Film: Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Cast: Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jared Leto, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, JK Simmons, Ray Porter and Robin Wright
Director: Zack Snyder
OTT: HBO Max
Rating: 3.5 Moons
After the entire fan campaigning and all the reshoots, the ‘Snyder Cut’ of Justice League was released on HBO Max. Zack Snyder’s Justice League got our favourite superheroes in one place but is an indulgent endurance test at four hours runtime, but you can’t blame the makers if that was what was intentioned from day 1. The film has gained massive reception than the original theatrical version directed by Joss Whedon.
Zack Snyder’s version harps a lot on death and is a dedication to the daughter he lost. “For Autumn,” reads the dedication at roughly the four-hour mark — it’s Snyder’s tribute to his daughter. Nearly every central character in the film is coping with the loss of a loved one; it is the unspoken and personal grief that binds them together. However, the newer version is not only bigger than the 2017 version but is better too. Check out what the critics have to say about the film:
Deadline’s Todd McCarthy wrote, “For all its longueurs, Zack Snyder’s Justice League possesses its own kind of integrity. The possessive nomenclature of the title is deserved. I’m glad the clamorous fanboys agitated and made enough noise to see their dreams come true.”
Black Girl Nerds’ Jamie Broadnax wrote, “The extended cut is ultimately a setup for future films. And could arguably be said that it’s just one 4-hour long commercial.”
San Francisco Chronicle’s Mick LaSalle wrote, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League may not be a great film, but it has the madness, strangeness and obsessiveness of a real work of art.”
Movie Nation’s Roger Moore was not impressed. He wrote, “A “movie” that’s a lot closer to “content” than to cinematic art, or even a movie that inspires, thrills, touches or moves.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s John DeFore was even less taken by the movie. He wrote, “Even a good superhero flick (and this definitely isn’t) shouldn’t be this long.”
Mashable’s Angie Han wrote, “It finally becomes possible to see Justice League for the grand epic it was meant to be.”
Shakefire’s Matt Rodriguez wrote, “Snyder’s version is a better film, yes, but it’s no Superman swooping in at the last minute to save the day either… (it) isn’t immensely better.”
Polygon’s Joshua Rivera wrote, “Yes, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is better than the theatrical cut of the film. Just about anything would have been. But the new edit also isn’t quite a movie.”
Uproxx’s Mike Ryan wrote, “My mindset on this movie has changed from “a disaster” to “a competently made, interesting misfire.”
Entertainment Weekly’s Darren Franich wrote, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League is just another bad Justice League.”
Forbes’ Scott Mendelson wrote, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League is mostly the same 118-minute movie but with two hours of deleted scenes and poor pacing.
Polygon’s Joshua Rivera hailed Cyborg and wrote, “Snyder’s priority is in giving each character time to look cool as hell, but not necessarily in making the audience like them any more — except for Cyborg.”
ComicBook Debate’s Sheraz Farooqi wrote, “Far and away, Cyborg (is) the best part of Zack Snyder’s Justice League.”
PeepingMoon.com gives Zack Snyder’s Justice League 3.5 Moons.
