To start off I have done my best to make sure this part of the article is SPOILER FREE. I do go into spoilers in another part of the article but I have done my best to clearly designate when that happens so if you haven't seen the movie I hope I don't ruin anything for you. I am also pretty sure everyone is on the same page but I left a few explanations here and there.
For a while it felt like this movie was taking forever to come out but it is finally here, and with it the rest of the DC film universe! So how is it? Well it is nowhere near as bad as the critics would make you believe but it is definitely not a perfect movie. I have seen the movie twice and I understand both parts of the spectrum. When I saw the movie the first time I left feeling confused and unsatisfied but when I saw it the second time I loved it. I think the movie is best described as a movie by comic book fans for comic book fans but it also feels a little bit like it was made by committee. There is a lot that happens in the narrative and it doesn't all gel together with the myriad dream sequences being particularly confusing (more on that later). So the first time while seeing the movie and trying to understand what happens I didn't quite enjoy it because it is pretty convoluted. However this film does demand a second viewing where you can actually enjoy the film once you know what happens. At least that was what it was for me personally.
In terms of bringing the comics to life this film does an exceptional job. There is so much literally lifted off of the panels of the comics that repeat viewings make you even happier noticing all the subtle references. The new characters (with the exception of Les Luthor) are also very well done. Jeremy Irons was simply perfect as the sardonic Alfred and getting to see him doing more than being a butler was great to see. Gal Gadot in particular stands out as Wonder Woman. I feel like cheering every time I see the scene where she jumps in on the final fight. The part that made me the most happy is during the fight she gets knocked down and just grins. That is everything Wonder Woman is supposed to be and seeing that translated to film was just spectacular. Ben Affleck also was a surprisingly effective Batman. I wasn't one of those people making petitions to fire him from the role when he got cast but I was definitely confused and skeptical about the choice. I am so happy though that Zack Snyder and company saw what we didn't because Affleck shines in the role. My favorite scene of the whole movie is probably the warehouse scene where Batman takes out a group of thugs. That was the first time that I felt like I saw Batman on the big screen how I've always pictured him and that in and of itself was worth it to me.
Now there are definitely a lot of problems with the film. The main one that I personally can't stand is Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. I know a lot of people liked hin but I am firmly on the opposing side. He came across as crazy and unstable rather than cool and calculating, more like the Riddler or Joker than Lex. I'm fine with changing the comics when it helps the film but this choice really did not. Plus his motivations are unclear and nonsensical. He's basically an atheist who was beat up as a kid and wants everyone to be as depressed as he is. That is not Lex Luthor, that is just retarded. I could go on for a whole article about how much I hated the characterization of Lex Luthor but I think I've made my point. I've never liked Jesse Eisenberg either so that might have something to do with it. It is more the way Lex Luthor was characterized than the acting though.
I don't want to get into spoilers about the plot but suffice it to say for now that the first hour and a half or so of the film is downright clunky and boring. The editing doesn't make a whole lot of sense and it is really hard to follow. Still, the final act is so awesome and few things can compare to finally seeing the Trinity on screen together. The titular battle is a little underwhelming because it is so short (I timed it, it's 8 minutes long) but it is still pretty epic. There is also a clear winner which I'm sure people will debate about for years to come.
Overall I would say that it is an enjoyable movie that deserves 2 viewings to make sense of it all. Is it the strong start DC wanted it to be? Not really. Is it the colossal trainwreck many thought it would be and are saying it is? Not at all. The movie is far from perfect but if you're a fan there is plenty to like. If you don't know too much about the comics it would be best to have a conversation with someone that does afterwards because I can almost certainly guarantee you will be a little confused. I do want to compliment the movie on how rewatchable it is though.
Man of Steel does not hold up as well on repeat viewings but seeing the film a second time was even more enjoyable because of how much more I noticed. Its not often a film gets better the more you see it and while the film is not great it is still enjoyable.
*********SPOILER ALERT************
If you have not seen the movie, turn back now! I mean it! Okay, you're still here. I hope you've seen the movie then because now we get to the good stuff. There is so much that happens in this movie and it is a lot to digest but lets try to cover the big juicy details in some good old-fashioned nit-picking and rampant speculation.
First off those dream sequences were SO confusing. Don't get me wrong, the whole Mad Max-style desert shootout looked great visually and gives you lots of cool stuff (Darkseid's omega symbol! Parademons! Superman just wasted two guys and ripped Batman's heart out!) but it really doesn't make much sense in the context of the film. This would have been better for an extended cut and will probably make more sense after
Justice League comes out. For those of you confused, it is implied that Superman has become corrupted by Darkseid (the DC equivalent of Thanos) and has conquered the world with Batman leading the resistance. Superman blames Batman for the death of "her" (presumably Lois) and Bruce then wakes up to be visited by some guy in red armor surrounded by lightning.
If you didn't realize, that person in red armor surrounded by lightning that shows up is the Flash, apparently from a possible future. Flash can travel through time if you didn't know. He is telling Bruce that Lois is the key and that Bruce was right about "him" (presumably Superman) then realizes he's "too early" and tells Bruce to "find us". If you pay attention this is also more than a dream because when Bruce "wakes up" there are still pieces of paper left flying around so you know Flash really was there. While this is all cool it is way too confusing for the casual viewer. This is the kind of scene that makes it so you have to see the movie again to understand. It is frustrating as none of it has any real bearing on the plot of this particular movie but will become more important later.
But it's not just a confusing Flash cameo we also get to see the whole team on Lex Luthor's files! This scene also takes away from the film and would have been better as a post-credits tease but the footage itself is pretty awesome. The one that stood out the most to me was Aquaman, mostly because I never expected Aquaman to look so stinking cool. He looked like a Polynesian Kratos and that in and of itself is pretty stinking cool.
Also a couple of completely random side notes, I was really upset how Mercy Graves was blown up with the Senate before she ever got to do much of anything. That was pretty lame. But on the other hand I loved the opening credits and especially how Thomas Wayne goes to punch out the mugger and Martha Wayne grabs the muggers gun before the get shot. I've felt like Thomas and Martha are usually shown as innocent victims that lie down and die so I loved this characterization where they were shot because they were trying to protect their son. That's a lot more meaningful to me.
Anyways, how about that ending though? Didn't see that coming, did you? I was very skeptical when the ads showed Doomsday but it actually really works in the film. I was not expecting them to follow the "Death of Superman" storyline that close with actually, you know, the death of Superman. Well its obviously not a permanent death as the very last scene shows but still, that was kind of crazy cool. Really raises the stakes for
Justice League because they can't rely on the all-powerful Superman and I'm sure it is going to make the team feel pretty vulnerable until whenever Superman shows up. I thought that was a great way to end the film in terms of the broader universe.
There are also tons of other cool Easter eggs hidden throughout the movie from scenes taken directly from
The Dark Knight Returns to what looked like graffiti from the Riddler. I won't spoil all those hidden gems for you though, see the movie again and see what you can find!
Well that's my thoughts on the film and what I did and didn't like. What do you think? Love it, hate it, couldn't care less? Let me know in the comments below!