I just going to say it right in the beginning, I love this movie, and a lot.
It has so many cool comic book stuff that literally feels like the comic book panels were coming to life. The attention for the most minimal detail is astonishing and everything that inhabits this world is very faithful to the source material. A real nerdgasm.
The movie right in the beginning presents itself as the second chapter of MoS, revisiting the climatic battle of Metropolis between Zod and Kal-El from the perspective of Bruce Wayne, who was just a mere mortal witnessing how the sky fell apart when this kryptonian Gods brawled above them. That’s the moment when the feeling of powerlessness took over the Dark Knight, and this is what is going to drive this character through the rest of movie, mirroring the same distrustful stance of Lex Luthor towards the Man of Steel.
The first half of the movie feels very focused on Batman, and with a good reason, they need to establish this character as soon as possible and let it clear his motivations and where is coming from, and they did an spectacular job at it. This is the best Batman ever, period. This is a jaded man who has lost too much since he was too young and who has seen how his methods for over years fighting crime are been quite futile, because according to him criminals are like bad weed, you take one and other will take his place latter, thats why he is more radical than ever and don´t hesitate to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals. This shift of paradigm may not click with some hardcore fans of the comics who may think that Batman would never brake his codes: but i just saw it like the natural progression of a character who has passed thorugh a lot shit in life. It feel organical and in a manner very relatable, and that helps to build a sense of realism within all this comicbookie stuff goin on in the movie. Even if all the actions are irreal, the reactions of the characters felt very realistic, like how we would react if this kind of supernatural things would occur in our world all the sudden.
His relationship with Alfred is outstanding. Jeremy Irons is snarky, intelligent and very capable, he is not just the butler, he is his most trusted ally and the only family he had left. I wish i could have seen more of him, but understand why that isn't happening in the movie, because there is a lot of stuff going on.
The movie shifts the POV between Batman, Superman, Lex and Lois. This are the real protagonists of the movie. Wonder Woman is astonishing, but her participation is very contained, and that is very welcomed because allows a better build for the conflict between the main heroes.
Superman motivations to go against Batman are very clear and understandable. The Bat vigilante is taking his methods to another level, the branding thing seems to be drop in the glass of tolerance of Superman, and thats why he face him.
Nonetheless the last fight between Batman and Superman is forced by Lex Luthor who was plotting since the beginning to face this two icons against each other. Luthor is one of the points that i didn't love about this movie. Don´t get me wrong, the take on the character work for the picture, but is not the definitive Lex that i was hoping for, and for the benefeit of Jesse, i think that the main issue with this character comes from the script, he is written so much crazier than it should. Coming at times like an evil version of Sheldon Cooper.
I loved Lois and her relationship with Clark, she was more than a damsel in distress and pretty much saves Superman´s ass in the "fight night". Amy Adams sells really well her love for Supes, the chemistry between Cavill and her jump pass the screen and without a notice you found yourself feeling for them, and all the struggle they were living in the movie. She is still a smart character who finds out that Lex was behind the framing of Superman on the Africa desert.
But the real winner for me is Superman.
He is the heart of the movie, his struggle it's so heartbreaking that you just cannot help yourself but to root for him. He is doing his best for the world, but never seems enough. Gotta to say that the scenes that most resonate in my memory and hearth are the Congress attack and the last fight against Doomsday, and in both you can see how much Clark loves humanity, and this world, and ultimately he makes the greatest sacrifice of all, once again to save a world who still rejects him and don't understand him.
This movie is really meta, and reflects the actual situation that this movie is experiencing with this negative reviews.
The fight scenes were the best of the best, there is not a single low point on that regard.
Easter eggs and nods were very welcomed for comic book fans, but maybe general audiences and film critics could have found them distracting and out of focus. Performances were all from great to superb, there are not weak links in this regard.
Maybe the only sin this movie has is that it tries to tell to much in a short period of time, definitevey the extended R-rated version is going to make it better.
The best cameo was The Flash, BY FAR!
All in all, this movie deserves a 9/10 becoming mi favorite CBM of all time.