Zack Snyder's Justice League is a vindication for an often misunderstood and unfairly demonized filmmaker. It's also a reaffirmation that superhero films can be genuine artistic expressions. After viewing the film I'm not sure about what Warner Bros. was in such a panic they felt the need to bring in Joss Whedon to reshoot so much of it. If they wanted the lighter-toned, more optimistic superhero film, Snyder gave it to them. Man of Steel had a rough around the edges Superman make some mistakes on his way to saving the world and Batman v. Superman was a deconstructionist take on the superhero mythos; but ZSJL is the most traditionally superheroic film in the trilogy. I would argue it has the perfect tone- serious but not as heavy as MoS or BvS, with just the right amount of levity without feeling like a MCU film. And even without the behind the scenes turmoil ZSJL would still stand as a very good- even great- superhero epic.
Right from the first scene it's clear this version is a more fluid continuation of BvS than Whedon's version as we witness Superman's Henry Cavill) death at the hands of Doomsday from that film's climax. But just that film's beginning had us see MoS's climax from Bruce Wayne's (Ben Affleck) perspective, here Snyder shows us Superman's death screams awakening the three Mother Boxes, which the being Darkseid (Ray Porter) once used in an attempt to conquer Earth thousands of years ago before he defeated by an union between Man, Olympian Gods, Atlanteans, Amazons and Green Lanterns. After the battle the Mother Boxes were separated and hidden.
BvS and ZSJL's openings emphasize how Snyder's films are about Superman's presence- and absence in the world. BvS had an angry and distrustful Bruce who viewed Superman as a threat to humanity. Here, Bruce understands Superman's death leaves Earth vulnerable to attack- largely in part to his conversation with Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). Bruce and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) have to recruit other metahumans- Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) to combat Darkseid's emissary Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), who is looking for the Mother Boxes.
ZSJL doesn't have the same complex plotting of BvS but it's not as streamlined as the theatrical cut.four hours there's more breathing room for the characters to be fleshed out, especially Barry and Victor, the latter cited by Snyder as being the heart of the film. I loved Barry's introduction when he save Iris West (Kiersey Clemons) from a disastrous car wreck using his speed powers. Scored to Rose Betts' version of Tim Buckley's Song to the Siren, Snyder reminds us how romantic a superheroic feat can be. Without exchanging words I'm already looking forward Iris and Barry's relationship in Andy Muschietti's Flash movie.
Victor is the film's most identifiable character since he's the League member who views his powers as a curse, the position many people in reality would take if they were half human, half robot. Victor resents his father Dr. Silas Stone (Joe Morton) for making him this way after he was nearly killed in a car accident that claimed his mother Elinore Stone (Karen Bryson). Silas used one of the Mother Boxes to save Victor and this bit of plotting efficiently makes the Stone family the central part of the story.
Victor is reborn as Cyborg and birth/death/rebirth is a major motif through Snyder's trilogy. MoS begins with Superman's birth and Krypton's death. General Zod's (Michael Shannon) motivation is create a new Krypton on Earth. BvS ends with Superman's death and Bruce's rebirth as a more hopeful man. Clark Kent is reborn as the traditional Superman. He died sacrificing himself for humanity, proving to humanity how much he cares for them. When he returns- again, using a Mother Box- it's significant the first thing he sees is the memorial dedicated to him. And when he's fighting the League due to memory loss, it's Lois Lane (Amy Adams), who brings him to his senses, the person for whom he died. She, along with his mother Martha Kent (Diane Lane) represent humanity's best to Superman.
Snyder is known for his bombastity but Snyder is capable of incredibly intimate moments, some of the best in the genre. The scenes on the Kent farm in ZSJL are nostalgic and warm, homaging Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie while still working on its own merits. It's about a family coming together, a man with the most important women in his life, finding peace even when the world may come to an end.
Family is another big theme in this film; as I've already pointed out the Stones are central to the story and Superman has Martha and Lois. Bruce becomes part of a family again after the death of his adopted son Robin. Diana has her mother and sisters on Themyscira and Arthur has unresolved issues with his Atlantean mother and human father. Barry 's father Henry Allen (Billy Crudup) is falsely imprisoned for the murder of Barry's mother (comic fans know what the backstory behind that is). And speaking of mother, the McGuffins are called Mother Boxes. Moreover, Steppenwolf is Darkseid's uncle who wants to get back in his favor after betraying him.
I've talked quite a bit about the character stuff here so now I just want to say that Snyder creates the most visually bold and beautiful comic book movies. Snyder shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio, which gives the film wholly different feel than any other superhero film. Snyder has talked about his decision to shoot the film in this manner and how it was supposed to be seen in IMAX: Why Zack Snyder’s Justice League is in a 4:3 Aspect Ratio | Den of Geek
The film's cinematographer Fabian Wagner and Snyder create some truly right-off-the-page comic book images, which brings me to the "Knightmare" timeline, first glimpsed in BvS, where Darkseid has won and Superman is under his control. The Knightmare scene at the film's end is so comicbooky and I love it for that. The fact we have Arthur's queen Mera (Amber Heard) and the Joker (Jared Leto) is kind of incredible. And the dialogue between Batman and Joker feels ripped from an actual comic book.
There's more I'll probably write about ZSJL but for now I do really hope the "Snyderverse'' is restored. There's so much potential for this universe going forward. Snyder no doubt has a vision and embraces the craziness of the comic book universe. And if we're going to keep making comic book and superhero films we directors and writing to push the genre forward to avoid stagnation. So, what did you think of ZSJL? Comment below and let me know.
