Gonger Reviews: Justice League
Justice League (2017)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Cairan Hinds and Henry Carvill.
Synopsis: A billionaire, art restorer, fisherman, and two students use arcane technology from a bygone era to try and bring a news reporter back to life! Meanwhile, an evil alien or devil man is trying to terraform the Earth for the New Gods which means we may be entering the Jack Kirby age of superhero movies!!! We shall see...
Directing: This is a Zack Snyder flick all right, brimming with style and over-the-top action sequences. While Snyder did have to leave the production due to tragedy in the family and Marvel alumni Joss Whedon stepped in, I’m pretty sure it was just for re-shoots and some story revamping. I’d say Justice League is definitely a Snyder flick. This isn’t a bad thing either. It works. But what's very surprising is the substance in this picture. Sure, some of Snyder's story elements in the past have been lackluster but he’s a big picture kind of guy! To tell you the truth I think he has been handling this property as well as to be expected. I mean, we are taking about a guy who dresses as a bat teaming up with a fishman. He adds his own style, too, and even if you're not down with it at least it's his own and he owns it. 1.5/2
Writing: So they are wading in the pools of Jack Kirby here with all this New Gods business. As a fanboy of all things Kirby my excitement levels where very high at the mere mention that Steppenwolf was going to be the bad guy. Too bad it was a poorly written villain. Wonder Woman could have taken this guy all by herself! Without Wonder Woman, maybe you got you self a real threat. But she's in this one and kicking ass so where's the threat? Why not have the League take on the New Gods? I know, I know. I’m venturing into a kingdom of geekdom none of you should venture but all I’m saying is they needed to turn up the risk factor. DC has a crazy amount of source content to draw from! Make it some risky business! Anyway, I did like the interplay between the heroes, their dynamic was the base of the overall story. But did we need a cool villain? Yes. Yes we did. One more thing; I was actually surprised how well they fit the Batmobile into the narrative. It isn’t important in the grand scheme of things but worth noting. 1/2
Costumes: Here is the thing about DC movies: the costumes are fantastic! From Dark Knight to Batman vs Superman, it's been a feast for the eyes! Even the awful Suicide Squad had amazing costumes. WIth this flick, though, it was kinda same old, same old. I still liked it but in the final act Batman puts on his serious butt kicking outfit and I thought it looked so lame. If you’re going to reuse costumes why not put him in his Superman butt kicker armour? It would have made perfect sense and look badass! I’m nitpicking, though, because the costumes are great and the new guys (Flash/Cyborg/Aquaman) are flashy as all hell. 1.5/2
Soundtrack: Danny Elfman puts together a mix tape of all the DC greatest hits and I was stoked! The score isn’t original but it was a wicked idea mixing Christopher Reeves-era Superman with the more modern Wonder Woman theme. Which rules! There was a lady in the audience who shamelessly cheered “OH YEAH!” when those first cello notes wined and those epic drums started to pound as Wonder Woman busts in for the first time! You go girl! I’m right there with you! There was something off with the sound edit, though. Some scenes where more quiet than others and then the next scene it would erupt to eleven. Weird and a little distracting. 1.5/2
Acting: Our players nail it! I don’t care what you say about Batffleck. He’s great. He channels the best of Batman and does more of an Adam West-style. It works! But it's his own character, he isn’t stealing at all, actually. Just go see it you’ll know what I mean. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman. Like actually Wonder Woman. I don’t think she's acting at all. She pretends to be Gal Gadot. That's whats happening....I love her. Ezra Miller steals the show as the Flash, a traditionally comedic character but he brings real depth that's not really in the comics. I know some fanboy out there wants to shoot me for saying that but having bad things happen to the character isn’t character development. I liked the new take on Cyborg, too. Fisher grasps that evolving mind thing extremely well. That should get its own movie. It would be next level. Jason Momoa brings the charisma and depth to a once-boring character. And even though Ciaran Hinds is pretty much a voice actor in this for a boring bad guy he still kills it! The voice is menacing, I cant lie. Fantastic cast. You don't like it, take a hike! 2/2
7.5/10 This was fun! We got some fun superhero flicks this year hey! Am I right?
Allan Stringer @Gonger_Reviews
Allan Stringer (if that's his real name) hails from the Mutara Nebula and has travelled through space and time to check out the only thing us pathetic humans have to offer: movies. Marvel at his intelligence!