I don’t know how I managed to write 90% of this post and leave it in my drafts for MONTHS but here it is. This post was meant to smash the champagne bottle open on this blog.
I’ve been a fan of Zack Snyder’s directorial style since Man of Steel. I mean, I watched it in the theater about four times before its home release. The slow-motion and dark mood don’t bother me, and it never feels like it takes itself too seriously (those are the top criticisms I always hear about his style.)
I’m not the only one?
For me, ZSJL was a nearly perfect movie. Nearly. Some of the slow-motion goes on too long and some of the music choices seemed a little off, but it was some of the most fun I have ever had watching a DC movie. It felt like vindication, a feeling only amplified when I took to the internet to express my approval, and found FOR THE FIRST TIME… that the general consensus on a Zack Snyder DC movie, heck, ANY DC movie since The Dark Knight was positive! I could hardly believe it! Maybe I’m just a DC fanboy, but I was one of the only people to walk out of Batman v Superman with a full grin. It was like people finally woke up.
This is a LONG Movie
If you haven’t seen ZSJL, know a few things, it is 4 hours long. Really, 4 actual hours long. It’s rated R. There are two F-bombs, but they are so spread out that it’s like watching 2 PG-13 movies in a row. The movie is also divided into parts, and you should know that when it says “Epilogue,” that doesn’t mean a 30 second teaser like you see in the credits of a Marvel movie. It means multiple substantial scenes about the consequences of the League’s actions. The R rating is hardly deserved if you’re worried about violence, and there’s nothing objectionable sexually unless shirtless Jason Momoa and Henry Cavill make you lose your composure. No male gaze issues either, which Zack Snyder usually avoids, unless the source material requires it (Watchmen).
It Comes with Some Surprises [Spoilers]
Go watch the movie on HBOMax in the US or whatever service is available in your country before continuing. I know a lot of people dislike Jared Leto’s joker, and I understand why, but I will defend the Epilogue portion of ZSJL despite how out-of-place many claim the Knightmare timeline is. This was set up in BvS everyone, nobody should be surprised that things feel out of place. It doesn’t delegitimize the victory of the League, it is a central plot point for the “Snyderverse,” or, Zack Snyder’s original Justice League trilogy plan. #Restorethesnyderverse. Cyborg’s vision during the Superman revival scene is very clear that bringing Superman back would spell the end for half of the League and the return of Darkseid and an anti-life possessed Supes.
Something Different [Still Spoilers]
DC movies aren’t, and don’t need to be neat little MCU-style packages with Disney-approved action and jokes. The inclusion of the Knightmare sequences throughout the DCEU are part of Zack Snyder pushing the boundaries of what a comic book movie can be. He’s pushing the envelope of the form’s possibilities like Grant Morrison did with the Final Crisis comics. Marvel does its thing and that’s great. The DCEU may be a series of cult favorites compared to the MCU’s mainstream success, but I believe its penchant for breaking conventions will either be remembered as ahead of its time and appreciated far into the future, or it will die in obscurity. If it does, it took a risk. DC took a risk on Zack Snyder, not only with Watchmen so long ago, or Man of Steel more recently, but more than ever with ZSJL.
#RestoretheSnyderverse [Spoilers]
I cannot emphasize strongly enough how badly I want to see Zack Snyder’s plans continue. I want to see Darkseid get the Anti-Life Equation, use the Omega Sanction, kill half the League, and I want to watch Batman team up with Deathstroke. Even if Ezra Miller’s The Flash movie resolves it the way Warner execs want, I feel like they owe it to Zack Snyder to let him say his peace. A David Ayer cut of Suicide Squad would be good and all, but I don’t believe in him like I do Zack. As long as he has a great writer or two by his side, I’ll watch just about anything he makes.
[End Spoilers]
Is Zack Snyder’s Justice League Good?
If I could rate ZSJL, I would give it a 9 out of 10. Does that sound too high? It might be. But I think any movie that spends this much time running through my mind deserves a nice pair of shoes to do it in. The actors did great, and I really cared about the characters. Junkie XL did great with the music and the CG was a million works of art in sequence. It was Cyborg’s movie and his story was the best part in my heart. My goosebumps would disagree and say that the big Flash moment (you know the one) was the best part. I can’t name very many times where a movie has injected me with that much adrenaline, especially after sitting through 3 hours up to that point? Avengers: Endgame might be close, but not quite.
So please, go check it out. I can’t recommend it enough. You can watch it in parts if 4 hours is too much to sit through at once. If you don’t watched R rated movies… I don’t know what to tell you. It should have gotten away with PG-13 if you ask me. It’s got so much heart, and you can be part of the audience that convinces a massive media corporation to wake up and realize that what the people want is finally aligned with Snyder’s vision. #Restorethesnyderverse.
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