The Achievement (And Misstep) Of ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE

Well…that was unexpected. I’ve always been a fan of superhero movies, but didn’t have high expectations for Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Firstly, the director’s previous contributions to the genre, Man Of Steel and Batman v Superman, mostly didn’t work for me. And secondly, this is an alternative version of a 2017 theatrically released film that nearly put me to sleep.

Amazing how much has changed over the years, right? I’ve watched this new, 4-hour long version of Justice League twice now, and it blows all previous DCEU entries out of the water. It’s not perfect - especially towards the very end - but the execution of character development, visual effects, and action sequences is substantially better.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

While some characters were sidelined in the theatrical version, Zack Snyder does justice (pun intended) to everyone here. The best example is Cyborg, whose refurbished backstory gives new meaning to his actions, making his journey far more comprehendible. There’s more to the relationship with his father - Joe Morton echoing his role from Terminator 2: Judgment Day - and their final scene together is genuinely heart-breaking.

It’s always nice to have a comic relief in a movie like this. But when it came to Barry Allen, there was a little too much forced humor in the initial cut of Justice League. Well, thanks to some altered and additional scenes, there’s more of a balance between comedy and drama (case of point, his new introductory scene). And while he’s not quite as tragic of a figure as Cyborg, the Flash has his own bag of parental issues. The internal clash - mainly between saving his father and forging his own path - is further explored, and it informs his character arc better this time around.

Comedy was never the strongest suite for the Caped Crusader, but it doesn’t have to be. All the best interpretations of Batman have incorporated a sense of gritty realism to the character - even when audiences found him in unrealistic situations - and that’s where the theatrical version failed. Part of it was Ben Affleck’s performance, which paled in comparison to his debut in the otherwise dull Batman v Superman. And the other part were the reshoots, which resulted in a tonally uneven movie.

But with the Snyder Cut, the difference is night and day. Affleck is far more charismatic, and doesn’t come off like a bumbling joke. Also, there’s an extended epilogue that tries digging further into his psyche…but we’ll come to that.

I haven’t got too much to say about Aquaman, because not a whole lot has changed for the better. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a vital character. But whereas giving silly one-liners to Batman was a detriment to his character, the same can’t be said for Arthur Curry. In fact, when I think of him in the theatrical version of Justice League, I remember that slightly amusing scene when he unknowingly sits on the Lasso of Hestia and spills his feelings for Princess Diana. I understand it doesn’t fit the tone of the Snyder Cut, but I do remember enjoying that moment.

Speaking of Princess Diana, one scene that’s rendered obsolete is where Bruce Wayne talks down to her for shutting off from the world for nearly a century after the death of her lover, Steve Trevor. Nowhere is it to be found in the Snyder Cut, and for good reason. Firstly, there’s an introductory scene where Wonder Woman stops a bomber; something that’s executed far more effectively in the new version. The very existence of this bit deprives that heated argument of any sense of logic, as she clearly didn’t turn away from society. And secondly, I think the world’s greatest detective might want to look into the events of the recently-released Wonder Woman 1984…just saying.

Alright, now let’s talk about the Man of Steel. I gotta be honest, I’ve never been a fan of Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman. Nothing against the actor - he definitely looks the part - but he never had much depth to play with. That being said, the way he’s utilized in the Snyder Cut outdoes his previous appearances. Firstly, the altered and additional scene help bring his journey full circle. The words of his Kryptonian father is overheard in the spaceship, and reflected in his actions during the climax. And secondly, the VFX artists didn’t have to re-create his upper lip to get the ride of the mustache that Cavill was forbidden to shave - as part of his commitment to Mission Impossible: Fallout.

VISUAL EFFECTS

Speaking of computer graphics, the design of Steppenwolf is immensely better. No longer does he resemble a character from an outdated video game, and I relaxed into his new look very quickly. One has to commend the visual effects artists, who I imagine had more time and freedom to perfect the look of the creature. But there’re two other elements that I feel compliment the effects: the cinematography and writing.

Whereas the color palette of the theatrical version was bright, it’s more dimmed in the Snyder Cut. This actually helps in making all the creatures look more sinister. Despite being over-lit before, Steppenwolf now feels more real thanks to stellar camerawork and color grading.

Of course, the advanced effects wouldn’t amount to very much had the writing behind Steppenwolf been lacking. I’m not sure if a villain had ever bored me as much as this character in the theatrical version, and it’s really astounding how much of his motivations were left on the cutting room floor. Turns out he really wanted to impress Darkseid! I think we’ve all been at point where we try hard - maybe a little too hard - to impress someone, only to fall flat on our faces. While this extra layer doesn’t make Steppenwolf a bad guy for the ages, it does make him more relatable. And hats off to Ciarán Hinds for the motion capture performance!

ACTION SEQUENCES

If I can’t relate to any of the characters, then I’ll only get bored by the fight scenes. Well, that’s no longer the issue. The writing of the Snyder Cut serves all the principle characters well, and I found myself on the edge of my seat once the battles started.

The final confrontation with Steppenwolf is a highlight. Everyone plays a vital role in taking down their arch-nemesis, and the film never loses sight of character progression whilst the hitting and crashing takes place. The return of Superman is executed far better than in the theatrical version, with Han Zimmer’s score from Man of Steel elevating the epicness.

THE ONE MAJOR MISFIRE

Now, I did mentioned that Zack Snyder’s Justice League isn’t perfect, and here’s the major flaw: the epilogue. If I ever decide to revisit the movie, I’m probably going to stop right after the screen fades to black from the glorious shot of every member of the League standing together. Honestly, the extended sequence with Batman in his Knightmare just doesn’t feel essential to the rest of the movie. It’s obvious Snyder wants to continue telling stories in this cinematic universe; the last 10-15 minutes do set up potential storylines. But given the current circumstances, the Snyderverse may not be restored.

To some extent, I was reminded of the epilogue to The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. Many felt that Peter Jackson’s finale to his epic trilogy had way too many endings, but I didn’t. I thought it was very important to show what exactly the characters fought for. And that scene of Frodo parting ways with his fellow Hobbits only strengthened everything that came before. Well, Justice League isn’t exactly a finale, and I don’t think its epilogue is too important. It doesn’t ruin the rest of the movie, but as a viewer I felt like I was being dragged.

On a final note, let’s address the runtime. Most viewers - both fans and naysayers alike - have expressed the opinion that the new version overall could have been trimmed. Notwithstanding the epilogue, I didn’t feel like it was too long, but I would also argue that it depends on how one chooses to watch Justice League. While the Snyder Cut is a four-hour movie, it’s also divided up into chapters. Therefore, it’s perfectly possible to experience the story as a miniseries, and that’s exactly how I did it; one chapter (or episode, if you will) per day. I imagine I’d feel exhausted if seated for four hours straight, but that’s the beauty of streaming services: being able to view content however one chooses to.