Justice League (2017) Movie Review

All in!

The DCEU (DC Extended Universe, for those of you who have been living under a rock) has experienced quite the tricky ride, through the years. Its point of origin was with 2013’s Man of Steel, when the world was introduced to Superman himself. Three years later, audiences are invited to watch the so called “Greatest gladiator match in the history of the world” in the form of Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice. It received its fair share of backlash due to its moody and overall dark tone, but one thing was clear: Snyder’s vision for what this cinematic universe could become was something undoubtedly remarkable and unique and consequently worth the shot of progression.

Shot of the Trinity in BvS

So, naturally, casual moviegoers decided to continue supporting this cinematic endeavor, with Suicide Squad next up on the watchlist. Another film, and yet another setback, unfortunately. This one lacked a coherent plot and tried to overly rely on the Guardians of the Galaxy success with classic pop songs from the 70s and 80s (it wasn’t as brightly accomplished, I must say). This year we had Wonder Woman, a solid and compact narrative, laser-focused on its titular character. Warner Brothers seemed to have found the right balance and we could not be more pumped for the ultimate payoff: Justice League!

The League united, at last

Everything has led to this very film, both on screen and behind the scenes. The opening credits are jaw-dropping; multiple slow-motion shots of a shredded society in pain and trying to cope with Superman’s absence, accompanied to Sigrid’s musical cover ‘Everybody Knows’. Breathtaking and awe-inspiring, the League is off to a great start. Can it keep the momentum going, though? Probably not, at least not in the way you are expecting it to.

Steppenwolf about to call you a primitive being

The plot is actually pretty tight, revolving around bid bad Steppenwolf leading a fear-hungry army of parademons on the quest of collecting three mother boxes, which together form the Unity. These operate as mere plot devices, designed to create a tangible threat that would force our heroes to unite. The characters and their respective actors are by far the strongest element this film had to offer. Affleck showcases a different side do the caped crusader, as Batman has both his faith and hope restored, while also feeling like he owes a debt to the meta-humans.

Flash, Batman and Wonder Woman looking concerned

Wonder Woman is back with a bang, after her solo outing, and remains as an influential and dynamic persona, much thanks to Gal Gadot’s grace and screen presence. Aquaman is introduced and, unfortunately, the Ruler of the Seven Seas had a lot of scenes cut (we’ll address these cuts in a moment). Despite all that, Jason Momoa infused the character with the right energy. Cyborg was also a new member introduced; in my opinion, he was a tad inconsistent and moody, which resulted in lack of character development. He was just not handled that well. Flash, on the other hand, stole literally every scene he was in. His quips generated genuine laughs amongst the audience and he was portrayed with incredible charisma by Ezra Miller.

Aquaman stopping a giant wave with his trinity

Henry Cavill dons the Man of Steel mantle once again, in a heroic fashion, paying homage to previous Superman iterations. Although Superman’s return was something to behold, it actually detracts from the Justice League experience, as Supes is a one-man-army powerhouse. Why should an ensemble exist if an individual is strong enough to tackle the issue all by himself? One thing needs to be taken into consideration, though, when reviewing this movie: the circumstances under which it was developed.

Flash thinks brunch is confusing...

I am referring to the loss the Snyder family underwent, when Zack’s daughter committed suicide, unfortunately. Recognizing he was not capable of delivering the best product, Zack stepped down and Joss Whedon (a man who was responsible for the biggest mashup of characters on the Marvel spectrum, having directed not one but two Avengers movies) was brought in to finish the film.

Cyborg getting used to his powers

The movie had a lot going against it from the get go, and it could have ended up being terrible; extensive reshoots for crucial segments, studio pressure forcing Whedon to trim down the finished product into under 2 hours, abrasive editing and let us not forget mustache Superman (it is noticeable in certain frames, as Cavill enters uncanny valley region). The action scenes were frenetic and popped out unexpectedly, given the fact that the film was violently edited and you can feel a good chunk of scenes were left on the cutting room floor. Here’s hoping for an extended cut on Blu-ray, preferably with Zack’s input and craft on it, as we ultimately feel his original vision was butchered and altered to the bone.

Battle of the Old Gods and Steppenwolf's invasion

And don’t get me started on the soundtrack! It was bland, generic, forgettable and atrocious. Pretty weak for a movie of this scope; the only memorable tracks were the ones that played on both the opening and end credits, which had nothing to do with the film’s central score. Overall, there is still fun to be had with this comicbook adaptation as the characters are captivating enough to draw the audience in, in spite of there being a clash of tone and the picture being uneven at times.
All in all, we are looking forward to the next films DC has to offer. With that being said, I rate this movie with a B-. What about you? What is your take on Justice League? What was your favorite character? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.