Backstory

Finally after 4 years fans finally get to see Justice League directed by Zack Snyder. Zack Snyder had to pull out from the project due to his daughter committing suicide during filming. The movie was near completion when he had to exit. Warner Bros. insisted on bringing in another director, Joss Whedon. Joss has worked with Marvel studios and directed the first 2 Avengers movies. Warner Bros. may have thought they hit a homerun after the success of the first Avengers movie and hiring Joss Whedon to come in and do Justice League for them. Sadly upon release the movie received terrible reviews and a 40% tomatometer on RottenTomatoes.com.

The Movement

Since then fans have rallied together via social media and comic cons to persuade Warner Bros. to release Snyders unseen version of the movie knows as the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement. Thankfully after years of getting the attention from the movie studios fans get their wish. Warner Bros agreed to bring back Zack Snyder and allow him to finish the movie. The original cast also agreed to come onboard to do any reshoots that he may have needed. This project meant a lot to Zack, so much so that he refused to accept a paycheck for the movie. 

Review

Justice League: Snydercut is exclusive to HBO Max. It has a runtime of 4hr 2min in comparison to the theatrical cut of two hours. The movie is split into six parts. Movie goers can stop at the beginning of the next part to take a break. The opening of the movie alone was a complete change and it sets up the tone and direction of the film. The lack of color in this world has a grimy and raw tone. The first two parts of the movie are a little slow. It sets up the character’s origin story in a unique montage style. Cyborg got the backstory that he deserved. The interaction between his father and himself gets the audience emotionally involved. Which was all cut short with little to no backstory in Whedons’ version.

Wonder Woman is finally a bad(bleep) again. She truly comes off as a warrior and less of the “motherly” figure of the group. Much of the movie is unused footage and it isn’t until the end where we see how Joss cut up the final fight scene to make it a lot shorter. All of the characters are back with their true personalities and abilities. There is a handful of easter eggs and cameos to potentially setup a future film. Overall it’s a great film and it deserves a watch. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.