Probably a bit delayed but I had some time to reflect on the movie and here are some thoughts and observations:
On a general level I think it worked quite well; I think they are gradually finding the balance between the serious and light-hearted tones - this is of course in reference to how
dark BvS was. Some of the humour really worked well especially with The Flash; while at other times, it just fell flat unfortunately. I personally think that cutting the movie down to 2 hours in this case was a decision that they should have really considered before executing it; I say this because another half hour could have helped develop the characters more. I mean, I wanted to see more Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg.
I hate to say this too but I think there were some pacing, editing and continuity issues in the movie and as a movie-goer sometimes these take you out of the experience of being
in the movie.
Character Observations:
1. Wonder Woman - Gal Gadot I think now owns this role. She's really good as Diana Prince and I think she was more the gel that held the team together compared to Batman or Superman. Almost like a mother figure to the league.
2. Batman - Actually I kind of missed the BvS version of him. The fight sequences were somewhat toned down (maybe for the general audience appeal? I dunno). What I liked though was we saw a bit more of the Bruce Wayne in him; I guess the more civilian side and that he initiates getting the league together. On a separate note though, it felt like Ben Affleck was a little distant in the movie; not as engaged in his role as he was in BvS.
3. Aquaman - Dude is badass; I can see Jason Momoa taking this role further in his solo movie. Not much of an opportunity to see him shine in this one though.
4. Cyborg - While I think his final look could've been better I think that Ray Fisher was also solid in this one; I can't say too much as I did not watch Teen Titans and I don't know too much about the character but from that perspective; it felt like he was the big brother of the league.
5. Flash - Ezra nailed it and I hope they get to settle things with his solo movie. I mean most of his humour was on-point and his moves and the CGI during the speed force just blew my mind, I like this take on the speed force and the soundtrack that goes along with it. I really wanna see more of that in the solo movie.
6. Superman - Glad to see that he's back but it felt as though his screen time was too short. I kind of felt like he did not have enough time to recover after being brought back to life and then helping the league. I don't fully disagree with how he was revived but I was hoping for more of a natural revival. This coming from a Henry Cavill fan; I hope they do a MOS2 where he gets to show his acting chops and persona.
Pacing, Editing and Continuity
1. To me at least, the pacing felt somewhat rushed, it felt like I couldn't breathe or settle down until the part where they were all in the Bat Cave for the first time discussing how to revive Supes. To me that was the point of the movie where things started to settle down a little. Before that it was one action sequence after another.
2. Regarding Continuity; after Steppenwolf's attack, they convened to meet Jim Gordon if I'm not mistaken - anyone notice a black dude in a trench coat lingering around? Was that Silas Stone? It kind of felt weird that he was walking around but could not see his face nor did he have any lines.
3. Some things I noticed that were in the trailer but not in the movie - I know they do this sometimes but oh well:
- In the trailer Aquaman says 'Honestly I think we're all gonna die' in the movie he says 'Honestly I think we're all gonna be dead'. Then after the lasso scenario Flash says ' I didn't hear anything after he said we're all gonna die'.
- In the trailer I think it was the final battle scene, Aquaman and Cyborg are facing Steppenwolf then Wonder Woman lands in front of them and says 'Shall we?' That's missing in the movie I think.
- In the trailer there was a scene where Wonder Woman says something like 'Do not engage alone, we do this together'. I think that was missing also in the movie.
- Bruce looking at a hologram of Supergirl - also missing in the movie.
- In the trailer there was the scene where Alfred looks up and we are left to guess whether it's Superman/Green Lantern/Martian Manhunter and he says 'let's hope you're not too late' - also missing from the movie.
- Some scenes involving Cyborg like where he was playing college football, walking down the alley in his football jacket and as Cyborg flying and we see how his cyborg side covers his face when he reaches the clouds, also one scene where he blocks a car from landing on a police office and says 'I think you should move' - I think all these are missing from the movie.
- In the final trailer which opens and leads us to believe it's a dream sequence of Lois meeting Clark in the field well the scene was totally different in the movie no reference to the ring she was wearing etc.
I think there's a few more but I can't remember them now. As I said above, I know they do this sometimes and after we know of the
extensive re-shoots, that's a good reason why some scenes are missing but because the earlier trailers have been released it was just a bit awkward for me to see the scenes play out differently or totally missing from the movie.
CGI
1. Overall I think it was good although I think they could've done more work with Steppenwolf.
2. Cavill's moustache - I thought that I did not have a good eye for CGI but it was really obvious in the opening scene of the phone camera footage where the kids interviewed Superman. I mean, he looked like Cavill but with a seriously awkward jaw line - even my wife noticed this!. Other scenes were done better. In fact, I think the only scenes where they did not have to remove his moustache was during the revival scene and how he initially battled the league for a bit and at the end when they got the Kent farm back. I mean, I could see it during the final battle and during the Flash race.
Soundtrack
1. To me was a bit meh, not as goosebumpy as MOS or BvS. Full respect to Danny Elfman but I was surprised to hear bits of the Avengers main theme in the movie - I noticed it especially in the scene where the team boards the Flying Fox and there was another scene with the team together later on. I was shocked coz that's like
the Avengers theme.
Honestly guys, I really wanted this movie to work, like seriously I want it to do well, and I hope I don't sound like I am nit-picking; but these are just some of what I observed after watching the movie. I hate to troll and I hate to have a negative take on things but yea...
Long story short - I think a little more care could have gone into making the movie.