ZACK SNYDER'S JUSTICE LEAGUE: 7 Things That Worked And 3 That Didn't - Minor Spoilers

There's less than 48 hours to go until Zack Snyder's Justice League hits HBO Max, and we've now got an even more in-depth review for you which takes a closer look at what did and didn't work in the movie.

By JoshWilding - Mar 16, 2021 10:03 AM EST

Filed Under: Justice League

The reviews for Zack Snyder's Justice League are in (here's my take on the movie) and right now, it's sitting at a healthy 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. That puts it right in "Certified Fresh" territory, though after the Wonder Woman 1984 debacle (it earned that status fairly early on and ended up being deemed "Rotten), we're willing to bet the review aggregator waits a while before making it official.

Regardless, we know you guys are curious about what to expect on Thursday, so this feature takes a closer look at what did and didn't work in the long-awaited "Snyder Cut" of Justice League.

We loved this version of the movie, but there are still a few minor issues worth highlighting, and lots to praise. This Justice League is a very special piece of filmmaking, and after 2017's underwhelming effort, it puts this team back on the map in a way Warner Bros. surely won't be able to ignore.

To take a look through this piece - be warned of some spoilers - click on the "Next" button below!

10. Did Work: A Ferocious Wonder Woman

If you were left feeling underwhelmed by Diana Prince's portrayal in Wonder Woman 1984 (she didn't wield her sword or shield), then Zack Snyder's Justice League is the movie for you.

The original version of the Amazon Warrior taking out the criminals who plan to blow up those kids is violent, bloody, and a badass take on the character fans will definitely appreciate. This is a proactive Wonder Woman, something that's evident from when she later goes one-on-one with Steppenwolf.

Snyder clearly had a very specific idea for how Diana should be portrayed on screen, and it's one which lines up both with 2017's Wonder Woman more than last year's divisive sequel.

9. Did Work: Steppenwolf

The 2017 version of Steppenwolf was disappointing to say the least, and not just because he looked like a character who had been pulled straight from a video game cutscene. Thankfully, his appearance isn't the only thing that's been improved upon for the "Snyder Cut" of Justice League.

Spurned by Darkseid for a failure thousands of years earlier and forced to travel from planet to planet claiming them for his master (and a sneering Desaad), Steppenwolf's motivations make perfect sense now. He wants to return home, and the only way to do that is delivering the Anti-Life Equation.

This interpretation of the villain looks great in action, and feels like a legitimate threat to the team.

8. Didn't Work: A Little Too Much Overindulgence

Look, at four hours long, this was probably an inevitability. No one can blame Snyder for wanting to including everything he shot here, but there are moments which just aren't necessary.

For example, from how many angles do we really need to see Bruce Wayne riding a horse? This causes some scenes and moments to drag, and while they're few and far between (ultimately, the runtime goes as quick as Avengers: Endgame's), it's hard not to highlight them as a negative.

This is a minor flaw, and not one that's likely to bother anyone who wanted to see Snyder's full vision for Justice League without any cuts or changes. A slightly tighter version would be fun to see, though.

7. Did Work: Gods Among Men

The Marvel Universe's characters are more relatable than DC's, and for many fans, that's because the latter company's are God-like in terms of their powers. Of course, that's a big part of the Justice League's appeal, and Snyder effortlessly makes these heroes feel like mythological beings here.

That's particularly the case when the Flash, for example, taps into the Speed Force for the first time. It's a beautiful, jaw-dropping sequence which shows how powerful the Scarlet Speedster really is.

Aquaman and Wonder Woman also benefit from Snyder's vision, while Batman's actions make much more sense this time. However, it's Cyborg who gets the biggest upgrade in some ways because the way he taps into technology makes him a true Modern Day God Of The Digital Age.

6. Did Work: Everything Makes Sense Now

While Zack Snyder's Justice League follows the same basic direction as the theatrical cut, everything that didn't make sense in 2017 now does! For example, we learn that where the League meets isn't part of the Batcave, but a completely separate location in Gotham City. Batman also has a reason for building that massive troop transport, and is no longer on a suicide mission.

We've obviously talked about Steppenwolf and his motivations, but we're sure you'll be glad to learn that while Superman's resurrection is mostly the same, it's much better explained this time.

With the plot given room to breathe, Justice League massively benefits, and it's crazy to think that so many of these important beats were left on the cutting room floor. Thankfully, this is a far more cohesive experience.

5. Didn't Work: Martian Manhunter

In terms of his appearance, we can't fault Martian Manhunter. The design probably won't be to everyone's liking, but this is a cool take on the character and one many fans will love.

The bigger issue, unfortunately, is that he feels a little shoehorned in. The scene we've heard and seen so much about where he leaves Lois Lane's apartment disguised as Martha Kent probably would have worked better in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and feels a tad random in the wider context of the movie. We won't spoil his second scene, but that works much better.

Honestly, a Green Lantern cameo would have been even better, but for fans of Martian Manhunter, J'onn J'onzz's big screen debut in the "Snyder Cut" will definitely be welcomed.

4. Did Work: Ray Fisher's Amazing Take On Cyborg

Well, Zack Snyder wasn't kidding when he said that Cyborg was the "heart" of his Justice League movie.

For reasons known only to him, Joss Whedon tore that out in 2017, but this version restores Ray Fisher's original scenes (99% of which were reshot) and deliver a much better take on Victor Stone. When a Cyborg standalone feature was announced by Warner Bros., fans didn't get it. Well, after watching this movie, something tells us you'll wish that had ended up happening.

The portrayal of Cyborg's powers is particularly impressive, and a sequence which follows Victor as he contemplates the things he could (but perhaps shouldn't) do with his abilities is fascinating.

3. Did Work: Darkseid Teases

Darkseid doesn't get a leading role in Zack Snyder's Justice League, but he still makes one hell of an impact! Those flashbacks to Uxas' attack on Earth land much better this time around, while any time the villain speaks, he's in equal parts terrifying and feels every bit the big deal Thanos once did.

There's some great stuff nearer the end of the movie with him, but one sequence a little earlier in proceedings promises to be one which DC Comics fans talk about for many years to come.

We won't get into specifics, but suffice to say it involves the Omega Beams (which we saw in the latest trailer) and a glimpse ahead at what might happen should Darkseid conquer the Earth.

2. Didn't Work: Not Enough Superman

Another nitpick, but this lack of screentime for Superman will definitely disappoint the Man of Steel's fans.

He doesn't return until relatively late in the proceedings, and it's clear Snyder planned to give the hero a much larger role in the two sequels he had planned. Superman's battle with the League works better here, particularly when it comes to his confrontation with Batman. A couple of decent lines of dialogue Whedon added are missed, but not to a particularly significant extent.

Everything on the farm is infinitely better here, as are the hints about where Clark and Lois' relationship goes next. As for his role in the final battle, Henry Cavill definitely shines as this badass Supes.

1. Did Work: Batman Meets Joker

The "Knightmare" sequence Zack Snyder chose to add to this cut of Justice League is a lot of fun, and a great tease for a sequel...we probably won't ever see. Of course, we once thought that would be the case about the "Snyder Cut" itself, so it's way too early to write that off as a possibility.

Regardless, while Deathstroke doesn't bring much to the table (neither does Mera aside from a weird English accent), rest assured that Ben Affleck's Batman sharing the screen with Jared Leto's Joker is just as much fun as you might expect. The hatred they feel for one another is palpable, and there are some great comments about the past which will grab your attention.

Whether it's a movie, anime follow-up, or comic book sequel, we need to see more of these two together.

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132 Comments

1 2 3 4

CyberNigerian - 3/16/2021, 10:02 AM

Stoked for the film.

Fresh RT score or nah.

aresww3 - 3/16/2021, 10:50 AM

@CyberNigerian - anyone seen this

CyberNigerian - 3/16/2021, 1:36 PM

@aresww3 - Looks legit! I'm coping this one!

You gonna do a review?

aresww3 - 3/16/2021, 1:39 PM

@CyberNigerian - absolutely. when it comes out.

GhostDog - 3/16/2021, 10:07 AM

"Modern Day God Of The Digital Age."

MuadDib - 3/16/2021, 10:07 AM

Excited

DannRamm113 - 3/16/2021, 10:09 AM

I heard a detail about the ending...seems this version sets up Flashpoint better....

I'm excited to see at least the joker-batman relationship, and cyborg stuff