As “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” is work of commerce and not art, the critics are free to be amusingly harsh:
“For the death of cinema, it’s not bad… “Batman v Superman” stomps and grinds its way to about six false endings, each meant to set up a future film in the franchise.”
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”plays like a loose, unofficial quarter-billion-dollar remake of “The Odd Couple,” in which Oscar and Felix are literally trying to kill each other.”
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
“Its two-and-a-half-hour running time — not so much a “dawn” as an entire morning spent watching the clock in anticipation of lunchtime…The studio has, in the usual way, begged and bullied critics not to reveal plot points, and I wouldn’t dream of denying you the thrill of discovering just how overstuffed and preposterous a movie narrative can be.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Hints of sexuality and of extreme brutality are meant to make it seem daring and serious.”
“Regardless of the seemingly interminable years it took to put together,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice feels both hastily made and expensively shoddy… It’s hard to put too much of the onus on the people we see in front of the camera, even if Cavill and Eisenberg both turn out career-worst performances… his (director Snyder) usual eye for imagery is muted by the film’s hideous, monotonous color palette and generic approach to set pieces. He has shot a slick, dull and overlong car commercial, interrupted by monsters.
“In practice, it’s two CGI effects whaling on each other, and shouting manifestos: “The world only makes sense if you force it to,” Batman yells at Superman while pummeling him repeatedly for no discernable reason…When Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), finally turns up, abruptly and without backstory, she becomes the film’s highlight simply by being less miserable and morally compromised than anyone else onscreen.”
“We all know superheroes don’t die, not when there are reboots in the balance. After this one, you’ll wish a few of them did.”
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
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