This Zack Snyder’s Justice League review may contain minor spoilers
Zack Snyder’s cut of 2017’s Justice League seemed like it would never happen. In fact, it seemed nigh on impossible. But after years of crossed fingers from Snyder loyalists, Warner Bros. finally caved and last week released Snyder’s lengthy but simply awesome cut of Justice League. It isn’t without flaws, but it’s fantastic to finally see the much-maligned DC team-up extravaganza in its originally intended form. And, frankly, it gives The Avengers a run for its money.
Recently, I have suffered from superhero burnout. Movies and TV shows from both Marvel and DC have been pretty much non-stop for the last decade and a half. As a result, it is difficult for me to get excited about anything from this crowded and abundant genre. WandaVision caught my attention because of its wonderfully unique concept – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. On the other hand, Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League didn’t entice me with a unique concept but in the circumstances of its production and release.
Joss Whedon’s theatrical version was a resounding disappointment. I didn’t like it. A tone inconsistent with the rest of the DCEU, underdeveloped characters, and Henry Cavill’s awful CGI moustache removal left a sour taste in the mouth of DC fans everywhere. If there was ever a film that had been produced to tick all the boxes on a studio’s checklist (to its own detriment) it was Justice League. It seemed to have been made purely out of the desire to create a franchise to rival The Avengers. The film’s oddly short runtime and poorly developed characters created a sense of emptiness around a slap-dash makeshift team.
Right off the bat, the tone of Snyder’s cut is darker and more consistent with the grim vibe of earlier films in the DCEU. And that can only be a good thing. DC is known for its gritty heroes and psychologically complex villains – it isn’t Marvel and shouldn’t try to be. The more lighthearted approach Whedon took with his theatrical version placed Justice League in an impossible position – it didn’t stand out as its own thing nor did it succeed as an Avengers rip-off. It was just in this awkward middle ground of borderline irrelevance. So, thank god Snyder’s film has its own identity – the corny jokes are no more!
The darker tone isn’t the only change Snyder made. Notably, the run time is a staggering 4 hours. That’s a slog for any viewer, so a film has to do incredibly well to hold your attention over such a drawn out period. Somehow, despite my initial doubts, Snyder’s Justice League just about manages it. It takes a long time to get going, and some of those revised opening scenes don’t feel entirely consequential, but when it does it had me gripped. I was never bored, and that’s a real achievement over 4 hours. More than anything, the extended run time makes room for more detailed (and much needed!) introductions to lesser known heroes – Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller). Neither got a movie of their own prior to Justice League, so their inclusion in Whedon’s original cut, with only abridged introductions, felt forced. Here, they’re fleshed out, fully-formed characters. With his tragic backstory, Cyborg benefits from this the most, and actually became my favourite member of the Justice League by the end of Snyder’s cut. Ray Fisher deserves credit for his excellent portrayal of the character here, too.
Without delving into spoiler territory, Snyder makes numerous plot changes as well. Overall, the film benefits from them. Darkseid plays a much larger role here as secret overlord pulling the strings, while Steppenwolf gets a bit of a demotion (and a cool redesign) while remaining a credible threat. It makes for an engaging dynamic between the film’s villains. Elsewhere, there are whole scenes and characters that are added, removed, reduced or expanded when compared to the theatrical cut, and the whole thing feels more exciting, intense and logical. The widely publicised debut of Superman’s black suit is also a welcome addition and makes for an awesome visual.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is going to satisfy every fan who clamoured for its release. From the additional backstories and expanded action sequences to The Joker’s (Jared Leto) cameo and the film’s generally grimmer tone, the whole thing works in a way that Joss Whedon’s version just didn’t. Snyder’s cut isn’t just a “director’s cut”, it’s its own movie and bears little resemblance to the original 2017 theatrical release. The real shame here is that it will likely never get a sequel despite a compelling setup for one. After this, I’d love to see it – and maybe, just maybe, it might happen. Ultimately, Snyder’s cut proves there is competition for The Avengers, after all.
Overall rating: 9/10
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is now available to stream on NowTV in the UK and HBO Max in the US.
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Featured image credit: Warner Bros. / DC
