Justice League (2017)

[Mojoguy]

Changed my JL grade from C+ to a C-

This movie gets more disappointing the more I think about it.

[BK007]

Didn't watch BVS if that was supposed to be a leadup.

 

Technically Wonder Woman was the last movie, no? 

 

Anyway, I thought it was just more of the same. Nothing special, but not outright terrible either. 

 

Got to watch for free though, wouldn't have gone otherwise. 

[Mojoguy]

Didn't watch BVS if that was supposed to be a leadup.

JL is the sequel to BvS.

[Blankments]

Justice League somehow manages to be the worst DCEU film yet. Gone is any sense of artistry or vision. Batman v Superman may have been heavily flawed, but it clearly had ideas and themes behind it. This lacks anything of the sort. No themes, no ideas, a barebones plot, and a forced team dynamic that leads one to wonder why WB aren't just making Wonder Woman and Superman movies in separate universes. The only actor who seems engaged in the material is Cavill, who is one of the two good parts of the film, finally getting material deserving of his portrayal of Superman, despite the reduced screentime he has. The opening credits are also fun in how they take the "F**k 2016" meme to an interesting level.

 

Everything else is terrible. Affleck gives a performance that feels more Frank Underwood than Bruce Wayne. Gadot's material is oddly reduced to a very sexist team-mom position, with her subplot about "not being inspirational enough" seems like a spit in the face to her solo movie. It's also worth noting that literally every other member of the League (besides Superman) takes time to comment on how she's hot. Miller is comic relief that doesn't work, Momoa is utterly forgettable, and Fisher's Cyborg is far too sullen to work in any context.

 

The CGI is horrifically bad, particularly on Cyborg and Steppenwolf. Speaking of Steppenwolf, it's really interesting to see what causes the League to form together is a cutscene boss from Shadows of Mordor. He's horrible, literally screaming the most generic lines ever and having no presence whatsoever. His first scene where he fights Amazons over a box might be one of the most embarrassing action scenes in the entire genre.

 

However, the worst part of Justice League is how empty it is. Shifting tone suddenly from Snyder cynicism to Whedon wacky makes the whole film feel like a movie made by committee, more than the other blockbusters in this franchise accused of such a fate. Suicide Squad, for all its clear editing by the studio, still has some very weird decisions in it. Justice League takes the safe choice in every way, delivering a film with no bite, no fun, and no quality. When the character in your post-credits scene has more personality than the entire movie preceding it, you know you're doing it wrong. Justice League functions on the basest level, and thus doesn't stick at all as a blockbuster. Absolutely terrible. D-