The moment we’ve been waiting for has arrived. The Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel have thrown down, and chances are you’re going to see the insanity that is Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice at some point this weekend. Now while we’ve already spoken to whether the film itself is worth your time, there’s a bigger question that needs answering. Which means it’s time to dust off the To 3D-mobile and get down to the business of whether Zack Snyder’s latest foray into comic adaptations is worth the extra ticket money. Though if you want to see just how much we liked the movie itself, you can click here and read our review. Other than that, it’s time to answer that ever famous question: to 3D or not to 3D?
Fit Score
5/5
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is a film so fit for 3D, it’s a surprise the script wasn’t printed in such a way that a pair of Real-D glasses weren’t necessary to read it. With one superhero that likes to fly, and another that likes to shoot various projectiles one way or another, the 3D effect was always a natural fit. There’s just something about superhero combat that makes 3D fun.
Planning & Effort Score
3/5
Like most films of its ilk, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is a product of 3D conversion. While Zack Snyder did use an IMAX camera for a couple special sequences in the film, he opted instead to have the film post-converted. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you’d think that if an IMAX rig was in the cards, then perhaps a couple of sequences could have been shot with native 3D.
Before the Window Score
3/5
For the most part, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is a pretty standard post-conversion product when it comes to the "before the window" factor. The majority of the film doesn’t pop from the screen like you’d want it too, except for certain key sequences that seem to pop way more than others. Batman and Superman’s legendary brawl is a good example of a sequence that feels better converted than most others in the rest of the film. When it’s working, it works rather well - but that’s usually when an IMAX sequence kicks in, and those moments are spread out.
Beyond the Window Score
4/5
While Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice doesn’t exactly stick out with its 3D conversion, it does manage to have quite a bit of depth to the picture. In fact, the most effective usage of depth has to come from the atmospheric effects that surround key moments in the film. Fire, snow, and especially rain all seem to exist in a separate layer than the characters, and their surroundings. Also, there are some close-up moments where the facial features of the actors in the scene stand out really well.
Brightness Score
3/5
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is a darker affair when it comes to its picture. The film utilizes a lot of muted tones, and dark surroundings, which makes a 3D presentation living hell if you’re not careful. While everything seems visible for the most part, it still doesn’t change the fact that the brightness should have been bumped up a couple notches to compensate for Zack Snyder’s choice in color palette. Of course, this is subjective to whether or not your projector is properly calibrated, so your results may vary.
Glasses Off Score
4/5
A good amount of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice plays around with the depths of the characters and their surroundings. The big reason those atmospherics work so well is due to a good level of blur between the two images that your 3D glasses match together to make one, cohesive, third dimension ready whole. So it’s usually safe to assume that the blurrier the picture, the deeper the image is. While it’s not the blurriest we’ve ever seen, it does hold itself up to about the same level as its its competition, and the end result is still quite impressive.
Audience Health Score
4/5
If there’s anything that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice can be commended on, other than the 3D effects conveying the depth of the world, then it would have to be the audience health portion of the program. In a film that could have very easily wonked out with the 3D and made viewing it awkward, the film is rock solid. The only nitpick is a minor moment of wonky 3D during the climactic final battle, but other than that the film a-ok for the motion sick members of the audience.
3D SCORES RECAP
3D Fit
5
P & E
3
Before The Window
3
Beyond The Window
4
Brightness
3
Glasses Off Test
4
Audience Health
4
Total Score
26/35
Final Verdict: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice isn’t a complete waste of a 3D conversion, and seeing the film with that enhancement isn’t a total money grab. But still, things could have been just a little bit better, with more confidence in the decision making process. If you can see it in an IMAX presentation without 3D, that would be ideal. However, if friends drag you to see this with a standard 3D presentation, you could do a lot worse.
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