Film Review - "Justice League"

Justice League
Directed by Zach Snyder
Starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Henry Cavill

…Yeah I never did this when I saw it in theaters. Did I feel compelled to see it again before I wrote a review? Yes. Was I in a rush to see it again? No. Did the never-ending DC vs Marvel "war" get on my nerves and in some way make me shy away from this review? Little bit. Anyway here we are, and after finally watching Justice League a second time…it's fine. It's fine. I might even be more fine with it than in my initial viewing. Let's go.

Bruce Wayne (Affleck) is on the trail of a massive threat making its way to Earth. That threat being the extra-terrestrial conqueror Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and his army of Parademons. They seek the Mother Boxes, which will give Steppenwolf the power to conquer and re-shape the planet in his image.   Bruce, alongside Diana Prince (Gadot) must form a team of heroes to take down Steppenwolf and save the world from destruction. Those heroes include Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher). Oh and yes Superman (Cavill) is still dead and both Bruce and the rest of the world are still dealing with that.

Justice League feels a lot like a response to the negative criticism surronding Batman VS Superman. It's lighter, it's more fun, and characters are making jokes more. But as a result of that, the two films do not match-up, and I'm not referring to their contrasting tones. I mean I personally probably wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between Snyder and Whedon's direction if I hadn't known beforehand the latter came in to take over for the former during reshoots…some reshoots are pretty clear though...

Character decisions and motivations in this film do not equal up to their actions from the previous one. Yes Wonder Woman is a thoughtful and compassionate character, but to think she is personally invested in the resurrection of Superman is a bit of a stretch. To think that Bruce Wayne feels so much guilt over his death, and to say that he really knew who Clark Kent was, is a bit of a stretch. They spent like ten minutes actually talking to each other in the last one.

The build-up from the previous films does not equate to what Justice League is. All the plotting and planning of Batman VS Superman seems to be thrown out the window (Remember how Flash went back in time to warn Bruce about something? Or where did Lex Luthor's "notes" come from? The world is in disarray because Superman is gone? So I guess we're all just over all those protests and making him appear on Capitol Hill..). Where BVS probably had too much going on as far as plot, Justice League felt like it didn't have any plot other than "The heroes have to stop the villain from getting these magic boxes".

Out of context Justice League is fine on its own, but it's not on its own. It's supposed to be this climax of what's come before in this cinematic universe, and it just feels like the next chapter in this clunky saga. Now the big-team up film doesn't have to be "the end of the beginning" like The Avengers. It can be the next step, and an origin story. Guardians of The Galaxy showed us that you can do a team-up film that is also an origin story.

Here's what Guardians does that Justice League doesn't though. It allows time for little character moments and actual character development. Batman, Wonder Woman, we know who they are at this point. Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg though? Who didn't have previous appearances in a DC film? They're all just sad loners. The one who probably shines best among the three is Aquaman, and if this film does one thing perfectly it makes me hyped for his standalone film (Hey sort of how BVS got us pumped for Wonder Woman!) We get a nice scene with Barry Allen and his father in jail, which probably feels more compelling to some than others because they watch The Flash tv series. Cyborg is just kind of there brooding and ashamed of what he is, and only gets to do anything when the plot needs him to. Would this film have worked better if they had their own films first? Probably, but it could have worked if they didn't either. But studio executives mandated the film to be two hours, so it's all rushed and it feels hollow.

Speaking of undeveloped characters, let's talk about Steppenwolf. He is not a good villain. His motivations are thin, and his character development is limited to a five-minute flashback narrated by Diana. The "Mother Boxes" of it all is lackluster. He's just a big, grey, generic, CGI bad guy for the heroes to fight. Speaking of fighting (segway to segway) the action is pretty bland. There's an underwater fight scene in Atlantis and honestly it made me nauseous. The big orange filter on everything in the final battle makes everything blend together horribly. None of the action really stands out, and it's all very choppy. Speaking of choppy-no I'll stop I'll talk about editing later.

So what's good about Justice League? Well the cast is pretty great and they have wonderful chemistry. Gal Gadot continues to remain the highlight of this franchise, being the perfect Wonder Woman. Ben Affleck's performance isn't as strong as it was in BVS but it's fine. He just seems…tired at times. Please just give us a good Affleck-led Batman film before it's too late. Holy crap finally, FINALLY, Henry Cavill actually gets to be Superman. I mean it's limited but he actually feels like the character for the first time with the material he's given. Jason Momoa is the coolest of cool as Aquaman. Ezra Miller is fun but sometimes annoying as The Flash. Ray Fisher's performance as Cyborg is nothing special but it's good.

The cast seems to be having some fun with this film, so in turn that can be transmitted to the audience. Justice League isn't unwatchable. It's nowhere near as terrible as Suicide Squad. Parts of it are enjoyable, and you might find yourself enjoying it a little bit. Atlantis and orange filters aside, some set pieces look pretty nice. When the film actually slows down and characters are allowed to be characters it's nice. But overall it's just a so-so film, and a film starring some of the most iconic comic book characters should be more than that.

Since the film's release, it's been revealed a lot had been cut out of the film. The edits are clear on the screen. So like all DCEU films, Justice League appears to be the victim of studio meddling. From my perspective, it seemed to come out a lot better than Suicide Squad, and arguably BVS. Justice League is harmless and hollow…but a little fun. It leaves no real impact, but you probably won't regret seeing it. Fingers crossed for Aquaman, Shazam, Wonder Woman 2…and whatever comes next…

So I've probably irked some Marvel fans for not trashing this film enough, and annoyed some DC films for not liking it more. But you know what?? You're all going to be pissed when you find out what I thought of Deadpool 2!!! *runs*

Film Review - "Wonder Woman"

Wonder Woman

Directed by Patty Jenkins

Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Connie Nielsen

Upon the release of Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice, many…pretty much everyone agreed that Wonder Woman was a major highlight in an otherwise average film. As time went on (and Suicide Squad came out), it became abundantly clear that Wonder Woman was just the best part of the DC Extended Universe.

Now her own film has hit theaters and that's still true. Wonder Woman, both character and film, are the very best part of this superhero franchise. Now looking at the three films that came before it I know that's not saying much, but Wonder Woman is still by all accounts…wonderful!

The film chronicles the origins of the titular heroine (played again by Gadot), from her early days of training on the Amazonian island Themyscira, to her journey into the outside world, specfically during World War I. 

When Ally spy Steve Trevor (Pine) crash lands on the shores of the island, he tells Diana and her and people of "The war to end all wars" tearing the world apart at its seams. Diana believes this to be the work and second coming of Ares, The God of War. Against her mother (Nielsen)'s wishes, she leaves the island with Trevor, who agrees to take her to the front lines. Once she arrives at the battle, Diana plans to find and kill Ares, and therefore end the fighting. 

First up, the story itself is fairly basic, and you might be able to predict how Diana's mission will go (or *will* you?!?!?!). But the film has a beautiful message about belief, hope, and love. Good and evil aren't always black and white, it comes down to nature and choice. The film would fail if it didn't have a main character that audiences could connect and root for, and my God do we get one. 

Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman, and gives an iconic, career-defining performance. She plays every part of Diana's character so well, from her "fish out of water" moments, to her simply being a compassionate human being, who sees injustice (see what I did there?) in the world and wants to make it right how ever she can. I think that's why so many people fell in love with her and this film. She's not someone avenging the death of a loved one like Batman, or taking responsibility for her gifts like Spider-Man, she's someone who has the ability to make a difference, and will seek out to do just that.

Not for any reason other than it's right thing to do. It reminds me of…of…of CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!

Alright, alright I'll calm down, but you can see the similarities, in both character and origin films (The First Avenger takes place in WWII, Wonder Woman takes place in WWI…) Anyway, the scene where she fearlessly marches onto No Man's Land. Chills. Pure chills and feels.

Chris Pine gives a charming and humorous performance as Steve Trevor, and the chemistry he has with Gadot is remarkable. Nielsen and Robin Wright as Diana's mother and aunt give small but powerful performances nonetheless. Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremmer, and Eugene Brave Rock play the three men who accompany Diana and Steve on their mission, Sameer, Charlie, and The Chief. They all have nice moments throughout the film but when I saw the film a second time I barely remembered them from the first viewing.

The biggest flaw of the film in my opinion is the villains. Danny Huston and Elena Anaya play General Ludendorf and Dr. Posion, and I'm not saying their performances are bad (Well, Huston's German accent is pretty cringe…honestly I still see Stryker from X-Men Origins), but they're mostly just pawns and plot devices. All this talk of Ares I don't think it's a spoiler to say he is in the film. It's hard to talk about him without going into spoilers, so I'll just say his part in the film is, underwhelming.

Two more notes. The music from Rupert Gregson Williams is phenomenal, and yes he does use and build on the theme from Batman VS Superman, and the film looks great. From the shores of Themyscira to the battlefield. My God I didn't know so much color was allowed in a DC film!

So to wrap up, Wonder Woman is a really good, really enjoyable film, that gives us more of a character we already were in awe of after only being with her for fifteen minutes of screen time. Is it perfect? No. Is it a game changer? Not in every case. But it doesn't need to be. Sometimes we just need a superhero film with an incredible main character and a heartfelt message, and that's what we got. It's not just a big step forward for the DC Extended Universe, it's a huge step forward. I'm glad we were finally able to get a Wonder Woman film, a female led-superhero film, directed by a woman that's having enormous success. I think this film is something the world really needed right now.

…..and I'm not just saying that because I met Gal Gadot last year and she touched my arm and I am forever cast under her spell….*sigh*…

Did you know that Danny Huston's General Ludendorf was a real General in WWI?? Seriously look it up. I mean he didn't have those crazy pills but still….that's nuts….

Film Review- "Suicide Squad"

Suicide Squad
Directed by David Ayer
Starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis

The third time is definitely not the charm for the DC Extended Universe, as Suicide Squad fails to give the franchise that severe boost of quality it desperately needs. It suffers a lot of the same problems that Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice did. But just like I said with Batman Vs Superman, I say to you here the reviews are being a lot harsher than they need to be, and there is still a little good in this film.

In the wake of Superman's death, director of A.R.G.U.S. Amanda Waller (Davis) moves to assemble a team of extraordinary-yet-expendable individuals to carry out high-risk missions for the government. Said individuals are a bunch of criminals and super villains, including but not limited to hit man Floyd Lawton a.k.a Deadshot (Smith), the twisted Harley Quinn (Robbie), and lowlife theif Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney, who I can't believe I'm about to say isn't the worst part of this film).

When a deadly, supernatural threat in the form of The Enchantress (Cara Delevigne) threatens to rip the world apart, Waller assembles the Task Force X, led by Colonel Rick Flagg (Kinnaman) to quite simply save the world. Meanwhile Harley's beau, the clown prince of crime The Joker (Jared Leto) is on a rampage to reunite with his beloved.

If there was a script for this film most of it got thrown out when the footage was being edited. There's a big lack of character development, some actions and movements from scene to scene make little sense. With the exception of Deadshot and Harley, most of the team stays pretty two-dimensional. There's a romantic angle between Flagg and Dr. June Moore (the woman The Enchantress has possessed) but its so unnecessary and these characters aren't given their proper due so we can't get invested in it.

The final battle is so blatantly ripping off the final act of The Avengers it's not even funny, except with The Avengers it was with characters we had grown to love, and we actually cared what was going to happen. You could almost forgive that, if the action wasn't completely generic. Also I'm sorry, but it just makes zero sense why the US government would send common street criminals, to fight a thousand-year-old witch with unholy powers. Captain America wouldn't be sent to fight The Dark Elves. Batman wouldn't be called to fight General Zod…actually they both would still do those things and win because they're awesome. Anyway!

Well I told you that this film wasn't as bad as they were making it out to be, and I've probably proven myself wrong by now…or have I?!?…I don't know. The cast is the film's saving grace. Will Smith is giving his best as Deadshot, and Margot Robbie is an absolute perfect Harley Quinn. I can't believe I'm going to say this but I enjoyed Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang. Joel Kinnaman plays Rick Flagg as a solid straight man to the Squad, but you can tell that there was supposed to be more to his character, that was either cut or he can't bring it. Viola Davis is Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. I could comment on Cara Delevigne as The Enchantress, if I thought it was actually her on the screen and not mostly CGI effects and a voice over artist. She's not really a villain or a character. More of a plot device sadly. Everyone else is sadly either sidelined or misused.

Ask for Jared Leto as our newest screen-adaptation of The Joker? Well the marketing lied to us. He's not in this film as much as we were led to believe. He does good work, but we need to see more of him before we can get a full taste of what this new Joker is like.

Finally the music in the film is top notch. Not the score itself, I honestly couldn't identify the instrumentals of this film to save my life, but the song choices. The variation of song choices is all over the place, but they're carefully selected and match the setting and tone of the film.

So how I can I still even recommend Suicide Squad to you? Well if you lower your expectations enough, you could end up enjoying this film to a degree. It's not going to be something a lot of people will rewatch over and over, but it is not unwatchable. There's still some pieces worth checking out, like the performances, the soundtrack, and there are some cool scenes that build up the DCEU, some including Leto's Joker and the return of Affleck's Batman. If you skip this film, it probably won't hurt you going forward in the franchise. If you do see it, great. There are worse ways to spend two-and-a-half hours, and you'll be introduced to some interesting characters you're likely to see more of.

Let's all keep in mind that this film was practically in the can before the Batman Vs Superman fiasco and Warner Bros. changed the regime overseeing the DCEU. So hopefully the worst is behind us, maybe the fourth time's the charm with Wonder Woman, and these characters/performances get better treatment going forward. Even the "Worst Heroes Ever" deserve something more.