Zack Snyder’s Justice League is proof that the Whedon version was an injustice when it comes to storytelling, character development, and the way that women stories are told. And this is coming from someone who hated the Whedon version, but thought there would be no difference between the versions, if we ever got the Snyder one.
Boy, was I wrong. The Whedon and Synder versions of Justice League are like day and night. One exemplifies what it means to tell a story full of hope, love, and teamwork. And the other is a loosely put together work of garbage that rightfully got Justice League fans mad and clamoring for a Snyder Cut.
I’ll say this once…but fans were right to ask for the Snyder Cut. They were right to trust their gut that there was more to the story of Justice League as a whole, more to Victor Stone’s story, more to the story of a Steppenwolf that actually looks sleek and terrifying, while still somehow being compelling. They were right and we need to break down the finer details of why.
Night and Day When It Comes to Story Arcs
One of my biggest gripes with Whedon’s Justice League are the story arcs. They felt flimsy, out of touch, and didn’t give our heroes the nuance they deserved. It even made me look at characters like Wonder Woman and go, “Well, she’s a former shell of herself.”
Zack Snyder’s Justice League corrected that in more ways than one. Each character had their own time to shine and the background to match. And what we were left with is a rich story that exemplifies what it means to be a hero instead of some loosely put together super friends.
Particular respect needs to be given to Ray Fisher’s Cyborg. What was done to his character in the Whedon version was practically criminal when you encounter Snyder’s version. He’s complex, has a big heart, and somehow turned into one of my favorite characters of the movie in general.
And that’s without diving into the work they put into Lois’ character, the depth Aquaman got, and even what drove Steppenwolf to do what he did. Every character matters in Synder’s Justice League and it makes for a richer movie and experience because of it.
Night and Day When It Comes to Sexualizing Women’s Bodies
Another big gripe with the Whedon Justice League movie is the way that it sexualized the bodies of women. Yes, they were there to be superheroes. But they were also there to be desired and wanted by those who were viewing them in theaters. That’s why we got a shot of Wonder Woman’s posterior in the Whedon Justice League. He was going for sexy and fun but ended up looking sexist and dull.
That changed in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. No longer were scenes like that acceptable, funny, or needed to be included. Instead we got scenes and moments where the strength of Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, and other women were shown through their actions. They weren’t seen as prizes for the men in their lives because they were and are the heroes of their own journey.
It’s clear to me that Zack had tons of help from his producing partner and wife, Deborah Snyder. After interviewing her it’s easy to see her influence when it came to the journeys that these women had on screen and behind the scenes. Deborah isn’t here to tell paltry stories that demean it’s characters. She’s here to life up, exalt, and shout from the roof tops that women get shit done and they do it on their own terms.
Night and Day When It Comes to the Soundtrack
And finally, one of my biggest gripes with Whedon’s Justice League was the soundtrack. Don’t get me wrong, I think that Sigrid did a wonderful job when it came to Everybody Knows. But that’s about where it ends and where the problems behind. Whedon barely used music in his very of Justice League.
Action scenes, drama scenes, emotional scenes, and funny scenes? No need for music. You can see what’s happening, so what’s the point of adding anything else? Wrong. Music is such a beautiful and driving force behind a feature film. And it could absolutely destroy a movie if they don’t know how to harness the power of an original soundtrack.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League on the other hand, knows what it’s doing when it comes to music. Those action scenes? Big sweeping scores. Those drama scenes? Complementary music that elevates the story telling. Those emotional scenes? Heart wrenching movements that put you in the shoes of those that are currently suffering.
Music makes Zack Snyder’s Justice League into an adventure worth following and being part of. And I’m glad that fans will get to experience that and more when the Snyder Cut drops. It’ll be worth the wait. I promise.
The Snyder Cut of Justice League premieres on March 18th on HBO Max.
