‘Some spectacular clobberings are dispensed’
apart. When it comes to the clash itself, there’s an inescapable feeling of anti-climax. Not only does the animosity between the pair never feel fully earned, but the eventual bout doesn’t quite justify the pre-release hype, or make the most of its historical significance. Goosebumps are inevitable when the two icons finally face off, and there are some spectacular clobberings dispensed, but it doesn’t feel like, as Lex pitches it, “the greatest gladiator battle in the history of the world”. And if it sounds like Batman’s vengeance mission is in part to atone for the criticism towards Man Of Steel’s destruction-porn finale, it’s not; BVS ends with a similarly numbing CG overload.
Gal force
As in Iron Man 2, there’s a sense that Dawn Of Justice (as that subtitle implies) is a bridging device, a platform to launch a bigger cinematic universe, and as such it might work better when viewed as part of a 10-film collection than it does as a standalone. Even if it is at the cost of its central conflict, BVS does work as a promo for films yet to come: there’s no one who won’t want to get to know Gadot’s kick-ass Wonder Woman better after the credits roll, while Eisenberg’s conceited Lexcorp heir is riddled with daddy issues, and feels ripe for further exploration.
So while Batman V Superman has no trouble quickening the pulse, it’s less effective when it comes to making you care. There’s plenty to gawp at and Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL’s score electrifies, but the emotional punches never really connect, and the gritty realism occasionally draws attention to some forehead-slapping plotholes (even in the face of giant coincidences, no one twigs Clark’s secret identity). It won’t win over staunch Man Of Steel haters, but for anyone giddy at the prospect of seeing DC’s flagship stars together at last, big-screen viewing is pretty much mandatory. Matt Maytum
THE VERDICT Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman make welcome additions to the newly forged DC Universe, even if the title fight doesn’t quite do justice to its comics heritage.
› Certificate 12A Director Zack Snyder Starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons Screenplay David S. Goyer, Chris Terrio Distributor Warner Bros Running time 151 mins