It’s been a while since I felt anything in a movie. And when
you take two iconic superheroes into this generation to battle it out…you
wonder if this isn’t going to be just a clusterfuck.
The answer…I can’t imagine doing it any better. But I’m not
a comic book guy. I hated “Deadpool” because I knew so very little about him,
and in the end would rather he die in his own vomit. Others…since we’re now
in world of “me” first, felt that
type of hero made more sense. How sad.
So it was refreshing to get back to the roots of…well…what
people in tights and capes do. But it lacked something. To which I could say…if
you watched the older versions of “Superman” or “Batman”…comic sensibility.
This is a grueling fine line to tow. Movie goers are rabidly cynical now. The
idea of truth, justice & the American way disappeared in favor of slam,
bam, thank you ma’am. And to be honest, moments in this movie pandered to you.
Which suffers for it. The greater idea of this movie is collateral damage. The
ideology of two combating forces and ideas butt heads in a deeper meaning of
responsibility. We’re human, they are Gods. If they wanted to, we could be made
extinct. So what holds us from abusing the power? Our attachments to loved
ones, I’d imagine. Though the core of Lex Luthor’s (Jesse Eisenberg) character
wonders if he could rule Gods. That’s an AMAZING lofty concept. Does it pass?
Kind of. He is a ticky sociopath who has to live in the shadow of an abusive
father. He shares the same background as Bruce Wayne, in that he is the son of
a wealthy family. I’ve met spoiled brats like this in high school. Their power
was mostly to annoy people with snobbery. In this case Lex is a pipsqueak who
uses political sway to attempt to hatch a more diabolical plan (which is a
wonderful nod to megalomaniacs in any superhero movie).
Alas, Zack Snyder does have a flaw. He doesn’t know when to
quit with the corny. Words are said with such earnest flair that it reminds you
you are watching a comic book. Only you can decide if it annoys you or not. For
me, perhaps the best takes were never used. You know…more subtle. But again,
it’s all time keeping before the punching and the swinging. The introduction of
Wonder Woman…let me be gushy for a second, having a woman get hit by a mutated
monster is the single most boner enhancing moment ever. Having her hit back
made me blow a load. Now I’m not into S&M, but goddamn if that didn’t make
me reconsider. Gal Gadot plays Diane Prince/Wonder Woman with such class and light
touch, I’m excited to see her stand alone movie. We get a hint of it in a
photograph in this movie.
You know…the single thing that separates this movie beyond
anything Marvel had the balls to do (and not to start a Marvel/DC debate) is
that Snyder was willing to go the distance. They deliver what they promised.
And even named it something that has NEVER done that well in the box office.
Anything versus Anything in movie world is death.
Again, smarter people out there could point out what they
would’ve done differently. For me, I know skating too many paths would make
anyone quit. You have to admire the tenacity to not shy away from it. Critics
on Rotten Tomatoe were WAY too harsh on this movie (when you consider how much
they gushed over the lesser “Deadpool”). It’s a good matinee watch.
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