Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016) ***

Hot on the heels of Marvel, Batman v Superman is a planned set-up/reboot film to launch the DC cinematic universe, because we need more comic book based films. What better catalyst than having your two most iconic figures at each other's throats for 2 plus hours while throwing in other characters to slowly build the Justice League.

In the aftermath of Superman's (Henry Cavill) battle in Metropolis the country has become town between those that worship the visitor and those who see him as a menace. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), who witnessed one of his buildings filled with employees destroyed in the epic fight and grows to loathe the power that Superman wields. This animosity builds to the point that they are bound to battle each other at some point in the film. Throw in the mysterious Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) and the evil mastermind Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg).

To address the topic, I had my reservations about Ben Affleck playing Batman. Daredevil still lingers on every one's minds and I feared that the choice for the Caped Crusader would pull the film down. Much to my surprise, Affleck steps into the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman and actually does a great job with it. His cynical, middle aged take on the Dark Knight is different from Christopher Nolan's vision of a panther-like Batman. Affleck is like a tank with some sweet moves. Paired with Alfred (Jeremy Irons) Batman segments of the film are fun.

As for Cavill, he plays Superman the same as the last movie. I can't really complain, but he seems to brood more than Batman, causing a real dislike to develop of the character. We'll get to the writing in a moment.

I wish I could say more about Gal Gadot, but she only has a few scenes and a few lines. When she is on screen she gives an Amazonian presence that is needed to project Wonder Woman. She is probably the most under utilized talent in this film. 

This brings me to Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. I'll say it, this is one of the worst casting decisions since John Wayne played Genghis Khan. This role was wasted on him. There's no other way to describe it. When he was on screen he took me out of the movie.

Probably the biggest flaw in this film is the story structure. There is way to much going on, making me wonder why this wasn't split into two films. Two admissions equal twice the $, so let's do it. The early sequences with Batman are great and during the length of the film I kept thinking that this would make a great Batman movie. When we cut to Superman plot points the film drags, like putting the brakes on. Where we had fun with Batman, we were in the doldrums elsewhere. Slowly, as the film begins to blend the two together the film dissolves into basic writing bordering on camp. The first half of the film is much stronger than the second half. Wonder Woman's role gets no real explanation and Lex Luthor's motivation is so convoluted that you wonder what the point of it all happens to be. The script is a definite take the good, take the bad moment.

Adding it all up, Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman is an acceptable film. There are worse films and there are better. This would have been a wonderful picture if the film had been consistent in quality, but that really denigrates the experience for the audience. Walking out of the theater the crowd was a mixed lot. Some people enjoyed the film, others hated it and let their opinion be heard. I have to say the movie is OK. Just OK. Too bad it could have been so much more.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967) ****

Representing the swan song of Spencer Tracy and solidifying Sidney Poitier’s resume, Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner is an examination of the changes going on during the mid to late 1960’s. The film has a very basic premise in which young Joey (Katherine Houghton) comes home from a trip to Hawaii with John Prentice (Poitier) to meet her parents (Tracy and Katherine Hepburn). What follows is the conflicted feelings that go along with the changing times of the 1960’s. John will not marry Joey without the consent of her parents. Her parents are unsure about giving consent, not due to their own racism, but due to the fear of how difficult their life will be as an interracial couple. Added in are the two cents of everyone around the family. True, this can be a comedy at times, but it’s more a look at the old guard facing the new guard.

Directed by the legendary Stanley Kramer, the film represents a kind of social experiment. Let’s drop ‘60’s progressivism on the nuclear family of the 1950’s (although the privileged life of the Drayton’s is far from nuclear). The Drayton’s are not conservative minded individuals, but very left leaning. Still, they fear for their daughter and how that current state of the world would react to them. Tracy delivers his final performance with a flourish and considering his death was imminent brings even greater power to his role. Add to the fact that this is one final pairing with Katherine Hepburn makes it even more bitter sweet. Hepburn also mesmerizes on the screen as the mother giddy over her daughter’s upcoming nuptials, yet fearful at the same time. Once again Poitier proves that he is one of the greatest actors of this era, a witty and likeable presence that thinks things out for the protection of others. The only real negative of the film is Houghton’s performance as Joey, which comes across as very snotty and annoying. Whether it was written this way or not, you can almost feel like maybe John would be better of with not being tied to her in some instances.

I asked myself a question while watching this film. Have we moved forward in the last half century compared to our ideals? In some ways we have. Interracial marriage is not illegal in seven states, as the film reminds us. There’s very little stigma related to it anymore, other than the old school and uneducated. The thing is that it feels like where we have progressed as a society, we’re still slipping in other areas. To avoid making this review an ideology discussion I’ll stop there. Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner is a time capsule of the ‘60’s and represents one of the greatest psychological battles of all time. When your ideals come home how are you going to react?