The abuse from the critics regarding this film have been horrendous since release, so it's safe to say I approached the film with an anticipation of being heavily disappointed, with no real expectations for anything great. Within minutes of immersion into the visual, dark, gritty and deeply atmospheric feel of its DC universe, Batman vs. Superman had me sucked in, and my original stigma had lifted.
The film does justice to the actual DC comic books, and definitely does not follow the typical "textbook" methodical approach to superhero films we see being replicated in abundance. This stark change was refreshing to see, and I feel the critics and the attracted reviewer audiences have truly been disconnected from this, in erroneously comparing the film to the typical superhero template. Whilst I agree with several of the snags highlighted by other reviewers, including minor quizzical choices in the storyline, I wholeheartedly believe they have been blown completely out of proportion, and as a result they've failed to see the film for what it really is - a great comic book portrayal and immersive masterpiece.
Another skeptical concern I had towards the film was Ben Affleck's role as Batman, however this was completely and utterly undue after he portrayed the role magnificently. His seasoned mix of a dark, mystifying and complex demeanour helped put Bruce Wayne forward as a stupendous character throughout. I've read many reviews targeting the film out as incoherent and convoluted in its narrative of the story, with incomprehensible events placed throughout. I can understand this in some ways from a very basic viewpoint, since the film definitely packs a vast range of content, characters and events into the single duration of one film, however I resolutely disagree that the film is incoherent. You definitely need a core understanding of the main characters within this film, so if you're watching as a complete newcomer, be warned that the film does not babysit you through every concept that it portrays. There is not enough time to justify this, and in doing so it dilutes the overall enjoyment and flow that viewers and fans of the DC universe gain from simplification of everything within the film to a patronising level. An overview of the events that occurred within Man of Steel and Batman is more than enough to understand all aspects of the events that unfold within Batman vs Superman, so I find it hard to understand how some have justified the events as too intricate and confusing to follow; It is absolutely and thoroughly comprehensible, and the events that unfold do so eloquently throughout.
If you approach with an open mind, broken away from traditional superhero films, coupled with a little background understanding on what happened within the prior films Man of Steel and The Dark Knight trilogies, you're likely to thoroughly enjoy it and get lost in the experience. See it in IMAX, or on as large a screen as possible for maximum immersion, and you'll be plunged into an ethereal and visually gorgeous world for the two and a half hours duration. As someone who approached the film sceptically to begin with, I'd happily watch it again, and shall definitely be getting the HD release when it comes out. My advice is to not be put off by the unfavourable critical reviews, and just give it a watch.