3.5 out of 5 stars (Above Average)
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is an extended cut of the largely unmemorable DC team-up film from 2017. Split into parts, this version restores director Zack Snyder’s original vision and ends the story in stirring fashion. Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a flawed but surprisingly enjoyable finale that should satisfy fans and potentially win skeptics.
Following the death of Superman (Henry Cavill) in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman (Ben Affleck finally disappearing into the caped crusader) assembles a team of superhumans to stop Steppenwolf (Voiced by Ciaran Hinds), an alien seeking Earth’s destruction. Can the combined forces of Batman, Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) vanquish the villain and save mankind?
I experienced a feeling watching Zack Snyder’s Justice League I hadn’t from any of his previous DC films: fun. The tone is still serious, but the filmmakers have wisely embraced full-on campiness. Chris Terrio’s screenplay injects plenty of levity to balance out the darkness, and most of the performances are good (Yes, even Batfleck). The action is epic, the character interactions and development are solid, and the climax satisfies.
Now for flaws: Ezra Miller’s lack of comic timing worries me for his 2022 Flash movie, but he’s decent in dramatic scenes. Steppenwolf’s CGI is unconvincing, the song choices are jarring, and the epilogue does so much heavy sequel baiting I almost fell off my bed laughing. DC’s movies improved when they stopped trying to exist in an interconnected universe, so I’m up for solo movies about these heroes so long as they work on their own.
Despite a protracted first act and questionable epilogue, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a satisfying finale with action, humor, and some solid character work that gives its director justice. See it on HBOMax.
Rated R for Violence (gory battle scenes) and Some Language (3 needless F-bombs).