Justice League (movie 2021)...the oh so long director's cut

​     Woohoo. I did it. All 242 minutes of it. For no apparent reason outside of being a completist by nature, it seems, but it’s done, I’ve sat through the entire director’s edition of Justice League. It only took two evenings. I was ready for three. Mind you, I actually went into it originally expecting a new movie and then almost immediately realizing the mistake, settled in for it anyway. The entire enterprise of these DC movies has been a mess for me, owning in no small way to these director’s cuts. So I’ve watched them out of order at first reluctantly, but in the end they did win me over.
   Mind you, I’m not a traditional superhero movie person, not really, I like them darker and twistier, more like The Boys. And I do believe this reiteration to be really miscast and yes I am talking about the distractingly hirsute Superman and the sheer Affleckness of the Batman. Wonder Woman, you are perfect. Perfect. And Aquaman you are unconventionally perfect. Never change. And the rest doesn’t seem very significant. But altogether these movies are fun, just fun, so much pure unadulterated fun. And I did find myself enjoying them more and more, especially the WW ones. And I always thought there were plenty long enough, but apparently Zach Snyder didn’t share that opinion and since in the end it is his opinion that matters, behold…this behemoth.
    Is it indulgent? Yes, of course, any production this long would be. But it’s surprisingly compelling and does in fact add new dimensions and layers to the original and so as such it is by definition a success.
   Despite a horrendous soundtrack. Seriously, wtf was that? Normally I don’t even really pay much attention to that sort of thing, but this was almost distractingly offputting (like Superman’s sweaty hairy manboobs) with some really crappy songs, a bizarre wordless wail every single time (Every. Single. Time.) Wonder Woman appears on screen, often in slow motion and a technically impressive but otherwise soullessly lamentable (and inexplicably contraction free…seriously, why) classic lament that Cohen has created and Buckley has perfected to such a degree that makes lesser attempts just…unnecessary.
   I’m not the one for watching movies over again and the original was still fresh in my memory and despite all that throughout this entire production I was very entertained. I like backstories, dimensions and layers, this worked for me, almost completely. The cheese was cheesier, the action more boombastic and the plot more elaborate and logistically complex. All good things.
   And just when you thought it was over…Snyder adds an elaborate dream sequence teaser at the end. Because, of course, there’s always a new adventure in the future and one must have something to look forward to. And I, for one, am excited.
   So yeah, this was an experiment in patience that paid off. Traditionally I don’t even watch deleted scenes and technically this movie is a version with all deleted scenes in, but it worked. Guess sometimes going on and on and on pays off…or at least that’s what oftentimes I tell myself when it comes to my reviews.
   Cinema fans looking for a more immersive adventure should enjoy this one.