"Batman v Superman" - Jerk Meets Gentleman

I don’t like Batman. I never have. Even when he was a cartoon, he was kind of unappealing to me. Superman, however, has grown on me. I’m referring to the more recent Superman films (i.e. Superman Returns, Superman). Superman’s sundry kindnesses to the children of men and his heroics that he performs for his love, Lois Lane are enough to melt any woman’s heart.

The idea of a well-bred alien superhero sparring with a brooding billionaire playboy whose enemies are all insane was a bit hard to swallow. Under what circumstances? How would two “men” like that even meet? And what on earth would cause them to engage in an epic battle? Lois Lane, I thought (I didn’t watch the trailers before I saw the movie).

Superman has a mother, a steady girlfriend and a romantic streak. Batman has nightmares and is seen in bed with an anonymous woman. He pursues Wonder Woman in a creepy way. Superman, sensing his imminent demise, bids Lois a heartfelt farewell.

The movie title, as basic as they come, could have been conceived by a 10 year old boy. A male friend of mine who is a die-hard Marvel Comics fan didn’t like the title either. Even after viewing the movie, the title still fell short because it failed to describe the “dawn of justice” since the main villain, Lex Luthor, basically got away.

As an action film, it was exciting and adventurous, with creatively designed fight and destruction scenes. I saw the 3D version and felt it was utilized very well in the opening and final scenes and the epic battle with the gorgon. There were many missed opportunities to use the 3D effect to enhance more mundane conversational scenes so I don’t recommend you spend the extra for the 3D unless you really want to.

Superman never wanted to fight Batman. Batman is the one who instigated and provoked Superman to battle, though his reasons don't make sense. One can fly; one has a cool, gadgety car. One can patrol the skies; the other the ground. What city could want more than to be monitored 24/7 against both alien attacks and regular street thugs? That is the bitter pill that is so hard to swallow. The “why”.

I get that Batman hates everyone because of his parents’ untimely death, but why blame Superman? With his superior technology, Batman should have be able to solve that crime by now anyway.

Audiences are forced to swallow that Batman hates Superman with an unrelenting, fiery rage because Superman accidentally destroyed some parts of Metropolis in order to save the entire world from Zod - an apparent criminal. Batman's hatred of Superman overrides his sense of justice against criminals. 

The numerous leaps of faith over gaping plot holes that viewers must take are humorously chronicled in this blog. Don’t ask “why”, just believe. Maybe the sequel will deliver more “aha” moments instead of “uh-uh” moments.

When the odd couple finally met, I immediately started rooting for Superman. His demeanor, character, streamlined outfit and restraint instantly out-classed Batman’s clunky, scary, cruel, meathead excess. His costume makes him look so close to the king of bats I thought he would morph into Dracula. And that basically sums up their face off – a devil vs an angel, a being from the heavens vs a critter from the depths.

These two superheroes don’t usher in any dawn of justice, more like a twilight of confusion, but most fans (females in particular, I think) would much rather have a nightly encounter with a polite alien in snug-fitting red tights, than the blackhearted, disturbed mind of Bruce Wayne.