**SYNOPSIS**
In “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition” features an extended cut of the film which includes 30 more minutes of story and action not seen in theaters. The extended cut is rated R.
**MOVIE REVIEW**
Director Zack Snyder keeps the same visual tone and feel from Man of Steel though pacing is off a bit with the theatrical cut. The new Ultimate Edition cut clocks in at over 3 hours and does help make everything feel more epic. The reason for the R rating of the Ultimate Edition is for some language and more violence in the action scenes. The highlight of this film is Ben Affleck as Batman. You can see in his eyes and body language how much Bruce Wayne has been through and I found myself rooting for Batman to hold Superman responsible for the loss of innocent lives due to the collateral damage from the battle in Metropolis two years ago. Jeremy Irons plays a more hardened Alfred Pennyworth to a tee. Love the scenes between these two in the new Batcave.
Henry Cavill and Amy Adams have some nice chemistry moments early on with Lois and Clark enjoying life together. Now where fans seemed to most divided when the movie came to theaters this past spring was the latest incarnation of Lex Luthor. While Jesse Eisenberg does tend to do his usual nervous awkward tick talk style of acting he was very effective in portraying the highly intelligent but unhinged villain.
The showdown between Batman and Superman is thrilling and well worth the wait. Batman's mind and wonderful toys helps him fair well against someone who is basically a God. Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman gets in a few good moments of action when Doomsday threatens Gotham and Metropolis. There are some fun Easter eggs to look for that hint at the upcoming Justice League.
8.5/10
**VIDEO QUALITY**
Batman v Superman arrives on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of
2.40:1 - While 3D was done post filming the results are still solid. The 3D edition comes in only the theatrical cut but most won't mind when the added depth to the image makes you feel part of Gotham and Metropolis respectively. When Batman and Superman have a battle for the ages the added dimension throws debris particles towards the viewer, Batman in his night vision cowl pops off the screen and the Batmobile I felt like I could reach out and touch it.
The standard 2D Blu-ray presentation of both cuts provides a very detailed and crisp viewing experience. Colors are stylistically kept in tone with Man of Steel with Superman's costume exhibiting a deep and dark blue with a more muted Red for his cape and chest logo. There are some deeper pops of color in the desert, a social party at Lex Luthor's mansion and at the Daily Planet. Skintones have a natural appearance. Every minute detail and stitch of fabric in Superman's costume is visible, the same goes for Bruce Wayne's suits and Batman's armor. Black levels were deep and inky with solid performance in shadow delineation. There was some very light noise in a couple scenes but that's about it.
9/10
**AUDIO QUALITY**
Audio is provided by a
Dolby Atmos track. - From the opening note of Hans Zimmer's percussion heavy score this track is dynamic and powerful. The added channels from above help to create a 360 degree sound field with silky smooth panning and directional effects. The film goes from very quiet character moments to a full out assault of demo worthy material. LFE performance was massive. Bass is super deep but precise, it also drives the deep notes of the already mentioned score. Through all this destruction dialogue reproduction was crisp and clear. No hisses, pops or cracks to speak of.
10/10
**SPECIAL FEATURES**
With two cuts of the film and well over 2 hours of informative bonus features fans should be happy with what's offered here. The best extra has to be the in depth look at the new Batmobile. Fascinating craftsmanship at work to bring it to the silver screen. An audio commentary with the main cast and director would have been a nice addition but cast and crew do provide insight on the special features that are here. Some stunning comic book art is shown throughout these featurettes. Below are the descriptions and run time from each disc.
**Blu-ray 2D Disc 1**
* Theatrical Cut (HD, 2:31:40)
* Suicide Squad Trailer (HD, 02:34)
* Uniting the World's Finest (HD, 15:05) - Glimpse the future of DC's bold new cinematic super heroes.
* Gods and Men (HD, 12:28) - Become a witness to history as you discover how everything in Batman and Superman's pasts have been leading up to this ultimate, epic showdown.
* The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder (HD, 21:16) - Explore the origins, evolution and powerful impact on popular culture by the legendary Amazonian Wonder Woman.
* Accelerating Design: The New Batmobile (HD, 22:46) - Batman's newest ride is sleek, tough, loud and fast as hell. Host Sal Masekela goes under the hood of the celebrated vehicle, then puts rubber to the road.
* Superman: Complexity + Truth (HD, 07:08) - Experience the transformation as Henry Cavill goes from earnest journalist in glasses and tweeds to a powerful godlike being in a streamlined caped costume.
* Batman: Austerity + Rage (HD, 08:15) - From cape to cowl and from rugged body armor to carefully-tailored suits, Batman's outer gear perfectly camouflages and expresses the fury that simmers within.
* Wonder Woman: Grace + Power (HD, 06:48) - From her gladiator-influenced costume to her shield and sword, she is the mortal incarnation of a warrior goddess.
* Batcave: Legacy of the Lair (HD, 07:12) - Nature and technology exist side by side in Batman's breathtaking and modernistic subterranean digs.
* The Might and the Power of a Punch (HD, 05:15) - A dynamic and illustrative look at the power, physics and fascinating details that make the battle between Batman and Superman so formidable.
* The Empire of Luthor (HD, 12:33) - Dive deeper into the inception of the entirely new interpretation of Lex Luthor, including and examination of his storied history in the comics and what makes him tick.
* Save the Bats (HD, 04:37) - Learn how the cast and crew gave back to the environment and brought awareness to a very real ecological problem.
**Blu-ray 2D Disc 2**
* Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition Cut (HD, 3:02:33)
* Batman: The Killing Joke (HD, 01:29)
