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Zack Snyder's Justice League
Zack Snyder's Justice League

8.1

Zack Snyder's Justice League

R·2021·242m

Summary

Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.

Cast

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck

Batman / Bruce Wayne

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill

Superman / Clark Kent

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot

Wonder Woman / Diana Prince

Ray Fisher

Ray Fisher

Cyborg / Victor Stone

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa

Aquaman / Arthur Curry

Ezra Miller

Ezra Miller

The Flash / Barry Allen

Ciarán Hinds

Ciarán Hinds

Steppenwolf (voice)

Amy Adams

Amy Adams

Lois Lane

Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe

Vulko

Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons

Alfred

Jesse Eisenberg

Jesse Eisenberg

Lex Luthor

Diane Lane

Diane Lane

Martha Kent

Connie Nielsen

Connie Nielsen

Queen Hippolyta

J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons

Commissioner Gordon

Ryan Zheng Kai

Ryan Zheng Kai

Ryan Choi

Amber Heard

Amber Heard

Mera

Joe Morton

Joe Morton

Silas Stone

Lisa Loven Kongsli

Lisa Loven Kongsli

Menalippe

David Thewlis

David Thewlis

Ares

Ann Ogbomo

Ann Ogbomo

Philippus

Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir

Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir

Young Icelandic Woman

Björt Sigfinnsdóttir

Björt Sigfinnsdóttir

Young Icelandic Woman

Salome R. Gunnarsdottir

Salome R. Gunnarsdottir

Singing Icelandic Woman

Kristbjörg Kjeld

Kristbjörg Kjeld

Old Icelandic Woman

Ingvar E. Sigurðsson

Ingvar E. Sigurðsson

Mayor

Védís Vífilsdóttir

Icelandic Child (Girl)

Snæfríður Rán Aðalsteins

Icelandic Child (Girl)

Marc McClure

Marc McClure

Jerry

Michael McElhatton

Michael McElhatton

Black Clad Alpha

John Dagleish

John Dagleish

Black Clad Beta

Charlotte Comer

Charlotte Comer

School Chaperone

Lara Decaro

Lara Decaro

School Girl

Serene Angus

School Girl's Friend

Anna Burgess

Anna Burgess

School Girl's Friend

Mia Burgess

School Girl's Friend

Alison Chang

Alison Chang

School Girl's Friend

Constance Bole

School Girl's Friend

Shahla Ayamah

School Girl's Friend

Chris Courtenay

Chris Courtenay

Old Bailey Judge

Heather Imbeah

Heather Imbeah

Old Bailey Clerk

Carla Turner

School Teacher

Grace Cookey-Gam

Grace Cookey-Gam

Old Bailey Lawyer

Matthew Bates

Matthew Bates

Old Bailey Hostage

Gary Reimer

Gary Reimer

Task Force Sniper

Robbie Gee

Robbie Gee

Task Force Lead

Jim Sturgeon

Jim Sturgeon

Task Force Deputy

Doutzen Kroes

Doutzen Kroes

Venelia

Eleanor Matsuura

Eleanor Matsuura

Epone

Samantha Win

Samantha Win

Euboea

Brooke Ence

Brooke Ence

Penthiselea

Anthony Wise

Anthony Wise

Howard the Janitor

Jérôme Pradon

Jérôme Pradon

Louvre Conservationist

Richard Clifford

Richard Clifford

French Archaeologist

Rebecca C. Perfect

Rebecca C. Perfect

News Reporter at Isle of Crete

Vincent Riotta

Vincent Riotta

CID Chief Detective

Edward Mitchell

Edward Mitchell

CID Officer

Mark Arnold

Mark Arnold

Containment Centre Scientist

Martin Troakes

Martin Troakes

Welsh Tavern Barkeep

Peter Guinness

Peter Guinness

DeSaad (voice)

Sergi Constance

Zeus

Aurore Lauzeral

Aurore Lauzeral

Artemis

Julian Lewis Jones

Julian Lewis Jones

Ancient Atlantean King

Ray Porter

Ray Porter

Darkseid (voice)

Francis Magee

Francis Magee

Ancient King of Men

Hari James

Hari James

Antiope's Crew

Kiersey Clemons

Kiersey Clemons

Iris West

Lucy Briers

Lucy Briers

Dog Day Care Owner

David Mara

Produce Truck Driver

Wil Coban

Wil Coban

Tortured Atlantean Soldier

Stewart Alexander

Stewart Alexander

College Dean

Karen Bryson

Karen Bryson

Elinore Stone

Christy Meyer

Christy Meyer

Emergency Room Doctor

C. Amanda Maud

C. Amanda Maud

Waitress

Granville Saxton

Granville Saxton

Homeless Man

Gianpiero Cognoli

Gianpiero Cognoli

Central City Prison Guard

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Detective Crispus Allen

Kevin Mathurin

Kevin Mathurin

Sketch Witness

Joyce Veheary

Joyce Veheary

Gotham Cop

Taylor James

Taylor James

Atlantean Military Messenger

Hadrian Howard

Hadrian Howard

Atlantean General

Victor Gardener

Victor Gardener

Atlantean General #2

Bruce Chong

Bruce Chong

Atlantean General #3

Orion Lee

Orion Lee

Star Labs Scientist

Oliver Gatz

Oliver Gatz

Star Labs Scientist

Rachel Blenkiron

Star Labs Scientist

Lynne Anne Rodgers

Lynne Anne Rodgers

Star Labs Cleaning Staff

Oliver Powell

Oliver Powell

Star Labs Cleaning Staff

Kelly Burke

Kelly Burke

Air Force Security

Keith Simpson

Air Force Security

Omri Rose

Omri Rose

Moonsuit Soldier

Harry Lennix

Harry Lennix

General Calvin Swanwick / Martian Manhunter

Will Austin

Will Austin

MP Guard

William Atkinson

Military Police

Sam Benjamin

Sam Benjamin

Military Police

Shalini Peiris

Shalini Peiris

Bio Hazard Suit Soldier

Carla Gugino

Carla Gugino

Ship Voice (voice)

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe

Jor-El (voice)

Adam Forman

Pickup Truck Driver

Peter Brooke

Peter Brooke

Defense Department Official

Peter Henderson

Peter Henderson

Bald Inmate

Bruce Lester-Johnson

Bruce Lester-Johnson

Prison Guard

Katia Elizarova

Katia Elizarova

Lex's Guard

Gemma Refoufi

Gemma Refoufi

Lex's Guard

Leila Reid

Leila Reid

Lex's Guard

Suan-Li Ong

Suan-Li Ong

Lex's Guard

Tina Balthazar

Lex's Guard

Penny Lane

Penny Lane

Lex's Guard

Jared Leto

Jared Leto

The Joker

Stephanie Haymes-Roven

Stephanie Haymes-Roven

Amazon Cavalry General

Gary A. Hecker

Gary A. Hecker

Creature Vocals (voice)

Steve West

Steve West

MoBo Priest

Laura Waddell

Laura Waddell

MoBo Priest #2

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

Jonathan Kent (voice) (uncredited)

Swaylee Loughnane

Swaylee Loughnane

Cop (uncredited)

Robin Wright

Robin Wright

Antiope (uncredited)

Billy Crudup

Billy Crudup

Henry Allen (uncredited)

Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder

Man in Coffee Shop (uncredited)

Clem So

Clem So

Armies of Men Mongolian Warlord (uncredited)

Greg Draven

Greg Draven

Viking (uncredited)

Joe Manganiello

Joe Manganiello

Slade Wilson / Deathstroke (uncredited)

Nick McKinless

Nick McKinless

Ares Body Double (uncredited)

Craig Douglas

Craig Douglas

Policeman London (Uncredited)

Tineke Ann Robson

Tineke Ann Robson

Amazonian Warrior (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Story

Zack Snyder

Characters

Bob Kane

Characters

Jack Kirby

Characters

Jerry Siegel

Characters

Joe Shuster

Characters

Bill Finger

Characters

William Moulton Marston

Characters

Gardner Fox

Screenplay, Story

Chris Terrio

Story

Will Beall

Reviews

m

msbreviews

March 15, 2021

7

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After years of outstanding effort from passionate fans, Warner Bros. finally decided to give Zack Snyder the opportunity to finish his movie on his own terms. 2017's Justice League went through massive production issues - explained in my review of said film - and despite years of extremely tiresome, toxic discourse on social media, the famous Snyder Cut got a controversy-inducing budget to complete an undoubtedly unfinished cut. A crucial disclaimer: you'll see countless reviews based on wholly different approaches. Some people will review it as a standalone, regular movie, while others will look at it as an extended/alternate cut of a film previously released. I'm part of the latter group of reviewers.

I find it a bit unfair to criticize pacing issues or an overlong runtime when the purpose of this cut is precisely to show everything Snyder had in his hand. Director/Extended/Ultimate Cut, call it what you feel it's appropriate, but it's a four-hour movie, so many scenes will inevitably drag or feel unnecessary and irrelevant. The narrative is fundamentally the same, which means the audience knows what's coming from a general perspective. Still, I'm reviewing this version mostly on its own merits, but without forgetting that it's not a regular theatrical film and that it unquestionably builds upon what was already released.

Without getting into spoilers, I do have to write this: the heavy marketing was incredibly misleading, and I don't doubt for a second that many fans will feel disappointed regarding certain story points and particular characters. The whole "it's a totally distinct movie" or "Joss Whedon only used 10% of Snyder's footage" were nothing more than false publicity for a cut that honestly didn't need it. Out of the 119 minutes of the 2017's version, probably around 80/90 minutes are also in the Snyder Cut, which will be surprising for people who expected something entirely unique. The base of the narrative is identical, most scenes are just extended versions of the original, but there are a couple of significant new changes that ultimately make Zack Snyder's Justice League better than its "predecessor".

The most impactful modification that drastically changes the emotional core of the film is about Cyborg. Ray Fisher's character goes from barely having any remotely significant screentime in 2017 to being the heart and soul of the movie. From his backstory to the development across the runtime, Cyborg is undoubtedly the superhero that gains the most with this cut, leaving as a complete, compelling character who I genuinely cared for. On the other hand, Aquaman and The Flash receive similar introductory scenes with Batman, barely getting any sort of new individual growth besides more action sequences. However, once the League is assembled, the character interactions increase, improving their team spirit and deeply elevating the "Us United" storyline.

The humor and tone remain lighter than in other Snyder films, clearly something that the filmmaker always had in mind for his version (Whedon only added a couple of more jokes since most of them are present in this cut). The intimidating runtime does negatively affect the overall pacing, but the longer build-ups and extensive dialogue scenes make the full movie much more cohesive and coherent. Compared to the original's abrupt, awful editing work, the Snyder Cut has a tremendously better flow, giving time for information to sink in and characters to get used to each other. I rather watch an overlong film with a well-built story than the complete contrary. Some color changes and tone adjustments also improve the movie's consistency.

Story-wise, besides the fantastic arc given to Cyborg, there are a couple of changes that heavily affect either a particular character or a secondary storyline, but when it comes to the main narrative, it's more or less about the same. Every action sequence with pre-existent footage is visually improved and extended with scenes not seen before, but the new VFX are as hit-and-miss as Junkie XL's score. The latter mixes up so many different types of tracks and music that it genuinely becomes a tad confusing. While some scenes get an absolutely perfect, epic soundtrack, others receive weird, out-of-place music distracting the scene itself.

There's only one change I definitely dislike: the R rating brings horribly artificial, forced blood splashes and out-of-nowhere cursing that simply don't belong in the film. I know Snyder loves his gritty, bloody, gory action - as do I - but either the whole movie is consistent with this type of action, or some scenes will feel like they come from a wholly separate film. A few bloody sequences work well enough, but most just feel notably forced, while the cursing feels ridiculously out-of-character at points. It's by far the most incompatible aspect of the cut, but admittedly, one that doesn't heavily impact my opinion.

A common issue I have with extended cuts is that these mostly add and rarely remove. Snyder Cut partially breaks that rule, removing some scenes from the 2017's version, supposedly only Whedon's footage (which some people wrongly believe to be almost the entire movie). While most of the decisions regarding this process are efficient, there's a couple of them that not only don't improve the respective storylines but actually make them less powerful than the theatrical film. For example, in Snyder Cut, the "bringing Superman back" arc lacks an important character's take on the situation, having in mind that character's past. It actually feels a bit out-of-character that the viewers don't get to see what that person thinks about a potentially devastating action.

Regarding Steppenwolf, his design looks better than the terrible original, and his motivations are clearer, but unfortunately, he remains a generic CGI punching bag for our superheroes. His dynamic armor is packed with spikes, but it's really one of those designs with visual impact only since it has no effect whatsoever in battle. I can't get into spoilers about Darkseid or DeSaad, but I can safely write that these characters are nothing more than fan-service, just like Joker (Jared Leto). The ending is definitely the sequence that changes the most due to the addition of dozens of new/extended action scenes, and it does play out differently - though the conclusion is essentially the same - leaving the viewers with a menacing threat on the horizon.

Zack Snyder's Justice League is arguably a more cohesive, consistent, and emotionally compelling movie than the 2017's version. As expected, its four-hour runtime causes pacing issues and possesses dozens of unnecessary, irrelevant scenes, but criticizing these aspects in an admittedly non-theatrical cut is unfairly defeating its purpose. Despite most of the original Justice League being present in the Snyder Cut - something that might surprise a few fans - the main narrative is built and developed through a structure that flows tremendously better than the previous edition. Cyborg becoming the emotional core of the story and the increased character interactions are some of the best changes Zack Snyder and Chris Terrio did. The extended action sequences are more riveting, and pre-existent footage is definitely improved, but the new VFX are as erratic as Junkie XL's all-over-the-place score. The R-rating is the only straight-up negative aspect that damages the film with highly forced, fake-looking blood and rare yet cringe-worthy cursing. Highly anticipated characters and/or storylines are better described as unimpactful fan-service, but overall, most of the decisions made vastly improve upon what was already built. In the end, I sincerely expect a significant majority of the fandom to get their expectations fulfilled, and I hope that the DCEU continues with Snyder involved - just as long as the studios leave filmmakers to do their job without nonsensical restrictions.

Rating: B

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$70,000,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

saving the world
superhero
resurrection
based on comic
superhero team
planet invasion
action hero
dc extended universe (dceu)
superhero teamup
director's cut