At long last, it’s finally arrived. The most anticipated movie of 2021 so far, and one with a long history behind it. I’ve talked about the Snyder Cut before, at this article which you can read here, but now it’s time to actually review the thing.
From the very start, it’s very clear that this is indeed, Zack Snyder’s vision. It’s stated in the opening explanation for the 4:3 ratio, and it is prevalent throughout the film. Noticeably, the filter is a lot more darker and muted, and the plotline has a much more direct connection to Batman V Superman than the 2017 version. Indeed, the film feels much more stable and consistent, which is one of the highlights of the film. It’s the vision of a singular creator, as opposed to a jumbled mess of multiple directors and studio interference.
While many people have indeed criticized this darker and less humorous tone (although the Flash has quite a few nice jokes), in favor of a more Marvel-like style, I’d argue that Snyder’s tone helps his films stand out among the rest. Sure, I don’t necessarily love every decision he’s made (Batman V Superman is still a jumbled mess), but it’s clear that this is a product of his vision, and as a creator, I can’t help, but be entranced by it.
Four hours may indeed by a daunting task, but this may actually help the film. It’s not completely free of jumble, but each of the characters and situations feel more developed here. In particular, Cyborg is the standout, with some incredible acting by Ray Fisher. He has most certainly earned his spotlight here, and the extra scenes truly give Cyborg a complete character arc. And while I have in the past criticized how Superman and to some extent, Batman, have had their character traits changed heavily from the comics, if we take the films as standalone, Snyder manages to write his versions of the characters much more consistently, as opposed to the jarring shift in the 2017 version.
Cyborg has a much better character arc here, played brilliantly by Ray Fisher
The Snyder Cut’s soundtrack is also much better, with some brilliantly placed pieces. It feels much more grandiose, with a sense of scale. There’s only one scene that I’d say that has a misplaced soundtrack, but that can be forgiven when the rest of the film is scored so well.
There is, however, a few downsides to the film. Namely, once the plot is over, around five to seven-ish minutes of “teaser scenes” for the originally planned future movies play, which drags on a bit too long. I feel like Snyder should’ve trimmed them a bit, because it does sort of take you out of the experience. There’s also a lot of characters and situations that he has to cover in the movie, and while he does it well, it can feel a bit stuffed at times. But, given that he does have a four hour runtime, it’s much easier for him to overcome, allowing him to avoid the mistakes he made in Batman V Superman.
Overall, however, I would highly recommend people to give this a watch. It’s not a perfect movie by any means, but it most definitely has cemented its place in cinematic history. It feels like a creator making art that he wants to make, even if it isn’t for everyone, and it stands out on that merit. I wouldn’t necessarily call for a #RestoretheSnyderVerse, but I am very much interested in what his plans were.
