Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

It plays better than it reviews — the watch lands harder than the write-ups suggest.

• “BvS will please those either waiting for the two main players to lock horns on a movie screen, or those who've just been pining for Wonder Woman forever. And for the nerdier crowds, a fleeting glimpse at other superheroes hints this is the Dawn of something potentially sensational.”

  Brian Truitt, USA Today · 75

• “Better than Man of Steel but below the high bar set by Nolan's Dark Knight, Dawn of Justice is still a colossus, the stuff that DC Comics dreams are made of for that kid in all of us who yearns to see Batman and Superman suit up and go in for the kill.”

  Peter Travers, Rolling Stone · 75

• “When it sings, “Dawn of Justice” is a wonder. When it drags, it still looks good and offers hints of a better scene just around the corner.”

  Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times · 75

• “Batman v Superman lacks the levity (forced or otherwise) of a typical Marvel Universe entry. But Snyder's superpowered epic does have a sense of import and grandeur about it.”

  Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer · 75

• “As potential blockbusters go, Batman v Superman is neither as stupid nor as stupendous as it might have been.”

  Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch · 75