Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Ultimate Edition (2016)

In honor of The Snyder Cut being released on HBO Max next year, I decided to revisit Zack Snyder's previous effort in the DCEU(DC Extended Universe). The Ultimate Edition was chosen as the story is fully fleshed out and is generally viewed as better than the theatrical cut. Having seen both, I agree.

After the events of Man Of Steel(2013), the world has changed. A God by the name of Superman flies around, and the people of the world either totally love him or despite him. With the 24 hour news cycle reporting on his actions daily, and political perspectives looking at it, all eyes are on him. Bruce Wayne, who has been operating as the Dark Knight for decades witnessed the destruction caused by Superman's battle with Zod on the ground, which resulted in one of his buildings with several of his employees dying inside. His fears, compounded with years of facing humanity's worst criminals in Gotham have changed him.

The film opening with the death of Bruce's parents may seem counter-intuitive at first, but it holds importance to this story beyond the "Martha" connection. This was the first moment where Bruce felt complete hopelessness. Now, as the Dark Knight, his actions have gotten more aggressive, killing criminals, and branding others if he deems that person should die. Clark Kent tries to focus his efforts on bringing attention to Batman's actions, though his boss Perry White isn't interested in publishing it, and frankly, it doesn't completely take Clark's mind off things.

After saving Lois from African insurgents, he is accused of killing several innocent men with his heat vision, but it was really caused by mercenaries who are employed by Lex Luthor, who has a complex plan to either turn the world against Superman or kill him, manipulating both the heroes, as well as political figures to gain access to Zod's Kryptonian ship for his experiments involving Kryptonite.

Superman and Batman's story arcs in this film are great as they run in parallel with each other. Superman has vowed to protect mankind, but mankind has let their fears question his choices, and view him as a threat. He sees that Batman's actions are seemingly applauded by the police, causing more resentment between the two of them. This isn't the classic Superman story that we are used to. This universe is supposed to closely resemble ours, and our world isn't as hopeful as we wish it was. Skepticism runs inside everyone.

Ben Affleck is pitch-perfect as The Dark Knight. He is an intimidating on-screen presence and you can see why the criminals of Gotham are afraid of him. His Bruce Wayne is the perfect mask. He displays charisma and confidence that is associated with the character perfectly. Henry Cavill continues to prove that his interpretation of Superman is worth the price of admission. His character's journey in becoming the character we all know is compelling the watch in the real-world setting. I just wish we got a bit more of his Clark Kent. This film favors Batman more. With the time on screen she is given, Gal Gadot makes the most of it, stealing each scene she is in. I recommend watching her solo film after this.

The action set pieces are memorable. In previous incarnations, Batman's fight scenes features him with stiff movements. No longer. The warehouse scene is one of the best hand to hand combat scenes I have ever watched. It was reminiscent of the Arkham video games. Despite winning, the fight had little touches to show that Batman is still human, such as him getting stabbed by one of the goons. The Batmobile chase scene is brutal and jawdropping. The titular fight between our two heroes is like a heavy gladiator match. You feel the weight of each punch. I have to say that in the final battle with our Trinity about to face off against Doomsday, it felt like a moment ripped straight from the comics.

DC films always come up with a memorable score, and this film is certainly no exception. Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL work well together here. The themes from Man Of Steel return for great dramatic effect. Two memorable pieces for me are "The Red Capes Are Coming", which serves as Lex Luthor's theme, and "Is She With You?", which has since become Wonder Woman's theme in her subsequent appearances.

One con is the franchise setup. As cool as it was to see those characters in live-action for the first time, it didn't bear much relevance to the main story. If it had to be in the film, it should have been a post-credits scene.

I honestly think that this is Zack Snyder's best work. This film offered a compelling narrative that gave a new challenge to two idols of pop culture: having them reassess their purpose in the world.

A standout superhero film with a unique story, brilliant performances, top tier effects, and creative vision, Batman v Superman deserves the passionate debates it led to.

9.5/10

Stargirl - S.T.R.I.P.E.

Another week, another Stargirl review. Film reviews are the primary feature of this site, but given the cinematic nature of the series, and my desire to be more consistent, I am dedicated to writing a review each week for the show's entire season. We'll see if I maintain this commitment.

Like the pilot, this is a setup episode. After being teased near the end of episode one, we see more of Brainwave, a member of The Injustice Society. He wonders if there is a new Starman, and goes to alert a member of the Injustice Society. He is largely ignored, but he doesn't want the group's master plan for Blue Valley to be comprised, so he sets out to find out who has the Cosmic Staff.

Barbara, who is both Courtney's mom and Pat's wife is happy that the two of them are acting civil towards each other. That tends to happen when the two people are keeping a massive secret. After the end of episode one, we see more Pat in his giant robot which looks great. While some moments look cartoony, it is still an impressive feat.

I have to give praise for the character building of our leads. Courtney and Pat are the primary focuses, with even a look into the relationship between Courtney and the Cosmic Staff, and the supporting characters in Barbara's office, the students and teachers at the school, etc. There is a one-shot sequence set in the school's gymnasium that gave us a peek at the different characters, displaying several types of personality based on a few words of dialogue, highlighting Geoff John's top tier writing abilities and the clearly talented ensemble cast. I know that we will go more in-depth with the other characters, especially since we know Courtney and Pat will eventually set up the new Justice Society Of America, but I am hungry to learn more about them. Pacing is all well and good, but this episode moved a bit too slow for me.

The learning curve element continues. Courtney was sloppy about her identity, and she happened to blow up the car of Brainwave, whose son borrowed it. This results in a tense cat and mouse game between the two which leads to the confrontation at the end. Courtney finally suits up and has a badass introduction, but she barely survives her battle with Brainwave. Pat also gets his butt handed to him. The two of them consistently fall: Courtney destroying several sewing machines to make her costume, Pat trying to get in shape, and shoot a rocket fist from his robot, etc. But in the end, the two of them manage to work together and then set out to defeat the rest of the Injustice Society to get justice for Pat's dead friends.

In this episode, I really noted and appriecated the orignal score, composed by Pinar Toprak. I read that unlike another shows, she used a live orchestra, and that helps elevate both the heroic moments and smaller intimate character interactions. The song choices are consistently appropriate. The use of "The Man" by The Killers made me smile.

Luke Wilson continues his streak as the show's MVP. His combination of heart, humor, and drama is balanced perfectly. At this point, he is proving to be more likable than Courtney, and this is a good thing. Courtney being this imperfect kid, rushing headfirst into danger sets her on a more rewardable character journey that I have no doubt will be satisfying, especially with the longing for her biological father element. Brec Bassinger's standout moments was the scene in her room with her mom, thinking that Pat went out to face Brainwave alone, and the stern argument she had with Pat before he left the house.

These moments are great, but it finally made me realize what is still missing from the show. Engaging villains. So far, they are pretty by the book and based on what I read from the Stargirl comics, they may not even be the true villains by the end of rhe season, but at this point, I am just speculating. Each scene that focused on Brainwave or another villain, I hoped it would end sooner so I could watch more of Courtney and Pat. Hell, I even wanted to see more of the girl who is only friends with her parents.

S.T.R.I.P.E. continues to set up the season effectively, yet slowly. Fun action sequences and character interactions continue to build goodwill.
8/10

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

This review was meant to coincide with Quarantine Watch Party last month, but hey, exams kept me busy. Here it is regardless.

Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the world has settled into its new normal. Peter Parker and his classmates go on a European school trip just as Peter is looking for a break from his duties as Spider-Man. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much choice. Nick Fury recruits him to team up with Quentin Beck, a soldier from another dimension as he claims to fight the things that destroyed his world, the Elementals.

I can appreciate this film putting Spider-Man in a situation that he hasn't been in before. Certainly seeing him out of his element without a ton of skyscrapers to swing off presents a new set of challenges for him, not to mention attempting to protect his secret identity from his classmates.

The cast is game. Tom Holland has turned in consistent work during his tenure as the wall-crawler, and his youthful energy and passion for the franchise are apparent on screen. Jake Gyllenhaal makes an impression as the latest MCU villain, with snarky charisma and screen presence. The other standout performance to me is the ever-reliable best friend Ned, played by Jacob Batalon. The humor is great. The screenplay by writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers is full of wit and character.

The MCU association has unfortunately resulted in a loss of identity. It feels like a typical Marvel movie, which is kind of a low point as phase three of the MCU is the best, with its bold risks and creative films. It pales even more when compared to Sony's wildly imaginative animated feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse which came out the year before.

Iron Man's association with Spidey is a blessing for him, but a curse for Peter. Both Vulture and now Mysterio are villains associated with him more than Peter. As well, with the effect his death had on Peter in Endgame, I hoped we would explore the effect it had on Peter as a hero, and the drama following that, but the film just scratches the surface of it, while balancing other things. One minute, it is emotionally heavy, the next, it is a fun teen cross country adventure.

Spidey has always had a great supporting cast in the comics, and the MCU spiderman movies have employed them here. Though they didn't get as much screentime as I would have liked, they make the most of what they have been given. Homecoming suffered from the same problem. Yeah, this is Spidey's show, but with the world around him rich with character, the film would have benefited from a longer runtime.

The action is frankly, lackluster. Compare them to the sequences of Endgame that came out months before, or even Spider-Man 2(2004), it is boring. Spidey fighting off drones in the final battle isn't the most exciting sight to see. Given that this is director Jon Watts' second big-budget film, I expected more. The Mysterio illusion sequence was easily the best, with its interesting visuals.

The romance between the two characters Peter and MJ is cute and awkward in all the right ways, and you can feel their chemistry. If only it was set up properly. If you remember, in Homecoming, MJ had an certain fascination in Peter, but she wasn't in the film that much, and Peter focused his romantic prospects on Liz. When this film starts, Peter is now interested in her. This development happens off-screen. It would have been better to show rather than tell.

The 2 post-credits scenes saved this film from getting a lower rating. The mid-credits scene, in particular, is very exciting to me, with the promise that we will get another Spider-Man film with him out of his element. I only hope that it can hold up on its own and not have to depend on other characters' films. Despite my complaints, I left the cinema having generally enjoyed this film, and I have since gone back to rewatch it.

Overall, Spiderman Far From Home is an entertaining fun adventure with a witty script, great performances, and rewatch value, but lacks a unique identity for such an iconic character, and highlights lackluster action sequences.

7/10

Stargirl - Pilot

The CW has been home to the Arrowverse's roster of superhero shows since Arrow premiere in 2012. At the end of last year's crossover, Crisis On Infinite Earths, we see a snippet of the heroes on Earth 2, Stargirl, and her new team of heroes. With the influx of new superhero shows recently, with Batwoman just premiere last year, the upcoming Superman show, and a possible Green Arrow spinoff, it may be just too much, especially since some of those shows are past their prime(Supergirl), but Stargirl sets itself apart.

Part of it may be because the show was originally just for the DC Universe streaming service. As well, Geoff Johns, DC's answer to Marvel's Kevin Feige is the creator of Stargirl, based on his late sister, and has put his heart and soul into it. Whatever the case, I highly recommend it. The potential is too great to ignore.

The series opens with the death of Earth's greatest heroes, The Justice Society Of America, while they are battling the Injustice Society, on Christmas Eve no less. Starman's sidekick, Stripsey(Seriously) takes his cosmic staff and promises to protect it. Meanwhile, a young girl named Courtney Whitmore has a gift from her dad and is waiting for him to show up.

Ten years later, Courtney is a high school student now, moving from LA to small-town Blue Valley, with her mom, her new stepdad Pat Dugan(Stripsey), and his son Mike. Courtney isn't impressed with the town at all, nor with her new school, and quickly makes enemies. After a family dinner, Courtney discovers the magical staff that belonged to Starman and spends the night with it. Afterward, Pat is shocked to discover that the staff works for her, and the two decide to keep the truth a secret from the rest of the family. Meanwhile, evil lurks under the shadows.

The standout performances were Brec Bassinger as our lead and Luke Wilson as the lovable stepdad. The two of them play off each other well. The tense relationship between the two of them seems to be the focus. The father-daughter relationship while learning to be crime fighters together will certainly be interesting to watch and to see the ice between them thaw.

The series seems to have the same bright, yer chessy attitude of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies or last year's Shazam. Yes, the show opens with the deaths of bright looking superheroes and typical family drama, but that doesn't get the show down. I'm all for a hopeful superhero series, especially in our current situation these days, and yet, it doesn't have the cheesy visual effects that have plagued other arrowverse shows(Supergirl, again guys. That show is awful). Another benefit of being for a streaming service is the scope. It looks cinematic, with beautiful cinematography and set pieces of the town setting. The visuals and choreography with Courtney and the staff are fun to watch.

As well, Courtney can handle herself. That may seem obvious as she is our main character, but through brief movements of character building, we see that she practiced in both martial arts and gymnastics. And as capable as she is, she still has a lot to learn. The learning curve element the show is playing with is a smart move. Geoff Johns has certainly written a strong script.

Overall, I just love how hopeful it is. Overcoming sadness and trauma, connecting with the people around you, and discovering your greatness is uplifting entertainment.

Stargirl is a bright, fun, optimistic superhero series with a strong setup, top notch performances, and visual effects, promising a great first season.
10/10

Scoob! (2020)

Who doesn't like a good Scooby Doo adventure? After viewing this film, I went back and starting binging the Mystery Incorporated series, to remind me that there are much better stories. Don't get me wrong, this film isn't a disaster. I enjoyed it, and any film that features 'California Love' by 2pac gets my respect, but frankly, the script was not worth the big-screen treatment.

The film begins with the friendship origins of our titular dog and Shaggy as little kids. After adopting the stray following a mutual food encounter, the two encounter their fellow buddies, Velma, Daphne, and Fred on Halloween. After catching a signature monster in a haunted house, they decide to solves mysteries together.

Following the signature theme song and a montage, we cut to ten years later, where Mystery Incorporated wanted to expand. An investor, played by a fun celebrity cameo is interested but doesn't want Shaggy and Scooby due to their laziness, insatiable appetites, and the obvious fact that they are scaredy cats. After the duo goes to mope, they are attacked by cute, yet deadly robots, and are then saved by the superhero hero, Blue Falcon, who enlists their help in stopping Dick Dastardly.

The adventure was a fun one, but the strength of this franchise was always the relationship between Mystery Inc. Since this film serves as a reimagining and the potential start of a new franchise, the Scooby gang should have been together, rather than separated for a majority of the film. As a consequence, while the friendship between Shaggy and Scooby is given the spotlight, Velma, Daphne, and Fred are given board characteristics. Blue Falcon and his team, Dee Dee and DynoMutt are more developed.

The vocal performances were serviceable. Frank Welker never disappoints as Scoob, but the celebrity stunt casting isn't necessary for this franchise. Will Forte tried, but Matthew Lillard is missed as Shaggy.

Honestly, this doesn't feel like it would play well as a theatrical experience. Beyond the cool 3D animation, it felt no different from the various 2D direct to DVD stories that have been released throughout the years. At least the physical gags in this film are on the grand scale, and they are fun to watch.


Scoob! delivers more or less exactly what audiences have come to expect from the franchise. Whether or not that is a good thing may vary between audiences.
6/10

OCanFilmFest - Shorts Volume 1

On Friday, May 15, The Ottawa Canadian Film Festival(OCanFilmFest) is presenting short films that you can watch at the comfort of your houses, and I was lucky enough to watch them and review them ahead of time. Here they are:

The Art Of The Morning(dir.Nathan Hauch)
This short is described as a lyrical look at how one person prepares for the day ahead, savouring each moment, and I couldn't agree more. As it started, I realized that in broad strokes, the film is just about someone getting up and how they spend their morning. On the surface, it doesn't seem like very engaging entertainment for a short documentary. Then you begin the realize that the person we are watching is a disabled person.

A common conception is that life is difficult and that the simplest of tasks must be a challenge, but director Nathan Hauch, who is the main subject of the film shows that this is not the case. Nathan has a glass half full approach, seeing the beauty in the little things.

I applaud the artistic choice of not showing his face until the near end of it, resulting in creatively composed shots throughout the duration of the short. This visual poem is a stunning accomplishment, offering a glimpse into a life that has joy.

As It Was(dir.Blake Garbe)
As It Was follows Mason, a young boy who is experiencing the difficulties of family separation. We see how it affects his parents, his brother, and his sister, and while it is difficult, no one knows how to talk about it. Mason certainly doesn't want to, but no one has a choice. A relatively simple family breakfast results in an explosive shouting match that brings out all of the bubbling emotions

The story is a relatable one. The entire ensemble gets a story, but the filmmakers wisely pick the youngest family member as the focal point. His perspective gives us a new view into this, and the confusion and loneliness it can cause. While his life and family dynamic won't be the same, the way his family feels about him won't change, and that is a massive comfort, both for Mason and the audience. The feels got to me on this one.

This film's greatest strength is the cast. The family dynamic feels real and the siblings get the most screen time. The film opens with the three of them together, and director Blake Garbe wisely ends the film with the three of them together. Overall, this short hits all the right notes and leaves an impression with its knock out performances.

Before Me(dir.Karim Ayari)
There is a sad truth about social intolerance. It isn't a natural thing that people have; it is taught. Before Me explores this with its bilingual tale of a young boy named Mathis, who is becoming increasingly influenced by the xenophobic worldview of his father once his mother begins to date her Muslim neighbor.

The story contained such complex ideas for only a 16-minute short film. I wasn't sure where it was going. At first, it looked like the perspective of a child once a divorced parent begins to date someone else, but that changes once you realize when Mathis doesn't like him. The message becomes quick clear in whatever language the characters communicate in.

I applaud the filmmaker's take on such a difficult subject matter. It was so captivating, and it is such to stick with you long after you watch it. A standout sequence was the introduction monologue with the time cuts and the camera footage the mom capture. Such a creative way to flip the slightly optimistic tone with a hard-hitting family drama.

Our perception of other people, good or bad, isn't an accurate reflection of who they are. This short nailed the message on the head without being too preachy about it, which is a rarity as the filmmakers chose to believe the audience will understand. Just a captivating film. Excellent.

Perfect(dir. Karim Ayari)
Everyone has their perceptions about what is 'perfect'. Our protagonist Julius Quicklax certainly does. He found that he thinks his blind date was perfect, while he was not. Julius has Tourette Syndrome and describes to his therapist how his date went. After getting a glimpse into his life with all his ticks, we see him trying his best to suppress them when he finds that his blind date is perfect.

This sweet comedy-drama is more relatable than you think. Perfection is seen in different ways, and Julius learns that maybe perfection is a flaw that one sees to prevent themselves from truly living and being who they are.

The short benefits from its stylistic cinematography and 4th wall breaking storytelling. The quirky style perfectly reflects Julius' perspective. I appreciated that the filmmakers took a comedic approach to the material, as the tone elevated leading man Richard Gélinas' standout performance.

Andre The Anti Giant(dir. Kim Saltarski)
This short documentary details the life of Andre H. Arruda, an up and coming comedian who suffered from morquio syndrome, leaving him 3 feet tall and limited walking ability. From the age of four, Andre knew that he wanted to be a comedian, and set out to make it happen. His dark sense of humor may seem offputting at first, but his bubbly personality and infectious energy, I found it to be quite engaging.

We are treated to some of his standup acts, provoking big laughs from the crowd. In between, we are given confessions to several of his friends and his health care workers talking about him being such an inspirational figure in their lives.

It's not all fun and games. After a surgery that could have left Andre paralyzed from the waist down, Andre goes through the long journey of having to learn to rewalk and have to readapt to living by himself again. Instead of letting it get him down, he humbly embraces his limitations, and plows forward, letting it inspire his creativity and his comedy act. If you require inspiration, this short is highly recommended.

Jay And Silent Bob Reboot (2019)

To start off, I'll make it clear that I am a Kevin Smith fan. Clerks, Dogma, Zack and Miri, Chasing Amy, etc. Having seen his previous work, I have an idea of what to expect from him. Hence my bias. If this film was my introduction to Smith's work, I probably wouldn't appreciate it given that this film was made for his loyal fans and himself , given its self-indulgent nature. In the theater I saw it in back in October, it was only playing for 1 night, and the room was packed. Clearly, some people appreciate his silly style.

Kevin Smith has gone in recorded on stating that the story of this film is "literally the same fuсking movie all over again". He was referring to his 2001 film Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. In that film, Jay and his hetero lifemate travel to Hollywood to stop the production of a superhero film based on their comic book likeness. They go on a road trip adventure full of ridiculous moments, encounter a girl gang, and the comic-con convention they make it to is filled to the brim with celebrity cameos. It all results in a final battle too stupid to comprehend. To that end, yes, it is the same thing. Except all of that is on the surface.

Smith decided to have their characters grow up a little. The girl gang they encounter is lead by Milly, Jay's daughter that he never knew about. She and her friends also want to go to Hollywood, though for less self-destructive reasons. Then, the focus of the film becomes Jay trying to connect with her, and how their relationship evolves. It's a sweet story to watch, despite the constant jokes about having sex with Chris Hemsworth in between conversations.

Milly is played by Smith's daughter, Harley Quinn Smith. She's great in the film, but seriously, the things her father made her say? My God.

 The filmmaking has grown up too. The film opens with an impressive one-shot sequence with the quick stop and the cops that made me realize that Smith learned some new tricks when directing episodes of various CW shows. After that, the film mostly compromised of many static shots. It gets the job done in terms of framing, but I was expecting more. Some things don't work. That is the risk you run with films that feature gags at quicksilver like speed. The first act is the bumpiest. It hits its stride once Jay and Silent Bob interact with people longer than a minute. Another time that this film has with its predecessor.

This film has some many cameos, it could rival the Entourage film. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Hemsworth, the grown up kids from the first film, and the tribute to Stan Lee in the credits were my favourites.

Yeah, compared to the previous reviews that I have written lately, the short film festival coming later this week notwithstanding, this is pretty short. Well, the film is pretty straightforward. I don't see it being as fiercely debated as the Marvel films its characters love. I wrote this for the Quarantine Watch party tonight.

Jay And Silent Bob Reboot is a silly fun movie with heart that Kevin Smith fans will love. Other people, probably not. 7/10

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

It is the end of the DCAMU(DC Animated Movie Universe), at least I hope not.

Following his previous failed attempts to conquer the earth, Darkseid has gone on a warpath, destroying countless worlds, getting the attention of both the Justice League and the Teen Titans. The leaders plan to launch a counter-attack on Darkseid's homeworld, Apokolips, to kill him, despite the objections of both The Flash, who is still affected by the events of Flashpoint, and John Constantine. The League travels to Apokolips while the Titans remain on Earth. Then we cut to two years later.

Yes, seriously. The Earth becomes one of several worlds under Darkseid's rule. Cyborg, who is a mother box himself was unknowingly broadcasting the entire plan directly to Darkseid. Even then, Darkseid's army of parademons have been infused with both Doomsday's DNA and kryptonite, making them quite powerful. (If you are not a DC fan and you are reading this, what I'm writing must be complete nonsense). The battle wasn't even close. Several members of the Justice League and the Teen Titans are brutally killed.

I applaud the choice of not showing the entire battle. We are treated to snippets. Superman is imbued with kryptonite, rendering him powerless. Wonder Woman, Mera, and a few others are torn apart and turned into mindless slaves. Batman is Darkseid's right-hand man after brainwashing/torture sessions. Hope is in short supply.

Superman and Raven search for John Constantine and find him in a drunken stupor. They recruit him, Etrigan and Damien Wayne/Robin to join in the last-ditch effort to restore peace.

The film has great callbacks to previous films in the series, especially from The Flashpoint Paradox, Son of Batman, Justice League vs Teen Titans, Justice League Dark, and Reign Of The Supermen. Weaving the story from the events that occurred in those films results in several payoff moments that made the fan in me smile. Having the remaining members of the Justice League and Teen Titans team up with the Suicide Squad makes for fun interactions. Despite the doom and gloom, there are still some laughs to be had.

Everyone is great, but Matt Ryan is the standout voice performance for me. He is just pitch-perfect as Constantine, both animated and live-action. As big as the cast is, with its science-fiction elements, magic elements, and otherwise, putting the focus on him and the central team helps from keeping the film convoluted, given all the information the film is giving us with a 90-minute runtime.

The relationship between the two damaged kids, Raven and Damien is great as well. The two of them both get proper conclusions to their stories and find closure regarding their relationships with their fathers and each other.

The action sequences are a highlight in all their brutal glory. The R rating was an asset, given the high stakes. Those sequences go for broke as many of the characters get one final chance to shine. There is a particular fight near the climax between Darkseid and another villain that I never knew that I wanted.

Some things didn't work as well. The film is a few years too soon. For one, it didn't serve as a proper ending to this universe. This is the 15th film in the series. Nearly 1/3 of the films were solo Batman adventures. Several characters in the film are murdered, but the impact their deaths are supposed to inflict don't register unless you are a personal fan. Many of them were not developed. Shazam appeared in the first two Justice League films, and then nothing until this film.

There should have been at least 6 more films that paid attention to characters that have been ignored or pushed to the sidelines. The oversight regarding the various Green Lanterns sticks out like a sore thumb in one particular scene. Still, this is a solid film.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020) is overall a weak conclusion to the overarching narrative, but it is nevertheless a bloody action-packed emotional thrill ride with beautiful animation, combined with humor and heart that will satisfy long term fans and newcomers.
8/10