The road and journey that Zack Snyder’s Justice League has undertaken in becoming a reality is nothing short of as mythic and legendary as the heroes it depicts, if not more so.
In early 2017, director Zack Snyder stepped down from Justice League during its post-production, in order to deal with a personal family tragedy along with excessive studio meddling that clashed with his creative authority over the film. The film then saw a massive amount of reshoots and restructuring being undertaken by Joss Whedon (of The Avengers fame) and was released in theaters in November 2017.
A worldwide fan campaign, eventually being joined in by the film’s own cast ensued for almost four years that called for Snyder’s original vision being restored and released.
I am going to be honest, I greatly enjoyed the 2017 theatrical version of the film, having had a fun and memorable experience. However, as it gradually became apparent how far the film deviated and strayed from what Snyder intended the film to be, I began to view the film in a different light.
And now, the fan campaign has borne fruit, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the definitive director’s cut of the film is here in all its glory.
As a piece of pop culture, spectacular entertainment and artistic vision, Zack Snyder’s Justice League stands monumentally tall. Throughout the film, it is abundantly clear to the viewer of Snyder’s singular vision, passion, understanding and respect that he has for the characters and their world.
A presentation of overindulgent and auteur film making in the best possible way, Snyder lays out all of his trademarks before our eyes – slow motion shots to emphasize the action, visual effects with a underlying painterly quality, a striking color palette, a mature tone and picturesque cinematography.
The director lends some new aesthetic touches, such as the division of the story into a prologue, six chapters and an epilogue, along with presenting the film in a 4:3 aspect ratio. The latter element greatly benefits the stylized color palette and compliments the cinematography (by Fabian Wagner), the film being pleasing to look at as a result.
The director crafts the film with a balanced and assured mix of mature perspective and childlike sensibilities, delivering sweeping spectacle, action, and well rounded characters in the process. Personally, it proved to be a fulfilling and escapist experience, akin to the first time I watched Spider-Man or the The Avengers.
As with his previous director cuts of superhero films (Watchmen and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), Snyder’s version of Justice League is long in terms of run time (clocking in at a whopping 4 hours and two minutes). This should not be considered an impediment, as the film never ceases to lose a grasp of your attention, and makes you unaware of how much time has elapsed, rather leaves you desiring more.
The longer running time allows for the story to breathe, be systematically set up, and flows in a far more coherent manner. While the theatrical version prioritized rapidly jumping from one action sequence to another, this film provides a well needed balance between the fast-paced action and quieter moments that propel the story forward.
The director’s cut of the film shares similarity with the previous version in terms of an overarching story, wherein Batman and Wonder Woman, in the wake of Superman’s sacrifice, recruit Aquaman, the Flash and Cyborg in order to fight back against an incoming extraterrestrial attack led by the villainous war general Steppenwolf.
While the underlying storyline is retained and may resemble other superhero films, Snyder’s version of the film packs in tons of narrative elements such as backstories for its diverse characters (including the villain), world building, mythology, cameos, twists, references and set ups for possible future films, along with massive, breath taking sequences. This storytelling effort not only lends gravitas to the film, but distinguishes itself from and elevates it above the current crop of superhero films.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League also boasts of better story arcs and development for its numerous characters, interpersonal dynamics and team building, that is definitely a welcome change, and feels like the Justice League animated show come to life.
The viewer roots for every character through their softer and tender moments, and cheers euphorically when they take the center stage in their respective moments of glory and heroism.
Having received backlash for his films being downbeat in style and tone, Snyder injects humor into the film, but in a way that does not overpower the narrative, is subtle in nature but equally effective (they sure will make you laugh out loud), and feels intrinsic to the story.
Henry Cavill (Superman), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) have proven they can carry their characters expertly. However, the breakout performances are given by Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Ezra Miller as the Flash and Ben Affleck as Batman. While their performances were bland in the 2017 iteration (possibly a product of the troubled production that had plagued that film), their passion and commitment to their characters is unmistakable here.
Fisher and Miller, through their expanded roles give heartfelt, layered and occasionally hilarious performances that makes great use of their characters. They are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in their characters and get their moment to shine.
Affleck’s characterization and performance focuses far more on his human side, and sets out on an arc that cements him as a true leader of the League.
Additionally, the CGI and visual effects are perfectly executed and polished (albeit a bit rough in a few scenes). Props must be given to Snyder, his writing team, and the visual effects department for making the villainous Steppenwolf some depth, motivation, backstory, detailing and an emotional angle in place of a generic villain.
Ciaran Hinds and Jared Leto in their respective roles as Steppenwolf and the Joker get their long overdue redemption and subsequent appreciation for their menacing and chilling performances.
Furthermore, Tom Holkenborg’s diverse and eclectic musical score is pulse-pounding, thrilling and emotionally resonant, setting the stage for and complimenting the film, as well as warranting a listen in isolation.
All in all, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a sweeping, majestic and spectacular superhero epic which is big on stakes, scope and heart. It was well worth the wait, and more than lives up to the hype. The film is a definite win and a treat for fans of Snyder’s work, the DC canon, heroic characters and casual viewers willing to be invested in this world.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 