STACK April 2016 Issue 138

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ALSO SCREENING
IN APRIL
Spider-Man's inclusion in Civil War is a game
changer that will alter the future landscape
of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new
Captain America film is no longer just another
solo outing for Chris Evans's patriotic Avenger,
with a few special guests to assist – it's now
an Avengers-sized behemoth with Ant-Man,
Iron Man and Spidey in the mix. Choose your
team before April 28.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
The first part in the grand finale of this YA series
sees Tris and her fellow Divergents venturing beyond
ruined Chicago into what appears to be a sci-fi
utopia run by Jeff Daniels. Jump the wall on April 7.
THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT
John Favreau's live-action (with CGI animals
voiced by an all-star cast) version of the Disney
animated favourite thankfully keeps The Bare
Necessities – i.e. the song. Welcome to the
jungle on April 7.
THE JUNGLE BOOK
No Snow White this time, but Charlize Theron is
back as the ice queen along with Chris Hemsworth,
in a sequel that adds Jessica Chastain and Emily
Blunt. Looks better than the first one. April 7.
THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR
Zack Snyder isn't known for his subtlety,
but you can almost believe he's
changed tack during the first half of
this much anticipated clash of the DC titans.
The set-up is measured, striving for the
gravitas of Christopher Nolan's Batman
movies and reintroducing the Gotham
crusader (how many times have we seen
Bruce Wayne's parents killed now?) who
intersects with the Man of Steel's world.
But then Snyder remembers he's the guy
who made Sucker Punch, and it's time to
unleash some CGI chaos to liven things up.
So how do these superhero icons wind
up at each other's throats? The collapse of
Wayne Towers during General Zod's attack
on Metropolis has something to do with it.
So too the plans of one Alexander Luthor
(another twitchy performance from Jesse
Eisenberg, in bratty schoolboy mode), who's
determined to stir up some anti-Superman
sentiment by framing the Man of Steel for
an explosive attack on the Capitol.
Things get progressively muddled as
the screenplay tries to shoehorn Wonder
Woman and Doomsday into an already
busy narrative, and a couple of surreal
dream sequences don't help coherency.
Characters disappear and reappear without
any explanation, sub-plots are left dangling,
and a major contrivance at a crucial moment
is jaw-dropping in the wrong way. Perhaps a
DVD director's cut will fill in the gaps?
The bat-lash surrounding Ben Affleck's
casting isn't really warranted, even if he is a
little bland as Batman. It's Jesse Eisenberg
who is miscast – someone forgot to tell him
he's playing Lex Luthor and not the Joker.
Fans of the comics will see some of the
major plot twists and surprises coming, and
also spot a couple of nods to the upcoming
Justice League.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
is a dour and joyless experience. With this
and the incoming Suicide Squad, DC appear
determined to position themselves as the
dark side to Marvel's light. Scott Hocking
FURTHER VIEWING: Man of Steel, The Dark Knight Rises
Clash of the DC titans.
BATMAN V SUPERMAN:
DAWN OF JUSTICE
RELEASED: March 24
DIRECTOR: Zack Snyder
CAST: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill,
Amy Adams
RATING: M
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20 APRIL 2016
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