Zack Snyder really looked at his chips and said, “double or nothing”. With twice the amount of run time, familiar characterisation and everybody’s favourite fan-service, this new cut of the infamous Justice League is ripe for anyone’s enjoyment. The 2017 cut was embarrassingly shallow and wrapped in tonal shifts that caused a mental whiplash, leaving it anyone’s guess to how it could be saved by another cut. Sure, the new runtime is a lot to ask from any viewer, but it’s somewhat earned for the depth and ideas Snyder has built for this hero team. It’s great to see the initially missed potential of characters such as Cyborg, Steppenwolf and Superman to be realised and played out with a lot more care. The characterisation in Snyder’s version is more natural, fleshed out and focuses on building the audience’s understanding and endearment to the team. Our eyes are given a treat too, with slick 4:3 framing showing off every expensive visual and detailed set. None of the action spectacles let up or tank any of the character and story pacing that surrounds them. This release is also a real triumph for the future of streaming service films. There is no way a movie of this length would work in theatres, but the steady rise of streaming has made longer and bigger projects more accessible to audiences at home. And with the first, of hopefully many, being a fun hero romp? The future is bright for sure.
“Seven out of ten, but it’s missing a mention of society.”
