Review:
Justice League

DCEU’s answer to The Avengers is here… and it’s not horrible.

Here’s the verdict you’re looking for: No, Justice League is not better than The Avengers. After all is said and done, it would be unjust to compare the two; The Avengers will always be in its own, um, league. Justice League is, however, a fun ride – for the most part.

The highly-anticipated DC superhero team-up film has its flaws (quite a few, actually), but is a marked improvement from the widely-panned mess that was its predecessor, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Remember that film, anyone? No? That’s fine – I think we can all agree to pretend it didn’t happen.

Once again, fan-favourites Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Batman (Ben Affleck) and – spoiler alert? – Superman (Henry Cavill) join forces in an attempt to defeat evil, but this time with fresh new faces in tow, namely The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher).

How do the newcomers fare? Pretty well, actually. Miller shines in his scene-stealing role as Barry Allen, while Momoa channels Khal Drogo pure badassery as the new and improved (and very grouchy) Arthur Curry. Fisher’s Victor Stone is forgettable, but still enjoyable.

Strangely enough, it is the OG heroes who underwhelm. Superman is reduced to a comic figure (which is both endearing and confusing), Batman is… lame, and Wonder Woman, while flaw-free as usual, offers nothing fresh from what we’ve already seen.

The movie’s main villain, Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), is cliché and boring (yawn!), so let’s not waste more words on him.

Director Zack Snyder packs the film with CGI-heavy action sequences (no surprises there) that are half-exhilarating, half-seizure-inducing. It was a spectacle to view on the big screen, but at times, the overuse of special effects felt like a dizzy simulation of a second-rate video game.

Joss Whedon’s influence on the film is apparent, too. DC is undoubtedly striving for a lighter-tone movie this time around. Justice League is peppered with his trademark banter, delivered by the strong and likeable ensemble.

In fact, the highlights of the movie are when these comic book legends interact with one another. Also, the single shot of the the Justice League standing in line ~brooding into the distance is a wet dream come true for every obsessed nerd.

Bad CGI and predictable plot aside, Justice League is an unexpected joyride that serves its purpose – am I invested in the DC Extended Universe after watching this obvious cash grab? Unashamedly so, yes.

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