Movie Review: “Justice League: The Snyder Cut”

Zachary Nicholas, Editor-in-Chief

Overview

It is not often that a second cut of a movie is released by popular demand. However, that is the case here. I’ll admit, I was confident that this movie would suck just as, if not more, than “Justice League” did. It’s 4 hours long and Zack Snyder directed it? There is no way this movie is that much of an improvement. Boy, was I wrong. 

Justice League: The Snyder Cut tells a completely different story than its counterpart, and ultimately succeeds. Even though it is unnecessarily long, this is what a superhero movie should strive to be. Thanks to a better story, improved characters, and incredible visuals, The Snyder Cut is a must-watch for any fan of the superhero genre.

A Snyder Story

Cyborg was amazing, and much of the credit needs to go to Ray Fisher’s performance. (Zachary Nicholas)

Let’s start off by talking about the story. Yes, this story takes over 4 hours, but it kind of makes sense that it does. The movie is divided into several parts; each is about 45 minutes long. Those hours are spent developing characters and arriving to a conclusion that is amazing. The last 2 hours of this movie are so entertaining. They are what superhero movies should be: fun and exciting to watch. Overall, this story is comprehensive and a significant improvement over that of “Justice League.” 

 

3D DC Characters

I am beyond happy to say that every character is so much better in this cut. Batman and Wonder Woman have character motivations that make sense. Aquaman is not just a talking caveman and has some depth to him. The two that take the cake are Flash and Cyborg. 

The Flash was disappointing in “Justice League,” but here he is one of the best parts of the film. He is trying to find what to do with his life, and then is thrusted into fighting alongside Wonder Woman. He is actually very funny and compelling. The Flash is also responsible for what I consider the best part of the movie. 

Moving onto Cyborg, who is the backbone of this film. Out of all the characters, he goes through the biggest arc and it is great. Watching him transition from someone who thinks himself a monster to someone reaching this state of acceptance and pride is beautiful. In the original cut, he was tossed to the sidelines. Here, he is the main attraction and the best character in the movie. 

Vivid Visuals

The original film received a lot of justified criticism for its subpar visual effects. This movie does not struggle in that regard. The CGI looks very good, especially on the Flash. The Flash’s seen at the end of the film is one of the most creative scenes I have seen in a film. It is aesthetically stunning. It makes you wonder how they cut this scene out of the original “Justice League.” 

Aquaman, played by Jason Momoa, was greatly improved in this film (Zachary Nicholas)

 

Verdict

I am glad to admit that I was very wrong. My expectations were insanely low, but this movie exceeded them by miles. “Justice League: The Snyder Cut” is a great, albeit long, film. I genuinely hope Snyder is brought back because I would watch a sequel to this movie. I was pleasantly surprised and now I am genuinely interested in this franchise.