Whether you enjoyed the Joss Whedon-butchered Justice League or not, most people could agree on one thing: it just didn’t make sense. So much of Zack Snyder’s story had been ripped from the narrative to ensure it was a palatable feature at under two hours, that almost everybody left the cinema scratching their heads at what they had just witnessed.
Admittedly, I was a bit of an apologist for the film when it did release. When I put my critic’s hat on, I try to find the beauty in everything, no matter how much it may have been slated beforehand. I stand by 2017’s Justice League being a perfectly watchable flick and one I would have, at the time, enjoyed again. But after sitting down for four hours of comic book fan service, through Zack Snyder’s Justice League, I think we can all safely say the original director’s vision blows Whedon completely out of the water.
Gone are the sexist jokes made at Wonder Woman’s (Gal Gadot) expense. There’s no silly comments from our grizzled Batman (Ben Affleck) about Aquaman (Jason Momoa) being able to speak to fish. We don’t open the movie with kids chatting to Superman (Henry Cavill) and filming it all on Snapchat and, both The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) are given ample opportunity to breathe, rather than simply being shoehorned in as part of the squad.
Oh and our main villain? Completely overhauled. Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) no longer looks like a weak grunt, but a genuine badass. We even get to see his motivations for wanting to destroy planet Earth; it’s for the villainous leader Darkseid (Ray Porter) who has banished him from his home planet of Apokolips, only considering allowing his return if he can discover the Anti-Life Equation.
Narrative twists and turns that all link together to actually make sense? How spoilt we are!
Many critics have had a hard-on for throwing negativity at Snyder over the past decade or so and, as someone who came into this world confused at the vitriol sent his way, it was quite a strange sight to behold. Now, seeing the director celebrated for arguably his most iconic piece of art? It just feels right. If he’s ever wanted to feel justified, I imagine that now is his moment.
This Snyder Cut is chaotic. It’s bombastic and maniacal. There isn’t a single scene that made it to the filmmaker’s release that has been included without clear, unabashed passion; he loves his job, he loves his Justice League storyline and he loves these characters. Snyder has read the source material and used it to shape his vision and for that, he has to be celebrated.
Combining all of that with a stunning score that amplifies the most dramatic moments and stunning battle sequences - that aren’t torn apart to fill a minute or two, but are instead allowed the space to claim the spotlight for a lengthy period - makes for an absolutely beautiful final product.
Whilst those who are coming in without any comic book knowledge will likely be just as confused as newcomers were in 2017, this is a movie made for the fans and for them, it’s an essential watch.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is available to watch now on Sky Cinema and NOW.
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