Gotta start off by saying: my god, this version is light-years better than the 2018 mess. Forget that Frankenstein-cut of a movie—this is the real deal. The affirmative version. The one that actually feels like a complete film.

Also…
#RestoreTheSnyderVerse
Because now people are begging for Justice League 2 and 3, and honestly? Same. I’m keeping the hashtag going—if enough of us yell into the void, maybe Warner Bros. will hear us over the sound of their own bad decisions.

Anyway—trailers incoming.
But first, a warning:

This review is gonna have massive spoilers, so if you haven’t watched the film yet… go do that first. Also heads up—
This movie is four hours long.
And it’s rated R for violence, some gore, and a few choice f-bombs. So yeah, definitely not kid-friendly.

Let’s get into it.

Also I won’t be reviewing every scene….im just gonna point out why this film is way better….try comparing both films together and all of that….

Also id recommended u watch this video…..it shows how different the 2017 film is to Zack Snyder version….

🔁 What’s the Same… and What’s Completely Different:

So if you’re wondering which scenes are actually similar to the 2017 theatrical version… here’s the short list:

• Bruce Wayne meeting Aquaman
• Batman meeting Barry Allen
• Wonder Woman saving kids from terrorists
• Reviving Superman (with a few tweaks)
• Steppenwolf collecting the three Mother Boxes (but with way more context and changes)
• The Amazon scene where he gets the first box (slightly altered)
• The sewer tunnel fight

That’s… pretty much it. Those are the only real similarities. The rest? Totally different. Like different tone, different color grading, different characters, different emotional weight, different everything. And, I mean—it’s literally got three extra hours of footage. So even the familiar scenes have some reworked dialogue, better effects, or extended sequences that actually make them matter.

But now let’s talk about who shows up this time, because holy character dump, Batman:

• Vulko (played by Willem Dafoe)
• Mera
• Darkseid (and correction: he came first. Thanos is basically DC’s homework Marvel copied and tried to hide with a new font)
• Granny Goodness (…who looks like she was rendered last-minute and never says a word, but she’s there)
• Zeus and Ares in flashbacks
• Martian Manhunter (yes. for some reason. Just shows up, no warning)
• Joker (Jared Leto version, yep, he’s back—grime and all)

So yeah, we get a lot more characters—some cool, some confusing—but it at least shows this was meant to set up a wider DC universe.

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🧩 Plot Rundown (Spoilers Ahead Lite™):

Steppenwolf comes to Earth to collect all three Mother Boxes (one with the Amazons, one with the Atlanteans, one with Cyborg’s dad). Once united, the boxes can open a portal to bring in his boss, Darkseid, so he can invade Earth and do what Darkseid does best: destroy planets because… evil. Honestly, that’s about as deep as Darkseid gets in this one.

Meanwhile, Batman and Wonder Woman try to assemble a team to stop this, tracking down Aquaman, Cyborg, and Flash. Eventually, they realize they’ll need Superman, so they use one of the Mother Boxes to bring him back from the dead.

Same basic structure as the 2017 version, sure—but this time it actually makes sense and flows like a real movie instead of a Frankenstein experiment edited by a caffeinated intern with commitment issues.

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🔥 Major Improvements:

Let’s compare how both films start.

In 2017, we begin with that cringy phone footage of kids interviewing Superman while his face CGI glitches out like a corrupted video file. But in this version? We start with Superman’s death from Batman v Superman—and the sound of his final scream echoing across the world. Atlanteans, Amazons, the Mother Boxes… everyone hears it. It’s eerie, cinematic, and way more effective. That scream wakes the boxes. And that sets the whole plot in motion. Now that’s how you open a movie.

Also—because this version is four hours long (yeah, still not over that), the film actually takes its time to set up the characters. The first 90 minutes are all about building the world, the threat, and the emotional stakes.

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🧛‍♂️ Steppenwolf Got a Glow-Up:

In the 2017 version, Steppenwolf looked like a rejected PS2 boss fight and had the personality of burnt toast. He was bland, boring, and forgettable.

But in this version? Totally reworked. His armor looks like it’s made out of bladed metal that moves with him, his face is more alien and expressive, and he’s taller, stronger, scarier. His voice is deeper. His presence is threatening. And most importantly—he has motivation.

Turns out Steppenwolf betrayed Darkseid a while back and now owes him a debt. A huge one. He has to conquer 50,000 planets to be forgiven. This adds layers to his character—he’s not just evil for evil’s sake, he’s desperate, ashamed, and trying to earn his way back in. He’s still a villain, sure, but now he’s got depth.

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🤖 Cyborg Is the Emotional Core:

Let’s talk about Victor Stone.

He barely existed in the 2017 version. But here? He’s central to the story. We actually see how he became Cyborg—from being a promising student and football star to a tragic survivor of a brutal car crash that killed his mom and left him barely alive.

His dad (Silas Stone) uses the Mother Box to rebuild him—turning him into Cyborg. But here’s the weird part: in one flashback he only has part of his face and one arm missing, but in the next flashback… he’s just a torso. Like, no arms, no legs. What happened in between? Did his dad accidentally snip too much?

Still, Victor’s story is powerful. It’s emotional. He struggles with his humanity, with isolation, with grief—and you feel for him. He’s not just “the tech guy,” he’s a broken kid trying to find purpose again.

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🔞 Why Is This Rated R?

Okay, so… about that R rating. It’s not for anything deep or edgy. It’s just there because:

1. Batman says “F***” once
2. Cyborg says it once too
3. A few scenes have gore—like Wonder Woman slicing up Parademons and blood squirting out like it’s Mortal Kombat
4. That’s… literally it

But even that is inconsistent. In one part of the sewer scene, there’s blood when Parademons die. In another, they spark like they’re made of robot parts. When Steppenwolf wrecks the Amazons, you’d expect a bloodbath—but there’s… nothing. Not even a splatter. So clearly, they got lazy and just threw blood into a few scenes and called it a day. It feels half-committed, like “Let’s get that edgy rating, but also… not too much effort.”

Woah!!!!!!

🫖 Let’s Talk About Alfred (Yes, Really):

Hot take time: I actually really like Jeremy Irons as Alfred. I know some people are split, but I don’t care—I said what I said. He’s not just some cranky old butler waiting around with bandaids. This Alfred actually does stuff.

He helps Bruce design tech. He runs the Batcave computers. He troubleshoots Bruce’s gadgets like a British IT guy with combat trauma. And yes… he makes tea. There’s literally a scene where the Justice League arrives at the Batcave, and he’s like:

Alfred: “I’ll get the tea made for everyone. Now the bloody question is—where am I going to get the cups?”

I love him. Let him cook (tea).

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🩸 So How Bloody Is This R-Rated Cut?

Surprisingly… not that much. Like, the rating says “violence and gore,” but it’s mostly mild for a 4-hour epic. Here are the main “gore” moments:

• Steppenwolf throws an Atlantean against a rock—blood splatters like a Jackson Pollock painting
• A couple scenes of Parademons getting shredded with some blood spurts (maybe two scenes max)
• The big mythology flashback battle (you know, the one with the Old Gods and Green Lantern)—has a few brutal hits and some sliced bodies
• Steppenwolf’s death scene at the end (we’ll get there… oh we’ll get there)

So yeah, blood shows up—but inconsistently. It’s like Snyder said “give it edge” and the effects team said “sure, but only on Tuesdays.”

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⏳ Flashback Scene Setup:

Remember that big Earth flashback from the 2017 version? The one where Steppenwolf invaded Earth in ancient times and got jumped by the Amazons, Atlanteans, Green Lanterns, and literal gods? Yeah, that scene. If you don’t remember it, don’t worry—I’m about to dive into the new version in full detail next, and trust me… this time it slaps.

🛡️ The History Lesson: Now With Extra Violence

Remember that huge battle flashback from the 2017 version? Where Steppenwolf fought the Amazons, Atlanteans, humans, gods, and even a Green Lantern?

Well, it’s here too… but better.

In this version, they swapped out Steppenwolf for Darkseid himself, gave the whole scene a visual upgrade, added some blood, and actually let the moment breathe. It’s no longer a rushed cutscene—it feels like an ancient, mythological war. It’s brutal, epic, and genuinely impressive. This is the scene that tells you, “Oh. Snyder came to play.”

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😬 Now for the Negatives (They’re Small, But… Yeah)

Don’t worry—there aren’t many problems. But what’s here… oof.

• The Flash’s slow-mo dog flirtation sequence:
  Barry saves a woman from a car crash, but takes way too long doing it. Like, he caresses her face mid-air and steals a hot dog out of the air while she’s about to die. For the dogs, yes. But still—Zack. My guy. What were you implying? It felt weird. I don’t need Barry Allen to become The Flash: Weenie Whisperer.
• Too much slow motion:
  I like slow-mo. But not when it feels like I’m watching the entire movie at half-speed. I swear there’s like 10+ slow motion sequences. I felt like I aged with the characters.
• The gore is inconsistent:
  Already said this, but repeating it here—sometimes blood sprays everywhere, other times people get obliterated with zero splatter. It’s like they rolled dice to decide which shots got blood.
• The epilogue is a marathon:
  There are like 5 different endings. It’s giving Return of the King syndrome. Just when you think it’s over, another scene starts. Cool stuff happens, sure, but pacing-wise… it drags.

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🦸‍♂️ Character Rundown: Who Got Upgraded

• Batman:
  Still not a Ben Affleck fan, but I’ll give him this—he does more here. He fights Parademons, uses actual strategy, leans into his tech and smarts. He’s no longer just a punching bag in a cowl.
• Wonder Woman:
  Always been solid—but she’s feral in this version, in the best way. Decapitates Steppenwolf at the end like it’s just another Tuesday. This is the Wonder Woman I loved from her solo film.
• Aquaman:
  Done way better than the 2017 version. More stoic, more depth, less bro-y. I actually like him here.
• Flash:
  I still don’t like Ezra Miller’s take. I just don’t. Their Flash always felt off to me—I preferred Grant Gustin from the CW. That said, he does more in this version. His time-travel hero moment? Fire. But everything else? Meh.
• Superman:
  Less screentime, better presence. No CGI mustache nightmare. No awkward dialogue. Just a guy in a cool black suit punching the bad guy into the next dimension. (Still no explanation why he picked the black suit though—just vibes, I guess. In the comics it heals him. Here? It’s aesthetic.)
• Steppenwolf:
  Oh my god. Night and day. He’s actually terrifying here. Fully redesigned, armored up, motivated, and brutal. No more weird “Mother… mother…” whispering. Now he’s a powerful, tragic war criminal trying to repay a cosmic debt. He even flexes out of his armor during fights. Love that for him.

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💀 How Steppenwolf Dies (a.k.a. The Most Overkill Finish Ever)

Let’s compare:

• 2017: Parademons turn on him, drag him into a boom tube. Lame.
• 2021: Superman explodes his horn with heat vision, Cyborg yanks the boxes apart with Flash’s help, Aquaman impales him with a trident, Superman punches him into a portal, and Wonder Woman decapitates him mid-air. His corpse and head fly through the boom tube and land at Darkseid’s feet. Darkseid steps on his skull. Horn breaks off. He’s dead-dead.

Was it epic? Hell yeah.
Was it overkill? Also yes.
Did I love it? Absolutely.

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🤖 Cyborg Deserves Better (But He Gets It Here)

Victor Stone is the emotional core of the movie. His backstory hits hard. From rising football star to broken survivor of a fatal car crash, we see the trauma, the isolation, the anger. His dad tries to save him by fusing him with the Mother Box—but Victor feels like a monster, not a miracle. He’s bitter, grieving, lost.

And then his dad dies. Yep. In this version, Silas sacrifices himself by blasting the Mother Box with gamma radiation so the team can track it. He literally evaporates. It’s brutal—but meaningful. It pushes Cyborg to step up.

He can fly. He can hack anything. He can literally manipulate the world’s digital infrastructure. He’s insanely powerful—and for once, respected in the story.

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🧨 Lex, Joker, and the Epilogue Mess

So remember that post-credits scene in 2017 with Lex Luthor and Deathstroke? It’s here, but moved to the epilogue and completely rewritten. Lex doesn’t say “Let’s form a league of our own.” Instead, he tells Deathstroke Batman’s real identity:

Lex: “His name… is Bruce Wayne.”

Cue Deathstroke smirking with his whiskey glass like he just heard the best gossip ever.

THEN we get the Knightmare future dream scene, where Batman leads a ragtag team in a ruined world. Superman’s evil. The Earth’s gone to hell. And who’s left?

Batman. Flash. Cyborg. Mera. Deathstroke. And… Joker.

Yeah. Leto Joker is back—white robe, long hair, SWAT vest with medals, yellow dish gloves (??). And he talks. A lot. The whole scene is this weird, slow, monologue-heavy face-off between him and Batman. Including this line:

Joker:
“Who’s gonna give you a reach-around?”

…Snyder. Sir. WHY.

Anyway, Joker gives Batman a truce card. Says as long as Bruce has it, they’re cool. Rip it up, and the war’s back on. Weird scene. Dream ends.

And Bruce wakes up to find… Martian Manhunter floating outside his house like it’s totally normal.

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👽 Martian Manhunter, Sir—Where Have You Been?

First of all: this guy shows up earlier in the movie pretending to be Martha Kent to tell Lois Lane to go back to work. That’s right. He shapeshifts into Clark’s grieving mom to drop some life advice. Then just walks out like nothing happened.

Later, he finally introduces himself to Bruce. Says he wants to join the team. Bruce responds like a Target employee clocking in late:

Bruce:
“Uh… may I help you?”

Not “who are you,” not “why are you hovering outside my house,” just—“may I help you.” What is this? Customer service for aliens?

Then Martian Manhunter drops this line:

“My friends call me… Martian Manhunter.”

Okay? Good for them?

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📚 Bonus Weirdness:

• The movie is split into eight chapters, which pop up in black screens like “Chapter 4: Change Machine.”
  Kind of clever. Kind of pretentious. Still better than a two-hour chopped-up studio cut.
• It ends on a cliffhanger. You can tell Snyder wanted this to set up Justice League 2 and 3, with evil Superman, post-apocalyptic survival squads, and Darkseid’s final attack. Honestly? Sounds awesome. I want to see that trilogy.

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🎯 Final Rating:

9.2/10 – Better than the 2017 version in every possible way. Overlong? Yes. Overkill? Sometimes. But this is Snyder unchained. Messy, bold, ridiculous—and unforgettable.

Just watch up to 5:40 seconds…don’t know what the last 2 min and 20 seconds are…and I don’t know why I watched this after watching Zack Snyder Cut….the 2017 version is such an insult….I mean seriously who sat down in the editing room and thought to themselves….he’ll yes this is exactly what DC fans want out of a Justice league film….u should be glad to hear the Zack Snyder Cut doesn’t have any of these cringy jokes…or dialog…….heck this film doesn’t have many jokes…..its supposed to be a darker serious film……

Honestly guys I can’t say this enough…but I highly recommend this film….granted some of u might be turned off by it because its 4 hours long…well fair…that is a long time…but this film needed to be 4 hours to tell its story properly correct……also there are or might be some of u who seen the 2017 version…and is concerned this film will be the same…well to put ur mind at ease….its not the same….this is a way better and far different film….its on HBO Max…..if u have the app….u guys should really check this film out….also if u don’t want to sit through all 4 hours in a row…may I recommend watching 2 hours in one day then the other 2 hours the next day…….im gonna give this film a solid 9.4/10

Oh hehehe BTW I really want to show u guys this video….its of a video doing a comedic recap comedy of the 2017 Justice League…..its great…..enjoy

If u end up liking that video….then may I recommend watching the comedy recap video of Batman VS Superman….

Superman: hey, stop throwing my girlfriend off buildings 

Lex: I was making a monster earlier, but now I want u to fight batman 

Superman: what, why?

Lex: because I got yo mamma.

Superman: nooooooo!

Lwx: make it rain, make it rain, make it rain.

Reason im showing u guys both those videos is because well

1. Those 2 movies suck

2. These 2 videos are funny and somehow tells the movie in a nutshell 

3. Well because if some of u don’t wanna see Batman VS Superman or Josstice League….then just watch those