Justice League (2017)

Justice League (2017)

5/10

Starring

Ben Affleck

Gal Gadot

Jason Momoa

Ray Fisher

Henry Cavill

Directed by Zack Snyder

There’s a lot wrong with this movie, and at times, it’s just plain boring. Plagued by a weak plot and CGI effects that could’ve been better (Superman’s reshoot scene and some Cyborg scenes, for example), Justice League feels like a weak response to Marvel’s Avengers.

Did I enjoy the movie?
A little bit.

Unlike Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok (2017), which was competing for the same attention as DC’s Justice League, Ragnarok had enough excitement to keep you entertained, even if you noticed plot holes. Justice League’s downside becomes obvious when the leads start talking—it’s dull, unlike Marvel’s snappy dialogue. There are moments where you just wish they’d skip the unnecessary chatter, resurrect Superman, and get on with saving the world.

Does the movie live up to the hype needed for the Justice League’s big-screen debut? Hell no.

Justice League is the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe, picking up right where Batman v Superman (2016) left off. We see the effects of Superman’s death on the world. His presence was like a lighthouse, warning many (including aliens) to stay away from Earth. Now that he’s gone, an ancient evil villain has returned to continue his quest for world domination, which was interrupted thousands of years ago.

The lead villain in this movie is Steppenwolf. Thousands of years ago, he tried to conquer and remake Earth using the combined energies of the Mother Boxes. His plan was foiled by the combined forces of the Olympian Gods, Amazons, Atlanteans, humans, and Green Lanterns. They defeated Steppenwolf, separated the Mother Boxes, and hid them apart.

Now, Steppenwolf is reassembling the boxes, having already taken the ones from the Amazons and Atlanteans. He’s now after the one held by humans. Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) decides to gather the best of the best to stop this threat. He recruits Aquaman/Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), Diana/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Barry Allen/Flash (Ezra Miller), and Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher). Together, however, they’re no match for Steppenwolf, so they decide to bring back the one person they believe can tip the scales in their favor: Clark Kent/Superman (Henry Cavill).

They resurrect Superman, the Justice League is formed, and they set out to save the world.

The movie’s plot isn’t any deeper than what’s written above, and there’s no special twist. Watch out for Superman’s resurrection scenes—at least that part of the movie got me excited. By the end, you’ll likely share my feeling: this could’ve been done better.

I can’t recommend this movie with the same conviction I had when I said to go watch Thor: Ragnarok (2017). With Disney’s Coco releasing in the second week of Justice League’s run, the latter has its work cut out for it in recouping its budget and turning a profit—something I believe it’ll manage to do in the end.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

10/10

Starring

Chris Hemsworth

Tom Hiddleston

Cate Blanchett

Tessa Thompson

Mark Ruffalo

Directed by Taika Waititi

Thor: Ragnarok doesn’t fail to please from the very first scene, where Thor is trapped and delivers a monologue. It’s more fun than the other Thor movies, and this train ride stops at every comedic station, making it one of the funniest movies of 2017—not just the funniest superhero movie. But if you’re worried that a movie, especially one about such deep characters, shouldn’t be all laughs, Disney has you covered—the action scenes are epic. The battle between Thor and Hulk, and the finale where Thor masters his powers to take on Hela’s army of the undead, are both must-see moments.

The movie has its dark moments too, with many lives lost after the introduction of Hela, the Goddess of Death. In every way, Disney and Marvel have mastered the art of making a movie that’s suitable for everyone to enjoy.

Thor: Ragnarok is the sequel to Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013), and it’s the seventeenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It’s set two years after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

Here’s the movie summary: In Asgard, the prophecy of Ragnarok (the end of all things) begins to unfold. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is trying to prevent his nightmares of Ragnarok from coming true, unaware that his actions are actually steps toward fulfilling the prophecy.

When Thor returns to Asgard, he finds Loki (Tom Hiddleston) posing as Odin through shape-shifting. Thor, well aware of his brother’s tricks, exposes him, and their search for Odin leads them to Doctor Strange. Strange takes them to Norway, where Odin is dying. Odin warns his sons that his death will release Hela (Cate Blanchett), his firstborn and the Goddess of Death, who will bring about the end of Asgard.

No sooner does Odin’s life force fade than Hela arrives. A mistake by Loki allows her to reach Asgard, while he and Thor are stranded on another planet. Now, Thor must find a way back to Asgard to save his people from Hela’s annihilation. To do this, he teams up with Hulk, who’s also on the planet, a Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson)—the last surviving Valkyrie from Asgard—and his brother Loki.

The movie’s plot draws from different storylines, including a little adaptation from Planet Hulk. Hulk’s inclusion changes the ending of the last Avengers movie, where he was last seen flying off in a Quinjet at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

I really enjoyed this movie, but I can see how some might feel the humor and action overshadow character development and plot depth. I agree that the story feels predictable, and Thor’s growth and motivations don’t get enough focus, making his arc feel a bit flat. 

I personally felt the absence of Beta Ray Bill while watching the movie. I’ve been hoping for his inclusion, and I’m crossing my fingers that a fourth Thor movie will bring him into the mix.

This is another Disney/Marvel masterpiece that’s doing well both critically and commercially. Go see it—it’s absolutely worth it.