ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE – Review

By Movie Geeks | March 17, 2021

By Marc Butterfield

ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE is finally being released and is one of the rare projects that can be said to live up to the hype. This is more than just a “few added scenes.” With a run time of just over four hours, it presents the most complete saga than could have been done in a 2 hour theatrical release, and it is the true vision of Zack Snyder’s, not the watered-down joke fest that we were fed after the Snyders left the project. To be perfectly clear, Joss Whedon’s version of the JUSTICE LEAGUE was not terrible, but it was very obvious that the original movie release was tonally bipolar, at times light hearted, at times darker and far more serious. Thanks to the fans (nay, MEGA fans) that put in the time, promotion, and had the tenacity to keep pushing for Snyder’s version, we got a more refined, purer film, tonally consistent, with questions answered, and no silly asides.

Told in six parts, with an extended epilogue, the movie is just, well…great. Darkseid is the big bad in this movie, and Steppenwolf is shown to be more of a simpering neophyte than a star faring conqueror, and it is explained why there was never another return after that humiliating defeat that was suffered in the original assault on Earth.

Bruce Wayne/Batman (played by Ben Affleck, bringing every bit of his talent to this version, making you really believe he would spend all of his time and no small amount of his resources to put this team together) questing to find others that have abilities is still the quest in the film, but in each character we get a lot more backstory. We get their lives showcased, and their motivations explained, making their reasons for resisting this effort more clear, and their reasons for joining more logical. Jeremy Irons as Alfred has about the same amount of screen time, but he seems even more like an advisor and partner than he did previously. We see Cyborg as not just some angry, brooding robot-man who didn’t seem to bring anything else to the team originally, but as the key to stopping Steppenwolf from opening the door for an alien invasion that would have been unstoppable, even by the League. Flash can be seen more as a man who does what needs to be done, not as a cowardly lion. His abilities are shown as being more than just a “guy who runs fast”. Much, much more. Wonder Woman’s opening and introduction in this movie also makes more sense, giving context to the event, and showing that she has at least one ability that had not previously been seen.

We get a host of other characters that will feed fans hunger for more, but also leave you wishing that this movie wasn’t a one and done, but just the beginning that it was originally planned to be. The Martian Manhunter, who by now everyone who has had an even passing interest in the film has known about, is truly the Manhunter any fanboy/fangirl would have wanted… there just wasn’t enough of him, and you understand why in the end.

The epilogue is not your standard post-credits teaser, since you know that there will be no further offering in this world. Deathstroke’s original appearance has more mileage, and Jared Leto’s Joker is more Jokery than before. You get the feeling that whatever reason Batman has for including him, it must be pretty important, because just watching this, you find yourself wondering why nobody has killed him yet, while wishing you could get a Deathstroke movie. Some of the points shown in the dream/nightmare sequence raise questions, but you’re left with the feeling that this was the point; Not just to feed your hunger, but to tease your appetite.

The time taken to flesh each of these characters out is well spent, and the side characters are seen as what they truly are, which is the motivation and saving grace of some otherwise truly broken or incomplete individuals. Except Superman, of course, because he has a completely different set of issues to deal with, not the least of which is shaking off his resurrection.

All of this is done with respect to the original material. Darkseid is the original dark god, with no purer motivations than complete domination of the multiverse, breaking the free will of all living things so that their only need in existence is to serve him and live and die at his whim. No redeeming qualities at all, and an army built larger with each of his previous conquests in to possibly billions of Parademons, and his lieutenants (DeSaad, Granny Goodness, and the aforementioned Steppenwolf) who live only to serve and put Darkseid’s plans into motion. 

Snyder gives us the film we always wanted from him in the DCEU. This is said out of respect, not as a fan. There are to be no follow up, no sequels, so what you get here is all that you’re going to get. Even Snyder has said that this is it.

Aquaman will get another film, as will the Flash, but there will be no more of Cavill’s Superman, or Affleck’s Batman, Gadot may or may not get a third movie after the poor offering of WONDER WOMAN 1984, and Fisher’s Cyborg solo movie was cancelled a while back, which is a shame, since he took a character that should have remained in a supporting role, and made it in to one that you really wind up caring about, and who delivers despite the tragedy that he faced in the film. DC/Warner Brothers should probably reconsider, but probably won’t.

The film is long, but never feels long. After two viewings already, it still feels like more could be enjoyed by possibly a third or fourth watch. Yes, it’s that good.

The score from Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL, brings the film and earth’s defenders to new heights and the cues are soaring.

Get your popcorn, soda, and comfy chair, and if you love DC Superheroes and the Justice League, ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE is your film. 

4 out of 4 Stars

The feature film debuts this Thursday, March 18 on HBO Max.

Photographs by Courtesy of HBO Max