Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Film»Batman v Superman: Dawn of DC’s cinematic era
    Film

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of DC’s cinematic era

    Sebastian EllisBy Sebastian EllisMarch 27, 2016No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (BvS) opened to the public on Friday morning. In the short time it’s been released it has been excelling worldwide in order to have a significant recoup on what has been three years of hype. Whilst it’s not going to be winning an Oscar in 2017, there are plenty of positives that both old and new fans can take from this film that will reinvigorate the comic book old debate of DC v Marvel.

    This Justice League prologue, directed by Zack Snyder, starts off during the events of Man of Steel, as Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) finds himself in the midst of Metropolis during Superman’s (Henry Cavill) city destroying battle with General Zod. The increasingly tormented and violent Wayne then vows to bring down the reign of terror that Superman has brought to Earth and the premise is set for the great altercation that gives the film it’s title.

    Superman also has an agenda to bring down Batman, who he feels is above the law and breaking civil-rights. However what they both don’t realise is that they are actually being manipulated by psychotic super genius Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). Who, like most of the US government, believes that Superman is a threat to Earth and makes it his mission to pit God against Man in the greatest of fights, however this is where problems start to be posed.

    Those awaiting an action packed clash between two of DC’s biggest heroes will be disappointed for a large part of the film. As we have an hour and a half worth of screen time dedicated to building up the duel between the two warriors with various political themes coming to the forefront coupled with a frustrating amount of dream sequences.  To the older viewer, this isn’t hard to follow. But instead of the action we all deserve, we are instead engaged in a sort of fantastical and violent version of Frost/Nixon. The result is one that will often lose the younger viewers interest.

    If we add in the various nonsense dream sequences that Wayne seems intent on having every time he lays his head down for a well deserved bat-rest, then it’s easy to understand why this plot doesn’t seem to go anywhere for two thirds. The aim from Snyder is to invoke the viewer to ask more questions in preparation for what’s to come, but all it does instead is confuse us and doesn’t focus on what’s currently at hand, which is what we’ve all waited three years to see.

    Another poor point of the film is in essence it’s pre-release marketing as we are left without any significant surprises that may have otherwise brought a real wow factor to excite fans. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) being the biggest one in this. If she had been left out of the marketing scheme altogether then her reveal may have been more intriguing. As such, we knew she was in the film plus her identity months in advance, meaning that the mysterious characterisation that Wonder Woman’s namesake Diana Prince is giving off prior to her reveal doesn’t really do anything for the audience. However, that doesn’t stop Wonder Woman from being a good addition to the cast. It’s positive that we’re seeing so many strong female characters come to the fore recently, and Wonder Woman’s standalone film in the future is one that many can look forward to if her showing in BvS is anything to go by.

    The point that BvS really nails is in Batman and more specifically in it’s casting of Ben Affleck as the Dark Knight. We are obviously seeing a much older, battle-hardened hero at this point and Affleck gets the tone of the role perfectly. For a time now, fans have been keen to see a darker iteration of the caped crusader that we have seen in the comics. Our latest edition of Bruce Wayne is toeing that line, obviously obsessed with stopping Superman and is borderline psychotic. It’s fantastic to watch and is brought out even more as Superman wrestles with his own humanity in a way that just seems to make Bruce Wayne look even more conflicted.

    Affleck looking severely traumatised.
    Affleck looking severely traumatised.

    Lois Lane (Amy Adams) returns and fulfils her role amicably as she is once again the human emotional respite, moving away from these heroes and villains fighting amongst each other. Particularly her scenes with Luthor really seem to bring out both character’s personalities.

    Eisenberg plays Luthor excellently and once again it’ll be intriguing to see where his storyline takes us. The only problem to be found with Lex is that he is introduced and developed rather quickly, to those of us who are aware of Lex’s history with Superman then this can be let go and possibly forgotten about altogether. But to the unaware fans out there then they will seem relatively confused as to why Lex has an agenda to destroy Superman, after all his demolition of Metropolis in Man of Steel meant Lex was able to earn millions of dollars in restoring the city, so why all the hatred?

    Ultimately, BvS is an enjoyable film to watch although it will almost definitely not be DC’s best entry over the next few years as it really steps up its cinematic process. It obviously has its problems, with a tendency to spend too long developing multiple political themes that loses the viewer’s interest. Certain characters are underdeveloped and it feels as though these create multiple plot holes that weren’t really thought about. But overall when the action does arrive we are treated well. But it all becomes too obvious how the situation will conclude, and the process behind it. The cameos from our other Justice League superheroes are also a fun instalment and leave the viewer excited for future entries from DC as there looks to be exciting plans in the works. This film asks more questions than it answers. But then again, wasn’t that the idea?

    action Ben Affleck DC film Henry Cavill heroes Justice League
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Sebastian Ellis

    Film Editor 2015/16

    Related Posts

    Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?

    October 29, 2022

    Stacks of Choice in Main Arts Library

    October 29, 2022

    Don’t Worry Darling

    October 28, 2022

    Comments are closed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.