Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J.K. Simmons, Ciarán Hinds
CinemaScope
Don’t listen to the naysayers - Justice League turns out to be a lot of fun. Go watch it
Justice League ****
Dir: Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J.K. Simmons, Ciarán Hinds
As it turns out the Justice League’s greatest threat was not Steppenwolf, the disposable big bad (he’s the standard CGI world destroyer of many cinematic comic book superhero slugfests) of its big screen debut, No, the League’s real enemy was the baggage that now seems will be the cross to bear for most DCEU (DC Extended Universe) in the near future. That baggage being the ill-will generated by Man Of Steel (the movie that kicked off the DCEU), Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice their box-office success notwithstanding. The overly sombre and cynical tone (established by DCEU overmaster Zack Snyder) and the clunkiness of the movies left a bitter aftertaste in the mouths of cinegoers, spoilt by now by the (mostly) tastier Marvel Cinematic Universe offerings. There was a chance that Wonder Woman, a critical and commercial smash that’s even being pushed for Oscar glory by Warner Bros., had cleansed critics and audiences’ palates but, alas, the frosty reception from both groups that has met the release of Justice League shows that to be not the case. This was not meant to be the fate of the first big screen team-up of some of the most iconic comic book superheroes ever, namely Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg.
I also walked into the theatre with trepidation. I just did not think that the movie would be able to adequately introduce and do justice (no pun intended) to the newer characters of the League – namely Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) – along with giving enough screen time to the big DC trinity - Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) – to shine in the relatively short run time of two hours (mandated by the WB higher-ups). But – surprise, surprise – not only does the movie manage to pull off that tricky balancing act but does it with a pleasantly lighter touch than the first three DCEU entries. That is likely down to co-screenwriter and uncredited co-director Joss Whedon (best known for Marvel’s The Avengers and television’s Buffy, The Vampire Slayer) who stepped in to finish the movie when Zack Snyder had to step aside due to a family tragedy. The character bits work well (all the six main leads really seem to be enjoying themselves and are clearly vested in the roles they are essaying) and the interaction between them is believable and entertaining (Ezra Miller’s Flash getting many of the big laughs even though he doesn’t much look like the character in the comic books) as are the big action sequences. I would not have minded at all another 15-20 minutes of the movie which would have allowed it some breathing room and given Snyder/Whedon some more room for character development. That quibble aside, I can comfortably recommend the movie and if you walk in with an open mind you’ll enjoy it too.
Cut to chase: Surprisingly entertaining – just behind Wonder Woman in the DCEU enjoyment stakes.
*Not on your life
* ½ If you really must waste your time
** Hardly worth the bother
** ½ Okay for a slow afternoon only
*** Good enough for a look see
*** ½ Recommended viewing
**** Don’t miss it
**** ½ Almost perfect
***** Perfection
Kmumtaz1@hotmail.com; Twitter: @KhusroMumtaz
