Direction: Zack Snyder; Cast: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ciaran Hinds. Diane Lane; Story: Chris Terrio and Joss Wheton based on Justice League by Gardner Fox; Screenplay: Chris Terrio and Zack Snyder; Cinematography: Fabian Wagner; Editing: David Brenner, Richard Pearson, Martin Walsh; Music: Danny Elfman; Producers: Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg, Geoff John; Genre: Sci-Fi Action; Location: Gotham and Metropolis; Distributor: Warner Bros. Running Time: 140 minutes;
Technical assessment: 3.5
Moral assessment: 3 stars
CINEMA rating: V13
MTRCB rating: PG13
To stop Steppenwolf (Hinds) from conquering the Earth, the three Mother Boxes, containing unparalleled energy, are distributed for safekeeping to the Amazons, Atlanteans and mankind after their combined armies defeat and imprison Steppenwolf and his army. However, Superman’s death triggers the Mother Boxes to come alive and free them. Bruce Wayne/Batman (Affleck) and Diana Prince/Wonderwoman (Gadot) team up and recruit Atlantean Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Mamoa), Barry Allen/Flash (Miller) and Victon Stone/Cyborg (Fisher). The team is formed too late as the Steppenwolf gains two of the Mother Boxes. Wayne decides to use the energy of the remaining Mother Box to bring Superman back to life. However, the resurrected Superman is disoriented and attacks the team until Lois Lane (Adams) arrives and calms him down. The unguarded remaining Mother Box is easily retrieved by Steppenwolf so the superheroes decide to defend humanity even without Superman. At the last minute
Superman arrives to assist the united heroes. Fear consumes Steppenwolf causing his own Parademons to attack him. The movie ends with hints of the heroes becoming a real team and Lex Luther planning to form his own group against them.
Justice League is all hype—in its publicity and propaganda and in its storytelling. The action scenes and visuals, with all its multi-million dollar effects and design, will impress some and entertain a few. The story is old and tired. Preventing a vanquished villain from gaining full control of its powers and assembling a team to stop it is just too familiar. What made it even less engaging were flat storytelling and too many back stories in the exposition. It took a long time to get to the action, which is not expected of a superhero movie. But the greatest failure of the film is the shallowness of the characterization and their lack of chemistry with each other. It just did not work. The attempts to be funny were forced and the moments of insight were overworked. That it comes right between successful and loveable superhero movies from a competitor studio does not help.
To be a person for others is the usual and natural orientation of superheroes and heroines. In the earlier years, they saved the world because that is what they do. But modern heroes now make a conscious choice. They are faced with moral dilemmas, internal conflicts and polarization of social acceptance. Yet in the end, they make their choices not because they are programmed to do so but because it is the right thing to do. Because they value life. Because they understand that their powers are not for themselves but for service. Heroism is not about one’s superiority but about sacrifice. Power thrives when there is heart and soul. Power is the combined strength of people (or heroes) for a greater cause. Power is fueled by selflessness and compassion. Justice League has a lot of positive values to share but needs the guidance of adults to clarify the messages.
