck and Cavill, the movie is let down by weak script, shoddy editing and too many subplots thrown in, which is a pity because Batman V Superman could have been that great movie we were yearning for. A missed opportunity, to say the least.

3 out 5