Hey everyone! I’m sure we all saw HBOMax’s big announcement last week: The Snyder Cut is officially coming. After two and a half years of fans pleading and petitioning, Zack Snyder’s Justice League will premiere on the HBOMax streaming service in 2021.
WHAT IS "THE SNYDER CUT"?
For those who are unaware, The Snyder Cut refers to the superhero film Justice League. The film, directed by Zack Snyder, had a storied and troubled production due to studio interference. During post production, a family tragedy caused Snyder to step away from production, and Avengers director Joss Whedon filled in for him to finish the film. The result? Massive rewrites, complete tonal shifts based on reception to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, and two clashing directorial styles. The finished project was less than well received by fans and critics alike. Ever since its release in November 2017, fans have clamored for the original cut that Snyder made, rather than the changes Whedon implemented during his takeover of the film. Snyder was aware of the movement, and teased fans with various images and comments over the last two years and largely credited the fans for his original cut to be released.
It is reported that HBOMax is putting upwards of $30 million into finishing the film, which Snyder will complete unused scenes, record new dialogue with the original cast, finishing CGI and effects, and even compose a new musical score. Given that Justice League’s theatrical cut was not very good, what does the Snyder Cut need to do to improve Justice League?
1) STICK TO THE TONE
Having two directors, with two very different styles, tends to make it feel like you’re watching two completely different films. Snyder’s previous two films in the DCEU, Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, are darker affairs. Poor reception to previous DCEU films led the studio to implementing a “lighter” tone. Whedon has specialized in this kind of tone and was rumored to rewrite nearly eighty pages of the script to change the tone which is absurd. From my perspective I can almost tell a Snyder scene (Batman recruiting Aquaman) from a Whedon scene (Superman and Flash race). Call me a Batman traditionalist, but I’d also prefer less “comedic” Batman moments which I feel were absurdly added in. “Oh yeah, something is definitely bleeding” and “I don’t…not like you..” moments are the biggest offenders for me. By keeping one consistent tone; Snyder’s, which I my opinion he earned as multi-DCEU film director, the film would flow better and have a better payoff for fans of the franchise since the beginning.
2) WORLD BUILDING AND EASTER EGGS
It is rumored that a lot of world building and Easter eggs shot by Snyder were left on the editing room floor unfortunately. The studio thought that these moments just were fan service and confused others. But many do not know that Snyder had a five picture arc planned for his DCEU movies, and this movie was meant to set up a sequel to continue that story arc. Various scenes include the “big bad” Darkseid (pictured above), an appearance by Martin Manhunter, Superman donning his black suit, and members of the Green Lantern Corp. meeting Batman. However, while these scenes are undoubtedly exciting, times have changed since 2017. The DCEU has been shuffled a little bit; Ben Affleck has retired as Batman, Henry Cavill's return as Superman possibly regulated to a more supporting/cameo role, and big question marks for the future of Flash and Cyborg. So while it will be interesting to see these scenes, they will always fall under “what could have been” for the DCEU as a whole.
3) KEEP "MUSTACHE GATE" TO A MINIMUM
To sum “Mustache Gate” up real quick, basically when reshoots for Justice League were taking place, Henry Cavill was working on Mission Impossible: Fallout and his character had a mustache. Paramount Pictures would not allow Cavill to shave it off for his reshoots as Superman, even after Warner Brothers offered to pay to have it CGI-ed on for Mission Impossible: Fallout for a rumored $3-5 million (its as ridiculous as it sounds unfortunately). So Warner Brothers had no choice but to CGI his mustache off in reshoots (again, it's as ridiculous as it sounds, if not more so) and the results were, unnerving to say the least. I mean come on, look at that picture! I question if it was even worth all the trouble to CGI it off. Hopefully Snyder has a lot more footage of Superman that was shot during production that didn’t fall under Mustache Gate because quite honestly every time I see him with his CGI lip it is laughable and extremely distracting which takes away from the scene I’m watching!
What are your thoughts of the Snyder Cut and how it can improve on Justice League? Is there anything specific you’re looking forward to or hope to see? Let me know in the comments!
Comments