7 Reasons Batman V Superman Should Still Leave You Optimistic For The DC Universe
It may not have been an instant classic, but there's still hope.
Okay, so I would be lying if I said that I thought Batman V Superman was an excellent film. In fact, I am currently stretching my own tolerance and biases to even consider it a good movie. The absolute kicking the film has received by reviewers and fans alike is, in many ways, warranted: The story is abysmal, the plot holes are gargantuan, and it is so overstuffed that it makes Spider-Man 3 feel positively minimalist.
For fans of the characters, this is heartbreaking. These are not simply the two best comic book characters of all time, they're two of the best literary and cinematic characters of all time too. Because of this, fans are desperate for the universe in which they live to breathe properly and to be presented on screen in a way that does the lineage even a modicum of the justice deserved.
Perhaps out of blind hope, I went and saw it a second time, desperate to find something positive – and I was pleasantly surprised. Watching the film, a second time, I found it infinitely more enjoyable and a far more impressive feat. Once the disorientating effect of an overstuffed narrative was taken out of the equation, a lot of the film’s overlooked positives came to the fore. The film may have substantial problems, but the concept of a strong DC Universe isn’t completely dead yet.
Time will tell, but as far as this desperate fanboy could see, there are still reasons to remain optimistic…
7. It Successfully Establishes A Point Of Difference
The only way DC can make their mark in a film world that Marvel has so brilliantly taken control of, is by separating themselves entirely from what their rivals are doing.
At present, Marvel is the undisputed king of the industry. They produce fantastic films efficiently, regularly, and consistently. They have their voice, and it works – as the box office receipts and glowing reviews indicate.
If DC chooses to imitate Marvel's voice and vision, they will always come a distant second because they are so far behind the starting line. That's a positive thing, though. The last thing the world needs is more Marvel films produced by people who aren't as good at making them as Marvel are. DC need to do their own thing and create something fresh.
While it’s disappointing they have opted to imitate the ‘universe’ structure that Marvel has, they still appear to be doing it in their way. Batman V Superman is nothing if not strikingly original. Somehow Zack Snyder and crew managed to craft an epic that is partly an art film, partly a dumb action film, partly a religious philosophy, and partly intergalactic soap opera.
They have put this in a blender, bleached all the colour out of it, and turned everything up to 11 just so that you don't miss the point that this is not your grandad's comic book movie. Additionally, they have decided to show you the consequences of the violence inherent in a superhero universe, so you are philosophically challenged about the nature of comic book movies all in one fell swoop.
It doesn’t always balance these strands all at once with ease or success. But the jarring structural shifts and fractured narrative, at least, make for an altogether fascinating experience. If more attention can be paid to covering plot holes and trimming the fat, we have the ingredients for a unique and original take on the subject matter it can feel like we have seen a million times before.