After months of waiting and much hype, “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” has finally landed in theaters across the globe. Featuring two the world’s most loved and well-known superheroes, this blockbuster event brings them to the silver screen together for the first time ever. A sequel to the 2013 “Man of Steel,” this film picks up after the events depicted there.

Directed by Zack Snyder, this is the second installment in the cinematic DC Extended Universe.  The film stars Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman.

They are supported by an all-star cast including Oscar-nominated actors Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and Amy Adams as Lois Lane, as well as Israeli Actress Gal Gadot as Diana Prince a.k.a. Wonder Woman – the first time the character has ever appeared in a movie.
Set two years after his epic but costly battle to save the city of Metropolis, we find Superman a.k.a. Clark Kent struggling with a society that has a split opinion of him.

Some people love and adore him, even going as far as worshiping and praying to Superman; a god in their eyes. But some blame the Man of Steel for the destruction and death resulting from his cosmic battle with another alien being and fear the threat they may impose, including one resident of neighboring Gotham City.

Batman a.k.a. Bruce Wayne, a seasoned and bitter crime fighter, has seen enough of power corrupting people over his twenty years as the Dark Knight. Vowing to put a stop once and for all to Superman, the two are set on a collision course described in the film as, “the greatest gladiator match in the history of the world.” All the while, a bigger threat than ever seen before arrives on the scene, leaving the caped heroes of the world to make a choice: fight against each other or stand and fight together.

A comic book fan’s dream come true, it was a stunning mix of visual and audio effects, centered around exceptional storytelling and exhilarating performances. Inspired by several popular comic book series featuring both Batman and Superman, the film is very respectful of these cherished storylines adored by fans while also trying new things with these often used and very familiar characters. Not one portrayal of any character has ever been seen before.

The entire cast is brilliant, but Affleck in particular stood out to me. He is easily the best on-screen Batman ever, with due respect to Michael Keaton and Christian Bale.

Providing us with an older, grittier, and less forgiving Batman than we have ever seen, he plays the perfect counterpart to Cavill’s Superman – an innocent being who sincerely wishes to never hurt anyone unless he absolutely has to.

A perfect set up for the DC superhero movies to come, “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” was everything this comic book fan hoped it would be. With a number of films now slated to follow in this shared cinematic universe, I can’t wait for the rest of them! The film is filled with moments, winks, and nudges sure to put a smile on the face of any comic book fan. But also as a regular movie goer, it is a wild ride everyone can enjoy.