'Justice League' Review

Hayden's Overall Grade: C+

The fifth installment in what is now unofficially called the DC Extended Universe was supposed to be the movie that comic book fans were waiting for. It would be the first time the most legendary team of superheroes stood together on the big screen. After the lackluster efforts, not counting the wonderful Wonder Woman movie, that the DCEU had put out until this point, the league was not only supposed to save the world but also the future of DC films as a whole. Unfortunately for us fans, we were treated to a half-hearted, poorly developed take on the Justice League.

The movie was riddled with drama from the beginning. It was already given vaulted pressure in trying to clean up the mess that Batman V Superman left behind. It tried to be too many things at once and never seemed to find a good rhythm. It tried to be funny when it shouldn't have been and took itself too seriously at times when it needed some levity. The flow of the story was also a concern for me as with many movies that go through extensive reshoots, the scenes that were pieced together didn't seem to fit the overall continuity. This can all be attributed to the fact that this film had the fingerprints of two very different directors. There are moments in the film where you can clearly see Zack Snyder's vision and there are other moments when you see the reshoots that Joss Whedon filmed. This lack of direction really hurt the overall fluidity of the movie.

The one thing that this movie did well on was the character development of the league. Each character got their own moment to shine and were able to showcase their own unique personalities. I thought that the interactions between the different members of the league was the main highlight of the film and it was a real treat as a DC comics fan to see them together on the big screen.

Batman- The reluctant leader of the newly formed Justice League, Batman's main goal throughout the film is to bring these amazing superheroes together. I loved how they portrayed Batman in BVS and thought it was one of the very few bright spots. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this new hope-filled Batman was a little too happy. Batman is at his best when his dark and brooding nature is matched up with the hopefulness of the league. I feel like they played up Batman too much as the motivator and would have been better suited to give that role to Diana. Other than that, Batman is still amazing and Ben Affleck's portrayal of him is still the best live action version in my opinion.

Wonder Woman- Diana is the foundation that the DCEU should be built upon. She stands for hope and you feel that with every scene she is in. She showcased everything you expected from her and she led the Justice League into battle with grace. The one issue I noticed was that it was extremely obvious that there was a male director in the chair. This was a slight issue but it was very noticeable after watching her solo outing just earlier this year.

The Flash- Show stealer! There is not much else to say as Ezra Miller's version of the Scarlet Speedster really gave Justice League the heart it needed. His interactions with all the members of the league were amazing and his comedic timing was on point. His next outing is planned to be Flashpoint which could alter the entire DCEU as we know it. I'm here hoping that the one thing that remains constant is quick quips of The Flash.

Aquaman- Aquaman was the muscle of the league. I felt like his character could have been expanded on a little more but that's what happens when there are six characters to focus on. I think they laid great groundwork for his solo outing next year.

Cyborg- Cyborg was the one member of the league that I felt didn't get as much time to develop his character. They gave a rushed backstory and touched on a few aspects of his character that will hopefully be expanded on later. The end scene where he begins to expand his armors abilities is one of the few highlights he has in the film. I did find his comedic timing with The Flash great and hope that gets expanded on in future outings.

Superman- Can the real Superman please stand up? After so much discussion and debate over Zack Snyder's version of the man of steel, a new version was brought back from the dead to save the day. The way they brought him back can be up for debate but there is no doubt that the reincarnated Superman brought his signature hope back to his persona. They went with the classic Superman feel and after everything, it really brought the characters three story arc to an amazing conclusion. Hopefully we will get to see this more hopeful Superman in the future of the DCEU.

One of the weaker aspects, in terms of characters, was the main villain Steppenwolf. His history was touched on briefly and he was not developed as well as I would have liked. He seemed like he had a lot of character building scenes left on the cutting room floor and thus made him feel very hollow. The supporting characters all played out very generic and really just filled there brief roles while the real focus was placed on the league. Newcomers Mera and Commissioner Gordon both had solid cameos that help build the universe out farther. Returning supporters in Lois, Amazon Queen Hippolyta, and Alfred all had decent roles that helped serve the plot and had more depth to their characters.

In the end, this film suffers from a lack of direction due to two many chefs in the kitchen. Between Snyder, Whedon, and the executives at Warner Bros, the film really didn't have a chance to find its own voice. The league itself shines and makes this movie worth watching just to see them unite for the first time. If you are a fan of DC and follow the DCEU, this is a must watch, but it is also the first time the Justice League formed on the big screen which for any comic fan is something you need to see. Just sit back, have fun, and don't worry about the details.

Recommendation- Enjoy the ride even if it is a little bumpy.