DOING JUSTICE TO THE JUSTICE LEAGUE?
Movie Review – Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Review by Ray Schillaci
I had to go back to the “Snyder Cut” to see if I was missing something after a few respected friends touted the film as a work of art. But, after a re-watch I still felt the same. Zack Snyder’s Justice League is exactly what the title tells you, his now overused signature; an abundance of slow motion and close-up shots, over-the-top action and melodramatics that reach operatic heights. Oh and by the way, it runs an excessive four very long hours and two minutes.
Kinda like watching longer versions of 300 and Sucker Punch. Yes, it has a little more in the story department than those previous films and Snyder’s film is a DC fanboys wet dream. But, it’s also enough to chase away those that are worn down by the deluge of superhero films.
I enjoyed the theatrical version after being assaulted with Snyder’s Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. I ranked it somewhere between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. I know that may not be saying much, but there was a lightness to it compared to Snyder’s fondness for the dark and gloomy.
Is the Snyder cut of Justice League any better? Well, there was room for improvement over the theatrical cut or the Joss Whedon cut as some have come to call it. Snyder and his one credited writer, Chris Terrio, do some improvements with fleshing out some of the heroes and more explanation of the mother boxes.
That last part mentioned in itself has an all out Lord of the Rings feel with a monolithic battle and Snyder has the audacity to lift from Tolkien by having the three mother boxes being divided and hidden among separate tribes: Man, Atlantean and Amazons. Unfortunately, there is plenty of fat that could still be trimmed off this graphic novel of a movie.
Scenes that bear no strength at all: backstories or flashbacks brought to the forefront for explanation, Lois Lane forlorn in the pangs of grief, Martha Kent appearing to have given up her dreams, The Flash saving a future girlfriend, and an unnecessary, ridiculously, too long nightmare sequence. A few of the superheroes even get their own irritating music video introduction. Then there are the exhaustive scenes that are just a tool to introduce a new character for a possible spin-off/sequel. If you don’t take a break between the six acts, yes SIX, you’ll feel like you’re slogging along to get to the next battle sequence.
Speaking of battles, Snyder has made them far beefier. Emphasizing the action with either intercutting slo-mo or sped up shots which can be annoying at times. Each duel between these gods appears to be more spectacular than the theatrical cut. The Flash is an actual superhero rather than a scared kid in this JL deviation. We come to understand Cyborg more and Snyder’s given Steppenwolf a purpose.
We get an introduction to a new villain, Steppenwolf’s boss, Darkseid. There are those that may think that Darkseid resembles Thanos, but the DC villain was created first by Jack Kirby. Some characters even don better outfits: Steppenwolf, Cyborg, The Flash and Superman finally gets his black suit that fans have been crying out for.
But, these improvements are dwarfed by Snyder’s attempt of making a mythic spectacular that may have less dialogue than his sword and sandal epic 300. That movie introduced the audience to a new look that captured the eye even though it came with minimally written characters and a scant storyline. Snyder delivers eye-candy and even less heart with his Justice League.
To add insult to injury, he’s insisted on an aspect ratio of 4:3 (a box-like shaped screen) instead of the common 16:9 while sabotaging his own grandiose vision. Snyder missed the boat on this decision. He claims it is his own artistic vision. What? Is the audience to surmise that they’re seeing everything through the mother boxes themselves? If so, that is both bothersome and ridiculous.
The decision makes no sense when dealing with a film about gods. It’s as if he’s just hammering out a statement that is simply shallow in its telling unlike Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse or the indie fave First Cow. The aspect ratio made sense with those films. Snyder’s decision to go with 4:3 limits the marvels he has set forth to display.
Is Zack Snyder’s Justice League a fun watch? Not exactly, and that’s where it becomes all his. Snyder’s intention was never to entertain us. It’s a rather dour affair, heavy in its angst and extremely loud in its glory. There are a few entertaining moments that lighten the load, but not enough to just sit back and enjoy the hours of film laid out.
Did Snyder even get close to the heights of the Marvel franchise? Somehow the director delivers so much melodrama and visuals he misses the actual point of what makes a superhero great – tighter storyline and deeper characterizations. We care about Marvel’s roster of heroes, but what DC has handed us is capes and clobbers.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is an oddity of talent and visuals that can be pleasing to the eye at times, but remains hollow at its core. We have no vested interest in any of the characters, not even the villains. It is more comic book-like as if the pages of a graphic novel have been lifted to the big screen. That could be the attraction to fans of DC art and Snyder. Marvel raised the bar from the beginning with Iron Man and only improved upon it over the years while DC rushed to establish their brand with little time to nurture its audience.
When it comes right down to it, you have to decide if you want to invest the time in checking out the Snyder cut. The film is available in six parts on HBO Max. One could easily watch a couple of parts a night like a limited series and decide if its worth hanging with it all the way through. You may even find comparisons to 300 and Sucker Punch…and that’s kind of a backhanded compliment. Personally, I stopped watching after Chapter 3 and waited a couple nights before I finished. Was it worth it? Let’s just say it satisfied my curiosity.
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Release Date: March 18, 2021
Run Time: 242 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: USA/UK
Distributor: Warner Brothers
