Effectively the sequel to Batman v Superman (though Wonder Woman also provides some backstory), Justice League opens to a world without Superman- and the galaxy has taken notice. As Steppenwolf arrives to remake the Earth, Batman and Wonder Woman recruit Cyborg, Flash, and Aquaman in a desperate attempt to stave off this threat. But without Superman, is all for naught?
Oh, what might have been. DC is taking a much different approach to their story arc than Marvel, and so far, they're falling short. While Marvel's Cinematic Universe built characters with individual movies and then brought them together in The Avengers in a suitably climactic way, DC's Extended Universe elected to give big screen backstories only to Wonder Woman and Superman* before this compilation film. The result is disappointing (and perhaps predictable): we're left hanging when it comes to Cyborg, Flash, Aquaman, and even Batman. We have such little backstory that it diminishes the characters; by necessity, they're all thrown together with little build-up. It results in a disjointed film with poor plot/character development, shallow dialogue, and forced humor. We glimpse fascinating stories- I counted five of them!- but all go undeveloped for the sake of getting the team together so the audience can say "wow, the Justice League!" Problem is: I didn't know most of the characters well enough to care about or enjoy their unification. Another problem: casting. I just can't get behind Ben Affleck as Batman, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, or J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh. I went in to the film with low expectations, and it did meet those. There were a few amusing moments . . . but the Justice League should be an epic film, and it wasn't.
Rating: B-
*here is the list of movies in the DC 'canon'
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