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Film of the Week: Zack Snyder’s Justice League


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Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Ben Affleck as Batman and Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Picture: PA Photo/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./DC Comics, Inc.
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Ben Affleck as Batman and Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Picture: PA Photo/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./DC Comics, Inc.

As the world mourns the death of Superman (Henry Cavill), otherworldly warrior Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and an army of flying Parademons arrive on Earth in search of three legendary Mother Boxes.

If these rare artefacts are reunited, Steppenwolf can open a portal to his master Darkseid (Ray Porter) and instigate a full-scale invasion.

Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists the help of Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to recruit a team of people with special abilities to help in the battle to defeat the dangerous new enemy.

They in turn seek out Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) to further swell the ranks, with technical support provided by Bruce’s trusty butler Alfred (Jeremy Irons).

Meanwhile, reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) continues to grieve and Cyborg’s father Silas (Joe Morton), who is a top scientist at S.T.A.R. Labs, wrestles with the consequences of playing god with his boy’s life.

Running two hours longer than the 2017 cut of Justice League which included reshoots overseen by an uncredited Joss Whedon, Zack Snyder’s Justice League responds to long-standing fan demand for the full version of the DC Comics smackdown set in the aftermath of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.

With more action, more character development, and double the runtime, this is the epic Justice League that Zack Snyder fans have been asking for.

Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg and Ezra Miller as The Flash. Picture: PA Photo/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./DC Comics, Inc.
Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg and Ezra Miller as The Flash. Picture: PA Photo/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./DC Comics, Inc.

In every respect, the epic director’s cut trumps its emaciated predecessor, fleshing out back stories – particularly Cyborg and The Flash – and enriching characters who were peripheral four years ago.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League shows Snyder’s evolution from a director known for emphasising style over substance to a man who understands why we love superhero myths, whether they live in the DC Universe or Marvel’s.

Visually stunning and thrillingly dark, the Snyder Cut is an ambitious and admirable cinematic experience – perhaps the most impressive superhero film since Nolan’s Dark Knight series.

While its writing and attempts at humour do not always hit the mark this is overall a satisfying watch that definitely deserves the hype.

That said, the buttock-numbing running time is a breeze until a protracted epilogue, cryptically subtitled A Father Twice Over, which takes fan service one step too far.

With its dying breath, Snyder’s sprawling vision does somewhat splutter.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Cert 15, 242 mins.

Available now on Sky Cinema, available from April 19 on Amazon Prime Video/BT TV Store/iTunes/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, available from May 24 on DVD/ Blu-ray

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Ciaran Hinds, Joe Morton, Amy Adams, Henry Cavill, Ray Porter.


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