What A Mess: Batman vs Superman

Batman vs Superman ended up being such a colossal mess and it's such a shame because it could've been the movie to establish WB/DC as major players in the cinematic universe genre, a spot which Marvel has owned for almost a decade now.  However, it ended up playing more as an expensive example of what not to do.

The theatrical cut of the film clocks in at a hefty 2 hours 33 minutes.  It's about the length of what one expects from big budget movies these days.  The time isn't its biggest problem.  The biggest problem with Batman vs Superman is that it bastardized all the key characters, was poorly edited and overstuffed with subplots that really shouldn't have made it past the conceptual stage. 

Supposedly, there will be an extended cut of the film that clocks in at 3 hours on the home video release (and rumored to be a possible theatrical release, too), but I don't see how adding in another 30 minutes would help a story that is already overstuffed with filler (what was the point of the bullet subplot?).  

The worst sin in Batman vs Superman is that it shits all over the characterization of its 2 leads.  Batman is just a meathead on a violent crusade, not the World's Greatest Detective.  His beef with Superman is ultimately resolved because they have mothers with the same name and not because they realize they're the only true checks on each other.

Superman is moping, pitiful and glum, a complete 180 from where he was at the end of Man of Steel and with no real reason within the story for him to be so.  The public is worried about what threats he may pose given his God-like abilities, but they also built him a freakin' statue! 

The movie is visually stylish and Wonder Woman (played in her limited screen time by Gal Gadot) is in many ways the only redeeming aspect of this movie.  Batman vs Superman will make money and it will ultimately be a huge box office hit, but I and many others can't help but feel stung at what could've been and what ultimately is.