Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2016
	Director: Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead, Sucker Punch)
	Actors: Ben Affleck (Paycheck, Pearl Harbor), Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), Amy Adams, Holly Hunter
	Country: USA
	Genre: Action, SF
	Conditions of visioning: 01.04.2016, Cine Hoyt Antofagasta Plaza, 3D
Synopsis: After Metropolis' devastation, both the public and senator Finch (Hunter) want Superman (Cavill) to respond for his actions. The masked vigilante of Gotham City (Affleck) faces similar critics.
Review: Director Zack Snyder can be safely called the Master of Comic Books adaptation in Hollywood, and one can see in his recent career path how he constantly improves his skill, from the literal frame-to-frame cinematographic copy of Frank Miller's 300 to Watchmen for which he only changed the ending, and is now taking even more liberty for a Batman v Superman that I thought would be more inspired by the excellent graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, while in fact it only reuses small parts of it and even sometimes inverts roles or story elements (Star Trek Into Darkness, someone?). In fact the excellent graphic novel is a reason why I was willing to watch this movie; indeed before reading it I would have thought the idea even of a duel between the two super-heroes to be ridiculous (of course Superman wins), but the story is so well brought in the novel that I could buy it without problem. The second reason to watch this movie is the fact that Man of Steel introduced weaknesses in the character of its hero, moral if not physical, making him a more accessible match for the stronger-willed Bruce Wayne.  That was for context, but how does the movie look and feel? Well it looks good, in the line of Man of Steel in particular in its display of massive destruction by overwhelming forces (excellent idea by the way to replay the ending of the first movie from the point of view of Wayne). But as to how it feels I am more mitigated because is actually feels too staged: one scene follows another with mathematical arrangement but no soul really. The movie does contain some great moments and ideas (nice introduction of Wonder Woman although a bit out of place) but also poorer ones. As much as I like Jeremy Irons I don't find him fitting as an Alfred that is also Batman's weapon and high-tech specialist. Very far from the emotional acting by Michael Caine in the Dark Knight trilogy and from the deep background painted for the same character played by Sean Pertwee in the excellent TV-series Gotham.  And neither the depiction of Lex Luthor nor the poorly-inspired apparitions of Clark Kent's parents make up for that feeling. Maybe the following movies in the Dawn of Justice Universe will be more successful... or maybe the most promising is the upcoming Suicide Squad.
Rating: 5 /10