BATMAN VS SUPERMAN DAWN OF JUSTICE REVIEW

Batman v Superman has been a long time coming since its announcement in 2013 people have been losing their minds over the prospect of DC comics two most beloved heroes facing of each other. As expected the anticipation for this film to be good was sky high. As the next couple of years passed we were given details about the upcoming film with people becoming more excited but also more worried as to could this movie work.

One of the main concerns for the film before its release was the casting for the film. When Ben Affleck was announced as Batman, there was a huge backlash and even an online petition to stop Affleck playing the role of Batman. Also the announcement that Jesse Eisenberg would play Lex Luthor there was again a backlash as to whether he was suitable.

There was also the issue that is was following on from Man of Steel, which received mixed reviews by audiences some praising this new look at superman, others condemning it. This movie would have a lot to prove both character wise and story wise if it was to please audiences. So did it work?

Well the movie starts with a brief introduction to Bruce Wayne and his origin, we cut to Affleck waking from a nightmare, clearly showing that his parents death has never truly left him. We are then shown Bruce going to Metropolis whilst Superman and General Zod are fighting in the city. Desperate to save his employees Bruce drives through the rubble to Wayne Finances to see the building collapse killing many of his employees. The camera pans back showing a rage filled Bruce surrounded by destruction in the remains of his building; his hatred of Superman fully cemented.

The movie progresses with scenes of Batman and Alfred investigating possible criminal activity tied to Lex Corp and Superman becoming aware of Batman and his activities in Gotham. As tensions rise and as Lex Luthor pushing Batman and Superman towards each other, an inevitable clash between the two ensues. The movie spends a lot of time building to the fight, possible too long but when it arrives we are treated to some entertaining and amazing visuals as the two heroes cross fists.

However when the fight between Batman and Superman is resolved the movie starts to lose its focus. Looking back at Jesse Eisenberg as Luthor, its clear that the worry people had about his casting is justified. This is a strange and uneven portayal of Lex Luthor, with a weird manic and twitchy personality, Luthor just comes off as silly and not intimidating. His reasoning for wanted Superman dead isn't clearly explained and his plan depending on a lot of coincidence.

Another character who feels misused or in this case underused is Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Her character plays a minor role in the first half of the story but when it comes to the finale she shows up to aid Batman and Superman against a new villain which if you've watched the trailers you'll know who that is. While Gal Gadot plays Wonder Woman well, she isn't given enough to do or time to develop for us to care shes here. There is even an issue with Batman that some may find out of character, depending on how hardcore a Batman fan you are. Also the small cameos of other Justice League heroes is rushed and handled poorly, with the feeling it was thrown in merely to set up future films, Marvel I'm looking at you!

So overall Batman vs Superman, starts promising, with a decent first hour, however the film starts to slowly decline into an uneven and poorly edited mess where events just happen, characters who aren't given enough development or purpose and with a predictable and rather unsatisfying ending. Zack Snyder known for his visual film making delivers on the visual front but drops the ball on the plot and characters leading many to believe he was not the best director for this film.
However to finish on a positive note, the best element of this film by far is Ben Affleck as Batman, his scenes along Alfred played brilliantly by Jeremy Irons are the strongest of the film. Affeck manages to give a convincing Bruce and a bad ass Batman. So not a good start DC, heres hoping suicide squad can pick up some of pieces left by this mixed bag.

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE REVIEW

10 Clover field lane was a surprise announcement to many with JJ Abrams busy with a little film called Star Wars, he was still able to produce another film on the side.
When announced many thought it was a sequel to the found footage monster film Cloverfield in 2008 which Abrams also produced.

However this film is actually a rewrite of a different film called "the cellar", which never saw the light of day and once JJ and his team came on-board many changes were made.

The film opens with our main character Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who seems to be having relationship problems, she packs up some belongings and drives off. while she is driving her boyfriend calls her which distracts her from the road and ends up in a violent car crash. when she wakes up she finds herself chained to a pipe with her injuries treated and in a small cell.

While struggling to understand whats happening we are introduced to Howard (John Goodman), he explains that he saved her and brought her to his custom made fallout shelter. he also explains that a terrible event has occurred on the surface and that Michelle should stay in the bunker where she will be safe.

As expected Michelle doesnt trust Howard who seems to be not entirely stable and wielding a revolver to boot. Michelle then learns that there's a third person in the shelter, a young man named Emmett (John Gallagher Jr) who Howard let into the shelter before this supposedly devastating event happened. To help quell Michelle's doubt Howard shows Michelle evidence that the surface isn't safe and so as time passes, the three characters learn to live together.

However through some shocking revelations it seems that the peaceful existence the three share isnt going to work and thorough a series of  intense scenes we are given the truth as to what has happened to the world above and whether Howard was telling truth after all.

10 Cloverfield Lane offers a tense, gripping experience with twists and turns along to the way to keep the viewer constantly enagaged. The movie never loses its grim and uneasy atmosphere building up to a satisfying and thrilling climax with the possibility of a sequel in the future but as it stands 10 Cloverfield lane is well written, brilliantly acted and makes the most of its claustrophobic setting, a must see and one the strongest films of the year so far!