Zack Snyder's Justice League Movie Review - Hallelluiah

Zack Snyder's Justice League is unequivocally better than the Whedon Cut.

By the time this review would surface, Zack Snyder's Justice League would have been watched by every possible sentient being on the earth. Some fans could have even bathed twice or thrice in it. It is their victory, after all. When Joss Whedon diluted the 2017 theatrical version of this film, you could see faces carrying disappointment exiting the theatre. As soon as a hint pointing to the existence of the Snyder Cut of Justice League was revealed, fans raged and demanded this version on social media. An online petition was created. With each passing year, the desire only strengthened, and finally, Snyder's vision made its way on the streaming services.

I don't think fans would have any problem sitting continuously for four hours for this film (though some will surely flinch if asked to be seated for 3 hours and 29 minutes for The Irishman). This informs us that the runtime is not the problem. It's the film that motivates the audience to either watch it in a single go or allot time for breaks in between. But coming to Snyder's superhero extravaganza. It will not be news if I say that this is indeed a superior version of the 2017 theatrical release. There is absolutely no doubt in it. But...but....this bar is also not so high, to begin with. Whedon gave us a standard Superhero Movie. Snyder expands on the template using the 1.33:1 aspect ratio.

The "expansion" comes not just in the form of a massive 4-hour runtime. There is some characterization. For instance, Cyborg's (Ray Fisher) resent with his father (Joe Morton) is more developed, and so you feel its impact during a crucial scene. We get more of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), his plan, and his powers, making him more of a dominant presence than a one-dimensional plot point like in the 2017 version. A sweet familial bond is supplied to Ezra Miller's Barry Allen/The Flash. I didn't care much for Batman (Ben Affleck) or Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) though the respective actors were a treat to watch. Jeremy Irons, as Alfred Pennyworth, delivers light-hearted lines while Aquaman (Jason Momoa) is not allowed to infect us with his charm as he did in 2018's Aquaman.

Zack Snyder's Justice League resumes after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The opening credits remind us that Superman (Henry Cavill) is no longer protecting the planet. His death inspires scenes of grief with Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and Martha (Diane Lane). It's nice to see superhero franchises touching on the subject of grief (the recent WandaVision is another example). The gods are being downgraded to the level of human beings. You see, the loss of Clark Kent is more weighted than Superman's. People can recover from the death of a supreme being, typically by placing someone else in the position (there are many gods both in our reel and real-life). But they cannot find a replacement for their loved ones. A conversation between Martha and Lane where the former tells the latter to move on is affecting.

With this film, Snyder dives into his trademark pleasure of indulging in slow-motion shots. From the waves of Superman's scream to the bullets being shot in the air to the Superhero Pose, Snyder finds excuses to slow down time and show off his grandeur (remember that "kick into a deep hole" scene from 300?) What he also loves is CGI. Snyder is a director who realizes the majority of his story within the confines of a green screen. Sometimes his overindulgence comes across as a distraction. They shout "Epic!" instead of making us feel its epicness. In Zack Snyder's Justice League, his combination of CGI and slow-motion works better when employed with respect to The Flash because then it serves a purpose, elevating itself from gimmickry. Many were frustrated with the 2017's one-man show finale where Superman single-handedly saved the day. Such complaints should not arise this time. Still, it's not very refreshing to encounter yet another large beam/circle in the sky during the finale.

My Twitter feed shows me that fans are now demanding Snyder Verse and Ayer Cut. Although Snyder and WB have shown no indications of continuing with this franchise, one can't be sure that the decision would also remain the same tomorrow. A few years ago, the Snyder Cut, too, remained an impossibility. If nothing else, let's hope the studio starts hitting the bull's eye the first time and not make it a habit of dumping various cuts years after the original release.

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