Before believing anyone who says this is a great movie, first ask what other movies they think are great. Chances are you'll be very surprised by the answer. Different people like different movies, and this movie appeals to the types of people who relish old, depressing early 70s gritty "reality" flicks. It's violent, it's gritty, it's depressing from the very first scene, and offers a very sad world-view. It seems to have been created by people who despise the optimism and hope that forms the basis of most super-hero movies, who wanted to attempt to ruin the genre with this piece of nastiness.