It’s no secret now that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is not very popular among critics. The film is currently sitting at a frighteningly bad 32% on Rotten Tomatoes. While it’s unlikely the reviews will have a significant impact on the film’s opening weekend, and it’s far from clear that the movie won’t still make a billion dollars, you have to wonder how the cast and crew, who put a lot of time and work into the film, feel about these results.
As the press tour for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice isn’t quite over yet, Yahoo had the opportunity to actually ask the stars of the film, along with director Zack Snyder, what they think of the early response. It's about as uncomfortable as you might imagine:
Superman has been through this before. Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel was also not universally loved by the critics, but the movie did significantly better among audiences. He thinks that the negative critical reviews are simply a case of bias.
The interesting thing is that we get the critics who have their personal opinions. And the thing about personal opinions is that they always come from a place. And there’s a preconceived idea which you have to get past a critic before you start writing your article or your review, and that affects everything.
It’s not entirely clear what "preconceived idea" he thinks they’re battling against, but certainly critics, like all other humans, have preconceived notions. It’s part of why there are so many film critics in the world, because many people feel differently about the same things. What did Cavill's co-stars think of the reviews? Read on.
While Gal Gadot didn’t get her name in the title, she’s one of the key parts of the DC universe going forward. The actress is not shy in giving her opinion of the film. She thinks it’s awesome.
I think the movie’s great. I think this movie is huge, massive. I think that Zack did fantastic work bringing Superman’s world and Batman’s world into one movie and setting the ground for so many more characters to come in the future in such an interesting way.
If nothing else, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be remembered for being the first time that we saw all these characters together in a live-action movie, which is a massive thing. No argument here.
At least one of the actors admitted that he wasn’t in a position to speak about the movie, or the reviews of it. Jesse Eisenberg doesn’t engage with any of the material, because there’s no greater critic of his own work than himself. Ye told Yahoo:
I can’t read stuff. I don’t even watch the movies I’m in. I get very critical...I don’t like reading stuff, either. I find it very distracting.
Although, when told that many of the reviews praised his performance specifically, he lightened up considerably.
In that case I’ll read everything and I look forward to seeing the film.
Classic Lex Luthor flip flop!
It’s an often repeated idea that there’s a significant difference between movie fans and movie critics when it comes to enjoying movies. Amy Adams does point out that among the fans who have already seen Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the response is much more positive.
I know that Zack doesn’t make the movies, and none of us are making the movies, for the critics, so to speak. You can’t kinda go into it with that perspective. I know we really hope the fans like it, and so far, the reaction’s been really positive on that front.
While the view of professional critics and the general movie fan may not always align, it should be pointed out that movie critics are also movie fans. It’s why they became critics in the first place. Just a thought.
Zack Snyder
Director Zack Snyder is no stranger to controversy. He makes big, visually stunning films, like Watchmen and Sucker Punch. He’s been taken to task for these sorts of films before, so you can tell from his tone that he doesn’t really let it bother him.
I’m a comic book guy, and I made the movie based as much as I could on that aesthetic, and so I don’t know how else to do it 100%. So, it is what is, you know?
For better or worse Zack Snyder made the movie the way he wanted. Love it or hate it, as he says, it is what it is.
