MOVIE REVIEW: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Don't be dismayed by the critics reviews, this highly anticipated meetup between two of the most popular iconic comic book characters from the DC Comics universe won't disappoint fans of both Superman and Batman but also get you excited for the long awaited Justice League movie. The Avengers now have a threat to global (box office) domination.

I have to admit that I am not familiar with the comic book set up on how the two would meet up but there's nothing to worry. Director Zack Snyder who also helmed 2013's Man of Steel made both the cities of Metropolis and Gotham bleak yet entertaining with a lot of things going on and that's the major negative aspect of the film: there's indeed a lot of things going on which it can be trimmed down for a few less scenes from it's 2 hours and 38 minutes running time.

Henry Cavill is his old reliable Clark Kent/Superman self and Amy Adams is the thinking damsel in distress Lois Lane. The big revelation though is Ben Affleck. The naysayers who freaked out when Warner Bros announced that he was playing the Dark Knight a couple of years ago can now apologize to him. His Bruce Wayne and Batman is one of the best among those who played the character and he redeemed himself from the disastrous Daredevil more than a decade ago. Jeremy Irons is a welcome addition to the cast as a younger (compared to Michael Caine from The Dark Knight Trilogy) yet cool and sarcastic Butler Alfred. Jesse Eisenberg is channeling The Joker as Lex Luthor - it sometimes work but there are some cases in which he still reminds you of his character from his Academy Award nominated role as Mark Zuckerberg from The Social Network. 

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is also the film that introduces Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to its fold of characters. There are also tidbits from the other characters of the upcoming Justice League movie and I was rest assured that the actors chosen to play the up and coming superheroes are great ones.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is best seen on the big screen. No need for that 3D upgrade. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Miracles from Heaven

Based on the book by Christy Beam about her family's experience when her ten year old daughter Anna (played by Kylie Rogers in a breakthrough role)

was diagnosed with an incurable, rare and likely fatal intestinal disease and the baffling way it got healed triggered by a freak accident.

Miracles From Heaven is produced by the Evangelical film division of Sony Pictures aptly named Affirm Films and anchored by the amazing performance of Jennifer Garner who portrays Christy, the movie elevates it from other faith based films released in recent years because it doesn't dwell too much on religion but more on the Beam family's struggle as one of their members was living on borrowed time. I dare say that this is Garner's best performance to date and is comparable to Susan Sarandon's Oscar nominated turn in the similarly themed Lorenzo's Oil in 1992. 

Also starring Martin Henderson who portrays the patriarch of the family, Queen Latifah providing the comic relief and Hispanic comic superstar Eugenio Debrez, Miracles From Heaven is the perfect family film as Easter approaches. You feel good in the end and better yet you knew that it really happened.