BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

US, 2016, 153 minutes, Colour.
Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Scoot McNairy?, Harry Lennix, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Carla Gugino.
Directed by Zack Snyder.


On first hearing of the title, it seemed rather silly. Not the Dawn of Justice part but a clash between the two heroes for good, Batman and Superman? They are the stars of DC comics but one lives in Gotham and the other in Metropolis. And how could they descend into enmity? Was this going to be a silly film?

Fans of superhero movies have been delighted with the result. And, it turned out to be much better than expected.

The film takes up where Zack Snyder’s 2012 Superman film, Man of Steel, ended. General Zog and the enemies from Krypton have attacked the United States, Superman defeating them and General Zog dead. As the film opens, Bruce Wayne is in the streets, looking up at the invading spaceships, seeing all the destruction of buildings, the deaths, and rescuing his friend Keefe from heavy rubble, Keefe losing his legs. Batman takes on a hostile attitude towards Krypton, the alien attack – and, for some of us in the audience, after all these decades, a realisation that, in fact, Superman can be called an alien!

The film takes Bruce Wayne/Batman as the central character. He is played by Ben Affleck, something that the fans initially dreaded, but Affleck fills the role quite well, a solid, stolid, intense, crime-fighting, humourless, middle-aged character. There are flashbacks to his parents’ death, this time situated in 1981. And, this time, Alfred is played by Jeremy Irons, serious, technically savvy (and so probably not having time to shave his perpetual stubble), something of a male nanny but also expert on surveillance and advice. This is all in Gotham.

Meanwhile in Metropolis, which we are told later is just across the Bay, Clark Kent is at work in his office, living with Lois Lane (Henry Cavill and Amy Adams again), doing odd reporting for the editor (Laurence Fishburne). But, there are those times when he disappears – especially at the beginning, with Lois Lane in Africa, interviewing a local chief, caught in the middle of an assassination attempt and troops firing on each other, to be rescued by Superman, of course, but his getting the blame in the United States and in the media for being responsible for the deaths. Superman then become something of a bad man, the fickle crowds demonstrating against him.

As regards the versus: Batman resents Superman because of the invasion and deaths; Superman resents Batman (and Clark Kent writes articles against him) because of his vigilantes campaigns against criminals.

In the meantime, here is Lex Luthor again, not with the gravitas of villain Gene Hackman but rather with the mannerisms, stammering, psychotic touches of Jesse Eisenberg. He gets his company going again, after the invasion, but has sent an expedition to the Indian Ocean to find some kryptonite which he stores in a ship, ready to wield power. He communicates with American government officials, especially Senator, Holly Hunter, but she does not agree with him and there are dastardly results when Superman is called before a Senate hearing and there is an explosion – Superman to blame again.

Batman certainly wants to combat with Superman but it is Lex Luthor who is the catalyst for the conflict, abducting Superman’s mother, Martha Kent (Diane Lane – and just as we were wondering about Kevin Costner having died in the previous film, he does have a cameo), encapsulating her in explosives, giving Superman a limited time, wanting the head of Bruce Wayne.

There is quite a fight with Lois Lane trying to intervene. And, no spoiler, rescuing Mrs Kent.

But, in the meantime, Lex Luthor has been able to revive General Zog and create a giant monster who does battle with Superman. Early in the film, there was a rather glamorous woman, Diana, Gal Gadot, who has some initial conflict with Bruce Wayne but eventually emerges as Wonder Woman and, despite her travelling from Paris on a plane, is able to don her costume and join the heroes, the beginnings of a Justice League.

Is this something of a sad termination for Superman? Where is Lex Luthor? Who will be part of the Justice League?

Well, there are two sequels planned.


1. The title, expectations? Each character? The idea of the versus? And why? The characters from DC comics?

2. The director, the cast, the continuation of Man of steel, memories of the Batman films? Special effects, action?

3. The plot as a DC Comic, plausible, audience suspension of disbelief, accepting the characters, the situation? Batman’s world, is back story, 1981, the death of his parents and the consequences? Superman, coming from time, his story, considered an alien? Metropolis, Gotham, across the Bay from each other? Terrorism, crime, alien invasion? Save even rescuing?

4. Costumes, decor, the range of sets, the scope? Special effects? The musical score?

5. The screenplay, the language of saviour-figures, avengers, self-sacrifice, including Jesus as a saviour figure? Lex Luthor and his frequent talk about God, freedom, the impossibility of an avenging and loving God? The context of religious language for this confrontation?

6. The introduction to Batman, the priority of the film focusing on Batman? As a child, 1981, the cinema, the streets, the, his parents being killed, his grief, fears, the cave and the bats, falling, his dreams, visiting the cemetery? His motivation, revenge? His wealth, lavish, car and plane, Alfred and his service, technology and communication? His quest, suspicions of Superman, his experience of the attack from Zog? His friend losing his legs? Anti-Superman? And humourless?

7. Superman, the Invasion in Man of Steel, Zog, his destruciton, Superman, considered an alien, his mission to save people? The crowds, the ethical responses? Blaming him? His past, Kent, his mother and the visits to her, her encouragement? The vision of his father, talking with him? His relationship with Lois, his place in her life, his dependence on her? His work as a journalist, Perry, the menial tasks, sport, his disappearances? His becoming a target for popular opinion? The critique by Bruce Wayne?

8. Lex Luthor, his wealth, his father issues, age, psychotic, his manner, mannerisms, talking, ideas, the corporation, the expedition to the Indian Ocean to find the Krypton? The ship, storing the Krypton? The code name, White Portugese? His stealing, weapons? The visuals of the vast American bases, his interaction with the politicians, the Senate, his plans, the Senator disagreeing, his hosting the party, his eccentric speech? His secretary and her presence? The hearings, his threats to the Senator, Superman coming to the Hearings, the liquid on the desk, the explosions?

9. Batman, combating crime, his personality? Luthor targeting him, going to the party, the download, Wonder Woman stealing the download, tracking her down, returning it? Playing the download, the scenario, the torture of Batman, and the effect of his nightmares?

10. Lois Lane in Africa, reporting, the massacres, assassination attempt, her journalistic work, the two sides, the attack, the poison for the assassination, concealed in her book, taking it back to the authorities, the discussions with the American authorities, her continuing the investigation and secret discussion?

11. Keefe, his legs, later bitterness, his demonstration, with the Senator, going to the hearings and wanting vengeance on Superman?

12. Lex Luthor and the Krypton, recovering the body of Zog, cutting himself, the blood on Zog, the creation of the monster, vast, power, threats, the monster fighting, in action, the attempt to destroy it, the nuclear possibility, the consent of the President, the difficulty for Superman being with the monster – yet the firing of the weapon and into space?

13. Mrs Kent, her abduction, the threats, the thugs keeping her, Luthor and the time limit, blackmailing Superman to defend his mother, wanting the head of Bruce Wayne?

14. The battle, Lois and her presence, Batman and his vast weapons, Alfred and the communications and control, Batman winning? Lois and her plea? Batman listening, going to save Mrs Kent?

15. Superman, the confrontation with Batman, the details of the fights? The appearance of Wonder Woman, the, the costume, Bruce investigating her, the photos, the past, the story? Lois and the sword and throwing it into the water, her diving into recover it, Superman rescuing her?

16. Superman, into space, fighting the monster, his death, the ritual of funeral, military, Lois and the ring, grief at the grave?

17. The arrest of Lex Luthor, authorities shaving his head, in prison, been taunted?

18. The future, the establishing of the Justice League? Speech, hope, the soil falling on Superman’s coffin?

19. Looking forward to the Justice League meeting – and the sequels?