JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017) – My rating: 8/10

Justice League is a superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name consisting of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg. The film is directed by Zack Snyder with a screenplay by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, from a story by Terrio and Snyder. There are many reasons I’m glad Justice League was created.  I was a very unhappy camper when they decided to kill off Superman, especially by the likes of Batman, who actually has no super powers.  That was the biggest injustice in super hero history, in my opinion.  Justice League redeemed that unfortunate event, which made my day.  I also got to see Aquaman in all his glorious action, which also made my day.  So much eye candy, so little time!  I was well entertained as well.

Thousands of years ago, Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), an alien military officer from Apokolips and his army of Parademons attempted to conquer and remake Earth through the combined energies of three “Mother Boxes”. They were foiled by a unified army that included Olympian Gods, Amazons, Atlanteans, humans, and Green Lanterns. After repelling Steppenwolf’s army, the Mother Boxes were separated and hidden in three locations around the world.

In the present, all the world is in mourning over the death of Superman (Henry Cavill), which has triggered the Mother Boxes to reactivate along with Steppenwolf’s return to Earth in an effort to regain favor with his master, Darkseid.  When Steppenwolf retrieves a Mother Box from Themyscira, Amazonian Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) warns her daughter, Diana Prince / Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), of his return by lighting the invasion fire located in the palace.  As a result, Diana joins Bruce Wayne / Batman (Ben Affleck) in an attempt to unite other Meta-humans.  Bruce Wayne goes after Arthur Curry  / Aquaman (Jason Momoa), a member of the Justice League and heir to the throne of the undersea nation of Atlantis and Barry Allen / Flash (Ezra Miller), also a member of the Justice League and a Central City University student, who can move at superhuman speeds due to his ability to tap into the Speed Force. Diana Prince tries to locate Victor Stone / Cyborg (Ray Fisher), another member of the Justice League and a former college athlete who, after being cybernetically reconstructed after a near fatal car accident, has powers that allow him to fly, turn his arms into cannons, and manipulate technology.  Once the team is assembled, they go into action to keep Steppenwolf from acquiring all three of the Mother Boxes, but fail.  The team receives intel from James Gordon (J. K. Simmons), the Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department and close ally of Batman, leading them to Steppenwolf’s army, based in an abandoned facility under Gotham Harbor.

As usual, I’ve said enough.  The story gets even more interesting and how the Justice League keeps Earth from being destroyed by Steppenwolf is exciting.  Flash and another member of the Justice League have similar powers and are always in competition.  There are many funny scenes, as well as  lots of muscle flexing.  Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) stepped up his role as Bruce Wayne’s butler, chief of security and trusted confidant.  Also Diane Lane reappears as Martha Kent and Amy Adams as Lois Lane.  Justice League is a great super hero film with an all-star cast and a good story to back it up.  I recommend it to all – check it out for yourself!
 

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: Dawn of Justice (2016) – My rating: 7/10

As a loyal fan of Superman, especially the last remake “Man of Steel” I am truly upset with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.  There’s a lot to be said about this film, which is actually a follow-up to Man of Steel.  I will try to be as fair as I can in bringing you the facts as I know them.  Both films were directed by Zack Snyder (how could he do this to us?)  Both films starred Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Superman’s adoptive parents, Jonathan & Martha Kent, respectively and Laurence Fishburne as Perry White.  Somehow, Jimmy Olsen was pretty much left out except for a voice in Dawn of Justice as a CIA agent.

Some 18 months after Superman destroyed General Zod in Man of Steel, he has moved in with Lois Lane and is seen as a threat to humanity by Batman.  However, after learning of Batman’s (Ben Affleck) intentions and accusations against him, Superman believes Batman is also a threat and plans to stop him by using the Daily Planet articles as Clark Kent.  Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) CEO of LexCorp has his own set of ideas to take down Superman.  Lex Luthor’s plans also include creating meta humans which would include Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) who is also the daughter of Zeus.

While all plans are put into motion by Batman, Superman and Lex Luthor, the audience is left to be confused and bored to death by the rantings and ravings of Lex Luthor.  Some of his speeches were so long, I began to doze off.  Things really got out of control.  I didn’t know where I was at times.  Jesse Eisenberg is a fantastic actor but one cannot help the script they’re handed.  It was brutal and ambiguous.  It was never made clear why Superman was targeted as a villain.  It didn’t make sense why someone who fought the good fight for decades suddenly was deemed bad.  Batman was so angry throughout the entire movie that I thought he was going to bust a gasket.  Ben Affleck made the worst Batman I’ve seen, bar none.  He looked fat and stocky in the Batman suit and his face seemed so fat under the mask, I couldn’t help but laugh.  He seemed gigantic and reminded me of Humpty Dumpty.  And who’s idea was it to cast Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth?  That was a mismatch I couldn’t quite understand.  In conclusion, because I know the future of the next sequel, I’m no longer upset with the outcome of this film but I will say Batman V Superman was a bad idea.  I absolutely hated the Batman character and wasn’t too thrilled with the movie.  I really felt the Batman character killed the movie plus the long Lex Luthor speeches finished it off.  The script made little sense and the ending really pissed me off.  I for one, am looking forward to “The Justice League Part I”, starring Henry Cavill as Superman,  now in production — due to be released in 2017.

MAN OF STEEL (2013) – My rating: 9.5/10

Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film featuring the DC Comics character Superman. It is a British-American venture produced by DC Entertainment, Legendary Pictures and Syncopy, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the first installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film is directed by Zack Snyder and written by David S. Goyer.

The best Superman ever produced, hands down!  I think Man of Steel “MOS” was under marketed or they didn’t make the best use of the trailers.  Still, I expected Man of Steel to be good, not great.  After seeing it, wow, was I rewarded.  I felt Director, Zack Snyder took the audience on a fact finding mission to understand, once and for all, how and why Superman came into existence.  And whose brilliant, fore-site was it to cast Henry Cavill as Superman?  You just can’t get any hotter than that!  Amy Adams rounded out this fantastic cast as a perfect Lois Lane.  The movie took on a biblical flavor, alluding to (33 year old Jesus), who is good vs. Satan, who is evil).  Every piece of this movie fit like a glove and every piece of the story was necessary.  I found so many folks didn’t really want to see the new Man of Steel.  I couldn’t imagine why.  My 15 year old grandson, who also didn’t want to see it is recommending it to all his friends.  “MOS” has just the right amount of violence, action, destruction and romance to be a winner.  I enjoyed every minute of the movie and highly recommend Man of Steel to everyone!

BTW:  I only gave Man of Steel a 9.5 rating because there’s no way I could buy into Lois Lane not knowing Clark Kent’s true identity as Superman.  I found that concept a little insulting.  I know it’s always been that way, however I think it’s time for a change!