It was surprising enough to find out that a so-called “Snyder Cut” of 2017’s Justice League even existed. It’s a far larger surprise to discover it isn’t half bad. Both films share the haziest of story outlines, but that’s where the similarities start and end – nearly every other aspect is night-and-day different. The theatrical version seemed to have been cut with the surgical precision of a whack-a-mole, while Snyder’s own vision chucks everything and the kitchen sink in for good measure. Despite all predictions, the result is actually a far more coherent (and sometimes even thrilling) epic of superhero proportions.

The film’s weaknesses are nothing new. The gargantuan running time does provide breathing space for all League members, but too often wheezing can be heard in the background. The tone – now restored to the clenched jaw stoicism of Man of Steel and Dawn of Justice – remains operatic to the point of melodrama, and the amount of Easter Eggs could even send a certain bunny into diabetic shock.

But such criticisms are unlikely to trouble the director. Fuelled by a guerrilla online campaign, this is a film for the pre-converted. For better or worse, it might be the most Snyder of all his films. The trick to any ongoing series is to always leave audiences wanting more, and Snyder just about pulls this off here – aided largely by an epilogue-cum-stinger to tantalise for what might have been.

It’s done: Superman is resurrected; Batfleck, Cyborg, and even the Flash are redeemed; and, against all odds, the “Snyder Cut” has been released. This is not a perfect movie, but it is both a spectacular finale to a wobbly franchise and an enormous vindication for artistic vision. We should be glad it exists.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J. K. Simmons, Ciarán Hinds, Amber Heard, Jared Leto

DIRECTOR: Zack Snyder

WRITERS: Chris Terrio (screenplay), Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio and Will Beall (story)

SYNOPSIS: Zack Snyder’s definitive director’s cut of Justice League. Determined to ensure Superman’s ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.