Well, it’s real. After years of endless speculation of its very existence, Zack Snyder’s director’s cut of the much-maligned Justice League is finally here. Was it worth the wait? Yes, and no.
Like most director’s cuts, it’s a good news, bad news kind situation. For every marked improvement on the original (and to be fair, there are a few), there is at least one glaring omission or superfluous addition to make you furrow your brow and wonder, “Was this cut really necessary”? That said, I like Zack’s movies and I’m glad from a filmmaker’s perspective that he was able to have his vision finally realized.
Most director’s cuts are overlong to begin with, but Zack Snyder’s Justice League clocks in at a whopping four hours. What’s strange is that the first two acts (or first four parts, as it is broken up into six parts and one epilogue) are strong. The changes are minor, and the additions help to flesh out the characters (mostly Cyborg). While most of the early stuff is merely cosmetic (the villain, Steppenwolf has been given a CGI upgrade), there are moments where you have to wonder what the heck Snyder was thinking. There’s a surprisingly tender scene between Ma Kent and Lois Lane that is genuinely moving, but it’s almost immediately undone by a surprise reveal that… well, I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s fucking dumb.
The third act sees the most changes, most of which are for the worse. The final battle feels a lot more condensed and lackluster compared to the original. Plus, the return of everyone’s favorite Man of Steel isn’t as much fun as the theatrical version. (Although this time he’s sporting a nifty black suit.) Also, some of my favorite bits from the theatrical are totally missing. I loved all the banter between the heroes in the Batjet (especially Aquaman’s confession to Wonder Woman), all of which are absent here. Strangely, the most cringe-inducing thing is still present. Of course, I’m referring to Aquaman saying “My man!” to Cyborg. I would’ve thought that was a Whedon moment, but I was apparently wrong. (Oh, and Aquaman is an even bigger Debbie Downer in this incarnation.)
Even the great stinger at the end, the race between Flash and Superman is missing. In its place is a befuddling dream sequence set in a post-apocalyptic future that sees heroes and villains teaming up to face… someone I won’t spoil. It’s just so out of left field that feels out of place with the rest of the movie.
While the original film suffered from a whiplash in tone (due to Whedon’s reshoots), this one is more consistent throughout. The thing I have always admired about Snyder’s DC movies is that he gives the heroes their proper mythic status. Frank Miller always said, “Marvel is folklore. DC is myth”, and Snyder gets that. His battles are epic, and there’s nothing less than the fate of the world in the balance whenever the heroes are squaring off against the baddie and his minions. He gives the characters a world to inhabit that has real size and scope and treats his heroes with reverence and respect that few filmmakers working in the genre have. (He also gives Wonder Woman more moments to shine here and in Batman v Superman than she had in either of her solo outings.) I mean, there’s one new sequence that involves a giant ancient intergalactic battle that features Amazon women, Green Lanterns, and motherfuckin’ Zeus battling aliens that is exactly the kind of WTF flourish that makes this version well-worth seeing.
I have to say that while I am glad Zack got his moment in the sun to show the world his true vision, it ultimately pales next to Man of Steel and BVS. Those films had an emotional core that this one lacks. That’s mostly due to the fact that Superman, the heart of the DC Extended Universe, is largely absent from the proceedings. (I believe it’s called “Search for Spock Syndrome”.) Unfortunately, once he finally shows up, the movie really doesn’t know what to do with him (especially in this version).
So, I’m probably in the minority on this one, but I prefer the original to the director’s cut. It may be a bit of a mess, but it’s an overall tighter picture (and is a lot easier on the bladder). That really isn’t a surprise as I can’t think of many director’s cuts that improve on the original versions. However, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is bigger, bolder, and more filmmaker-driven than anything Marvel has given us, so for that, it’s worthwhile.
In this Snyder Cut all the questions that the Theatrical Cut did not give are answered, digging into the background of the characters and giving valid reasons where it seemed everything was thrown into turmoil and even randomly placed; moreover; the full potential of Snyder's direction is expressed through his unique and particular shots, also implementing and improving both CGI and cinematography, which are the perfect accompaniment to the director's vision. The four hours of the Snyder Cut with i find out on PortalulTauTV.net , are nothing more than a blaze of beauty towards these heroes, where with the old release seemed all too strange that they (production & co.) had offered so little from such a talented and resourceful director.
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