Well, here it is. The movie that DC fans have all been waiting for since their youth when they were reading the comics. Warner Bros. and DC Films knew that this movie was in the slate after financial successes of Man of Steel, Wonder Woman and Batman v. Superman. However, the quality of the films still lack in exception to Wonder Woman and in my opinion, Man of Steel because I felt they built up so much that they did not focus on the main material and focused on other components of the movie. Now, to be honest, I have been liking what I have been seeing from the marketing of this movie and it may be a more laid-back movie compared to the rest of the movies in the DCEU. However, I was still worried because it was in the hands of director Zack Snyder, but the movie was not as bad as the movie focused on the league's chemistry. But, unfortunately, the movie is boggled down to a cliched villain trying to destroy the world and the movie, as a whole, is not as fun.
After a fight with a man after he staged a robbery, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) is told by Alfred (Jeremy Irons) that it is time to round up the team. However, people around the world including Martha (Diane Lane) and Lois Lane (Amy Adams) are mourning for Superman after his death in BvS. Lois feels more alone.
As Wonder Woman/Diana (Gal Gadot) is a fighting a group of robbers in a cool, but somewhat irrelevant scene, Bruce travels to a small town in Iceland to meet Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) in a tavern to offer him money for a job, but Arthur declines. After not having much luck with Arthur, his other options are Barry Allen/Flash (Ezra Miller) and Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher), who is presumed dead but his father (Joe Morton) has kept Victor out of sight because of his appearance. Meanwhile, the Amazons and Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) are under attack by Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and his Parademons as he attempts to take one of the three Mother Boxes successfully and they warn Diana of the problem.
Boy, I am conflicted because I liked one aspect of the movie very much but on the other hand, I did not like another aspect very much and that disappointed me because I felt they could handle multitasking each component of making it a fun experience and at times, the movie felt like a fun experience because I and many others have been waiting for this movie for a while. However, it was a joyful camaraderie between all the superheroes as they recite some humorous dialogue and it was nice that the movie was more laid back than a complete dark movie. But, I'm still disappointed they cannot make a good dark movie.
While the camaraderie between the superheroes is on point, the execution of its narrative is poorly done as it rushes of gathering the superheroes and we do not get much backstory especially from Cyborg. Plus, the villain is the weakest of the DCEU by far as his motivation is to just simply destroy the world and I'm getting very tired of that plan as most of the movie will get boring as you will know that there is not going to much its suspense in its action sequences, just visual wonder, which some of the CGI is pretty bad. It's like watching a red sky being covered in play-doh as the action figures are fighting like a kid playing with toys and it is fun, yes, but still, there is not much stake.
Ben Affleck is still solid as the Batman and whatever is going on with his contract to maybe leave the franchise. I mean, it is going to be all right, people, if he is not Batman again. Michael Keaton did two movies. Gal Gadot is still solid in her physical form as she embodies a great strong woman combatting against the villains. The star of the movie for me is Ezra Miller as he brings so much charisma as we, the audience, are the kid that was looking for towards this movie. Jason Momoa's Aquaman has great presence but the execution of the character was not quite there. And, Ray Fisher's Cyborg, again, has solid presence but not much developed in his character. There are brief moments with Adams, Lane and J.K. Simmons as the Commissioner.
There was tragedy in director Zach Snyder's life that was sad but it was great that he got credited as the sole director of this movie because it is his vision even though, Joss Whedon stepped in to help out. I thought he improved the movie a bit as it is not as murky and as messy as Batman v. Superman and not too much style over substance like Suicide Squad. There is substance here but it is somewhat atrocious making the experience a mixed bag even though I enjoyed the league's banter. I would recommend it to DC fans as a fun time at the movies but I do not think there is much replay value afterwards. And comparing it to The Avengers, the villain is definitely more memorable in that movie than this. There are some good things and if they figure out a couple of improvements in some departments, we might get some consistency. It is a bit of a disappointment but it was better than I thought in probably one of, if not the best, the best years for superhero movies ever.
**1/2
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