This year has been packed with highly anticipated films. From “Logan” and “Wonder Woman” to “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” fans have certainly gotten their money’s worth—and that’s just naming a few. However, one could argue the film with the most buzz from the start was “Justice League,” the long awaited big screen assembling of the greatest heroes DC Comics has to offer.
“Justice League” was officially released on Nov. 17 despite early criticism. Fans were worried after three of the first four DC Extended Universe (DCEU) movies received poor critical reviews. After 2017’s “Wonder Woman” received high critical acclaim, many hoped “Justice League” could continue that pattern. Sadly, critics didn’t respond as well as they did for “Wonder Woman,” but “Justice League” is still a fun and great addition to the superhero genre.
Now, it’s important to recognize that this film had flaws, but only three glaring ones. The first one is the most talked about, and that’s the CGI. The backdrops, in particular, often stand out, as it can be pretty noticeable that the actors are standing in front of a green screen at times. It’s not quite as bad as Dorothy standing in front of a painted back drop in “Wizard of Oz,” but it isn’t exactly that beautiful look we are accustomed to seeing in Zack Snyder films. This is probably because Snyder stepped down from the director’s chair after a family tragedy. Joss Whedon stepped in, but he was left with little time, especially after having to do extensive re-shoots. It just didn’t look as crisp as it could have.
The importance of villains in these films is often understated. Marvel gets by with weak villains due to strong protagonists. That is largely the case in this film, as Steppenwolf really doesn’t feel like the fleshed out villain we were all expecting. He feels more like a stand in for the classic “Justice League” villain Darkseid. As a member of the audience, I spent the entire movie wondering if the ruler of Apokolips, otherwise known as Darkseid, would make an appearance. At the end of the day, Steppenwolf seemed like just a stepping-stone for Darkseid.
With everything that was going on behind the scenes, it should come as no surprise that this film was rushed. A lot of things were poorly explained, with the audience left to just believe that they happened off screen. Considering the director change late in production, this film had to somehow merge two different visions. It almost felt as though the film would have benefited from a later release date.
However, even with a rushed plot, the characters were given their time to shine. Ben Affleck once again delivered an excellent performance as the Caped Crusader. Unfortunately though, we didn’t get to see a lot of Affleck as Bruce Wayne. However, once the suit goes on, there is no mistake that Batman is on screen. Gal Gadot once again portrays Diana Prince/Wonder Woman to perfection, with the elegant, calm, and ferocious demeanor of a strong female warrior.
The new characters are what makes this film tick. Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen/Flash is everything the character should be, very much in line with what is seen during the first season of the TV show. He provides witty comic relief related to the situation, and even plays the role of stand-in for the audience, as he “nerds out” several times during the movie. Ray Fisher’s take on Victor Stone/Cyborg is possibly the most compelling arc moving forward. He is still struggling with the effects of the accident that left him more machine than man. He will be an important member of the team in the future, and I am excited to see where they go with his character. The final new hero in the film is Arthur Curry/Aquaman, played by Jason Momoa from Game of Thrones fame. At first, he appears to be a lot like a “bro,” which he is to a degree, but there is more to him than that. Aquaman is still struggling with the issues of being only half Atlantean, as he is also half human. This subtle nuance will come as a very intriguing aspect to many fans, especially those who struggle with their own identity.
Overall, “Justice League” is a fun superhero flick that does a service to the genre. Is it the perfect introduction of the Justice League? No, of course not, but it does a good job of giving fans the feeling of nostalgia that comes with uniting comics’ most legendary super team. It’s time to get excited, because the Justice League is here and they’re carrying the hopes of the DCEU with them!
Rating: 6.8/10
‘Justice League’ Puts DC Back on Track
November 17, 2017