lifestyle SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016

Music & Movies Kuwait Times film review Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Ben Affleck, left, and Henry Cavill in a Henry Cavill as Superman, left, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Ben Affleck as Batman in a scene from “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” scene from, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” — AP photos

By Aakash Bakaya of Bruce Wayne and his alter ego. During the films few Superman and General Zod’s destruction derby fight depending on your tastes, it could either be the high- spectacular moments, Snyder’s Batman is at the heart in Metropolis from ‘Man of Steel’, the world remains light of the film or the final nail in the coffin. It’s better hey’ve been a number of blockbuster disap- of it and is a worthy addition to the character’s exten- undecided on what Superman’s role should be. Is he a paced than the horrendous middle section in which pointments over the last twenty years or so. ‘Star sive lore. Speaking about spectacle, Cavill once again political solution or peace-keeping nightmare? Is he nothing really much happens and lacks any of the TWars Episode One: The Phantom Menace’ imme- brings us a stellar representation of Superman for the the ideal representation of God or is he simply anoth- themes the first act was setting up. Regardless, It is diately comes to mind and more recently Peter big screens. There’s a bit more Clark Kent this time er one of his creations and if so, what does that make loud, bombastic and maybe the year’s biggest specta- Jackson’s return to Middle Earth in The Hobbit trilogy around and he brings a subtle honesty to the role us? The first act of the film deals with these issues well cle. I’m still split on it though. It definitely contains the are two shining examples of major “Fandom” let- without overdoing it. The suit looks a lot better as well and follows up the thematic discussions we all want- film’s best moments but by the end, each of my five downs. Well now you can add ‘Batman v Superman and the mystical awe of this god-like figure in a con- ed to see after the clumsy but well-thought through senses was begging for reprieve. The destruction and ‘Man of Steel’. Yet Snyder and co simply throws it aside mayhem was a bit too much, all happening way too for needless franchise set-ups and the following acts quickly and when it ends the audience wasn’t clap- stumbles its way to another messy conclusion. ping in applause at my screening but merely sighing Adding Batman to the mix seemed like a masterstroke in relief that this continuous assault to the senses was at first but as the film runs confusingly forward - even over. he gets lost in the cacophony. Blockbuster films like this need to put aside a time Our primary antagonist this time around is the for reflection, moments of respite to humanize these famous egomaniac Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg) and characters so the audience can at least relate to them. this version is ludicrously bad. Like almost every Lex They weren’t making a risky independent production Luther from previous adaptations, he is hunting for and a film with both Batman and Superman should Superman’s only known weakness - Kryptonite. have never felt so overbearingly mediocre. Warner There’s no reason given to why he wants to simulta- Brothers was so busy thinking of the competition neously want to protect the world and drive it into with Marvel, they forget these characters have been chaos, he’s simply jealous that Superman is treated beloved and cherished for over a half a century. like a God and he wants none of it. His story is weak, Batman and Superman may be fantastical at their confusing and Eisenberg plays him like he has a men- heart but their humanity always made them so relat- tal disorder that is more annoying than frightful. able. Both lost their parents at a young age so they Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman also shows up fought to understand their world and make the best but instead of organically integrating her into the sto- use of their abilities to improve it. In ‘Batman V ry-line, she’s simply a tool to foreshadow the introduc- Superman’, they’re both distant, border-line tion for DC’s Justice League films. If fan-edits of the sociopaths who are in desperate need of psychologi- film cut her out completely, nothing of value will be cal help. lost. It was a rushed, needless addition and it shows. It’s hard to recommend a film with so many flaws Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Sequel baiting and confusing foreshadowing is prob- but it is still mildly entertaining. The amazing CGI lematic when Marvel films do it but it seems that even work and the massive action scenes might come far Dawn of Justice’ to that list because director Zach temporary setting is a tremendous achievement. It is the latest DC adaptation gets it thoroughly wrong. too long into the film’s runtime but they’re worth the Snyder and Warner Brothers Studio have successfully then no surprise that when these two pop-culture Having the first proper introduction to this new wait. If those things interest you, then absolutely go blown up large wards of money on the big screen and icons finally do face off - it is very well done, more Batman in a ham-fisted dream sequence (that turns check it out. Just don’t forget to take some aspirins, can merely shrug in response. than worth the ticket price alone. So what is the film’s out to be a Justice League set-up) will have the major- you’ll need it. Before focusing on its faults, let’s briefly go glaring faults then? Sadly, the answer to that is every- ity of the audience scratching their heads in confu- through what the film does right. Firstly, Affleck thing else. sion. absolutely nails the reclusive and savvy contractions Let’s start with the plot. In the aftermath of I don’t want to give away the film’s final act but Rolling Stones unleash rock and roll on massive Cuban crowd

he Rolling Stones unleashed two hours of shrieking, thun- dering rock and roll on an ecstatic crowd of hundreds of Tthousands of Cubans and foreign visitors Friday night, capping one of the most momentous weeks in modern Cuban history with a massive celebration of music that was once for- bidden here. The week opened with the arrival of President Barack Obama in Air Force One, accompanied by more than 1,000 employees of a government that waged a cold war against Cuba for more than 50 years. This time, US forces were armed with briefing books and press invitations, here to seal the presi- dent’s 2014 opening to Cuba with a string of expertly crafted public events that saw Obama call for democracy live on state television, then attend a Major League Baseball exhibition game with Cuban President Raul Castro. The week ended with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts firing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Satisfaction” into a jubilant crowd from 3-sto- ry-tall high-definition television screens and thumping towers of speakers. From Sunday evening to late Friday night, it felt as if the full Mick Jagger, right, of the The Rolling Stones performs as Keith Richards plays the guitar and People dance at a Rolling Stones concert. force of the 21st century had landed with bone-rattling impact Charlie Watts plays the drums. on an island that still feels mostly cut off from the modern world. “Havana, Cuba, and the Rolling Stones!” Jagger cried. albums in covers borrowed from albums of appropriately revo- thousands, of security officials. one of my life-long dreams, to come to Cuba on my sailboat,” “This is amazing! It’s really good to be here! It’s good to see you lutionary Cuban groups. Few were willing to comment on the connections between Herold said. guys!” But times have changed. Former supermodel Naomi the concert and Obama’s visit earlier in the week, but many said Some Cuban concert-goers said it made them more opti- Campbell, actor Richard Gere and singer Jimmy Buffet partied the concert had implications beyond simple entertainment. mistic about the future of their country. “This is history,” said Romping through the classics in the VIP section of the concert. Castro’s son Alejandro, one of “The Rolling Stones being in Cuba at this time is like several Raul Podio, a 22-year-old employee of a state security firm, who The Stones romped through 18 of their classics, picking up the driving forces behind Cuba’s declaration of detente with the steps up the ladder,” said Jennifer Corchado, a 23-year-old biolo- was joined by a group of young friends. “I would like to see force as the crowd in the open-air Ciudad Deportiva, or Sports United States, greeted friends and relatives after the show. Far gist. “It’s like three steps up the staircase toward global culture, more groups, for there to be more variety, for more artists to City, jumped and chanted “Rollings! Rollings!” The Rolling from the Cuban and international elites, ordinary Cubans said toward the rest of the world.” come, because that would mean we are less isolated.” The Stones were the biggest mainstream rock act to play in Cuba they felt shot through with energy, reconnected with the world. Among the spectators was a large contingent of foreign band’s Cuba stop ended its “Ole” Latin America tour, which also since its 1959 revolution brought a communist government to “After today I can die,” said 62-year-old night watchman tourists, for whom seeing Cuba was as novel as seeing the included concerts in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and power and isolated the island from the United States and its Joaquin Ortiz. “This is like my last wish, seeing the Rolling Rolling Stones is for Cubans. Ken Smith, a 59-year-old retired Mexico. — AP allies. At its heyday, Cuba’s communist government frowned on Stones.” Rivers of spectators flowed north and south from the sailor, and Paul Herold, a 65-year-old retired plumber, sailed to US and British bands. Fans had to hide their Beatles and Stones concert site after the show, watched over by hundreds, perhaps Havana from Key West, Florida on Herold’s yacht. “This has been

Keith Richards plays his guitar as the Rolling Stones per- Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs. Fans wait for the start of the Rolling Stones concert in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 25, form. 2016. The Stones are performing in a free concert in Havana Friday, becoming the most famous act to play Cuba since its 1959 revolution. — AP photos