Warning: Spoilers!
The Justice League / Picture Credit: Warner Bros. Ent and DC
The Snyder cut of Justice League was something that fans begged for after we were served the atrocity that was Joss Whedon’s 2017 version of the same film.
To call them the same is edging on an insult, however, as director Zack Snyder clearly had such stunning visions for the roster of heroes, while Whedon was more focused on slightly sexist jokes and simply terrible one-liners from the Caped Crusader.
The 2017 version was a mess for many reasons, but mainly due to the fact that Snyder had to drop out as his daughter had passed away. So, Whedon took over… that was the beginning of the end.
However, when Snyder finally announced his return at the helm of Justice League’s rescue, fans were overjoyed as they realised their obsessive niggling at Warner Bros. had paid off.
Whedon’s film followed Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Batman (Ben Affleck), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Aquaman (Jason Mamoa), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) as they try to save the world from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) as he plans to take it over. His villainous reasoning? Just because.
However, Snyder took this and changed it for the better, as now Steppenwolf doesn’t want to take over Earth simply because he’s evil – he wants to prove himself to Darkseid (Ray Porter).
Darkseid is a fantastic addition to this movie, as he is essentially pulling Steppenwolf’s strings – something badly missed from the 2017 version.
Steppenwolf's design has also changed in the best way - he no longer looks like he's wearing a toin foil suit; he looks mean, cruel and actually threatening. He looks like he could deal some damage and really does well as a villain this time.
Perhaps the best thing Snyder has done for the characters is give them life.
Snyder brought so much background to the characters, in which we saw Wonder Woman’s homeland fight a hell of a lot more for their survival when Steppenwolf attacked it, we saw Cyborg before his accident, and The Flash had his own issues while job-hunting as Barry Allen.
Just these examples made the film stronger than it was before. Seeing these characters, especially Victor Stone (Cyborg) and Barry Allen, was phenomenal as they were less of an afterthought this time.
Everything fits together in Snyder’s world; no more digs at Aquaman from Bruce Wayne (Batman) about whether or not he can talk to fish and no more comedy where it simply doesn’t belong.
Every character now has a purpose, a reason to band together and stop Steppenwolf; and all of them have a reason to bring him back. The world needed Superman (Henry Cavill), so that’s what we got.
The scene in which the team resurrect Clark Kent (Superman) has so much more meaning now, as we see Lois Lane’s (Amy Adams) grief grip her a lot more. We see her in genuine pain as she cannot sleep, and the once hell-bent reporter who would stop at nothing for a story, doesn’t even go into work anymore.
The colour palette has been fixed, the dialogue now has courage and a sense of direction, and every single frame has a reason to show itself. Nothing in this film is unnecessary; not even the almost four-hour run time.
From Barry’s hilarious attitude and nervous demeanor, to Bruce’s more dominant persona, we see the changes in these people; they’re not just characters anymore.
This is how we’re meant to see the Justice League. Explained properly, weaknesses are shown on par with their strengths, and it cannot be said enough that Snyder has delivered something exceptional, and something genuinely special as the plot remains the same as the 2017 film, but its just so vastly different.
Each change is for the better; there is now music that sets up and shrouds the scenes in disbelief, sadness, a will to see the characters succeed… there is a base purpose for everything we see and hear.
Not only was music an addition Whedon didn’t really have, but the cinematography for this movie is out of this world. At almost any point, you could pause the story and get a fantastic shot.
This film was not just released for the sake of hitting a deadline; it was made for the fans, and it’s almost unreal that we got this version after the abomination in 2017.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a thing of beauty, to put it plainly. It is bold, dramatic, chaotic; he and everyone else that worked on this should hold their heads up high and be able to say that they have made one of the greatest comic book films ever.
Praise for Snyder’s ambition and drive doesn’t go high enough, and what he has produced is nothing short of phenomenal. It has absolutely everything we needed, and he makes it easier to care for the characters and the plot; something Whedon couldn’t really get anyone to do.
This film is a must-see for any DC fan, and for anyone who wants redemption for DC’s finest team of heroes.
Zack Snyder's Justice League is available to watch now on NOW TV and HBO Max!
Written by Melissa, who you can follow in Twitter @melissajournal
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