'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice': What Critics Are Saying

— -- Earlier in the week, fans were raving about "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." The critics, however, have a different take.

The consensus is that there's a lot going on in the film, maybe too much and maybe too many characters, without enough development. Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie 39 percent, not what you'd expect from such a hyped, would-be blockbuster.

Here's what sites like Entertainment Weekly, Slashfilm and Variety had to say:

EW - C+ - Chris Nashawaty writes that "It’s overstuffed, confusing, and seriously crippled by Eisenberg’s over-the-top performance" as villain Lex Luthor.

"Is it too late to demand a rematch?" he adds.

Variety - Andrew Barker was a bit more positive as he says the movie "paves the way for a DC Comics universe on the big screen with an exhilarating, scattered showdown between two comicbook titans," referring to rival Marvel Comics.

"While 'Batman v Superman's' Dark Knight may be more of a pure punisher than some fans would prefer, Snyder’s conception of the character at least feels fully formed. Superman remains something of a work-in-progress," he added about the two main characters in the plot.

The Telegraph - 2 stars - "Dawn of Justice is the most incoherent blockbuster in years" headlines Robbie Collin's review.

"No major blockbuster in years has been this incoherently structured, this seemingly uninterested in telling a story with clarity and purpose," he adds.

Slashfilm - Peter Sciretta was also more positive in saying he loved much of the previous movie "Man of Steel" and liked the first hour of "Dawn of Justice."

But he later calls the story "convoluted" and character actions "unmotivated," falling in line with other critics.

Rolling Stone - Acclaimed critic Peter Travers liked the movie and gave it 3 stars out of 4, though he admits it's nowhere close to Christopher Nolan's Batman and "The Dark Knight."

"'Dawn of Justice' is ... the stuff that DC Comics dreams are made of," he adds.

Forbes - "A Beautiful Disaster," writes Scott Mendelson.

"'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' is one of the most visually beautiful comic book movies you have ever seen," he writes. "But amid the visual treats is an utter mess of thinly sketched characters, haphazard plotting, surprisingly jumbled action, and 'cut your nose to spite your face' world building."

Daily Beast - Jen Yamato adds that even though Wonder Woman's character, played by Gal Gadot, "is marvelously powerful as Diana Prince," even she doesn't raise this up to epic status.

"When Batman and Superman start fist-fighting over whose pursuit of justice is the most righteous, nobody really wins," she writes.

To be fair, fans were happy with the movie when they were able to screen it at the premiere on Sunday night in New York.

"I haven't felt this giddy after watching a movie since The Avengers," one fan wrote, while another added, "So Ben Affleck is my favorite Batman now."

"Dawn of Justice" opens nationwide on Friday.