Will the Snyder cut appear on HBO Max?

[thecolorsblend]

'Zack Snyder's Justice League': Darkseid Gets Demolished by Yoked David Thewlis in Seconds and That Kind of Ruins the Movie
https://collider.com/zack-snyders-justice-league-darkseid-ares-scene-problems

Anybody who goes to a hack website like Collider hoping for insightful commentary deserves whatever they get. Not exactly known for subtlety, the Collider article doesn't bury the lead in terms of what the headline promises.

And yet, this is probably the one aspect of Whedon's movie that I think works better than Snyder's Blasphemy, I know. But hear me out.

In Josstice League, Steppenwolf dukes it out with the united warriors of Earth and pretty much gets the tar beaten out of him. It makes sense for him to come back to Earth thousands of years later when mankind is more scattered, divided and weak than they were before. He has a better chance of success the second time around. It adds up.

But in ZSJL, obviously it's Darkseid doing the fighting. And right there, I've got problems with it. Darkseid is a "god" in the DC universe sense of the word. It should be beneath his dignity to sully his hands in battle against the peasants and commoners. Darkseid is a tyrant and overlord. He brainwashes, coerces, forms conspiracies, blackmails, etc. But he RARELY dukes it out with somebody. Like, maybe once every few hundred centuries, he might trade shots with somebody because he has to. Otherwise, he's got elite warriors whose entire reason for being is fighting his battles for him. If you want to prove to me that you don't understand what Darkseid is all about, you put him in a physical fight with someone. That tells me everything I need to know.

Now, I don't apply that to Snyder. He had reasons for sending Darkseid to Earth thousands of years ago just to get his ass kicked. I get that. But there's no way to avoid making Darkseid look weak than by having him get beat around like that. The fact that another "god" is who messed his day up isn't much of a salve on that problem.

That hack's Millennial-chic hyperbole aside, he's still touching on a fair point there. Snyder rly should've used some other character in place of Darkseid for the initial invasion. There are plenty to choose from. Kalibak, Steppenwolf, Kanto, etc. But sending Darkseid himself, eh, I think that was just a bad idea.

[The Dark Knight]

I like the idea Darkseid originally sent Steppenwolf to conquer Earth with instructions to leave something witchy. But he fails, and that's largely why he falls out of favor. He's shamed by defeat and exiled for centuries. But when the Mother Boxes sing out, he's offered one last chance at redemption. And of course he fails again.

But honestly, it doesn't bother me that much or reduce the overall experience. It seems to be about making personal stakes for the villain, and deliberately giving a sense of vulnerability in contrast to the heroes. Darkseid's shoulder is struck with an axe. Superman's shoulder is struck with an axe. We have two different outcomes from those blows, suggesting the heroes have not just a chance but an advantage. But through pure anger and desperation the next time would be different.

[Silver Nemesis]

[thecolorsblend]

thecolorsblend- "I'll never watch Shapiro."
Silver Nemesis- "Lol"

Wouldn't have expected thoughtful commentary from him, much less a seal of approval on ZSJL. But here we are. Interesting to know that the whole "MCU is too comedic" thing isn't just something we're saying here.

[The Joker]

I kinda get the argument that Darkseid being defeated, and not just stated, but actually seen being defeated takes away from his overall presentation as a damn near indomitable New God. However, on the flip side, I've seen it stated and written, to where it's being made a point of, that this battle featured Uxas, and not the fully formed, ready for prime time Darkseid, that we all know. In that, I believe Snyder created an out and thus lessens the blow of Darkseid being defeated. Like if it took all of THAT to defeat a younger, and not quite fully realized Uxas. Just wait till the prime Darkseid returns. You're going to have some problems.

Under that scenario, I can see Darkseid's return to earth to be even more foreboding in the grand scheme of things. Plus, not gonna lie, as a Wonder Woman guy, I kinda like the symbolism of Old God Ares delivering the final blow to Uxas, and the last Old God in Snyder's DCEU, Wonder Woman, delivering the final blow to Steppenwolf. Thus making him a clear example to Darkseid himself.

[Travesty]

Wouldn't have expected thoughtful commentary from him, much less a seal of approval on ZSJL. But here we are. Interesting to know that the whole "MCU is too comedic" thing isn't just something we're saying here.

He's actually a pretty big DC fan, and likes Snyder's stuff in the DCEU.

[The Dark Knight]

Plus, not gonna lie, as a Wonder Woman guy, I kinda like the symbolism of Old God Ares delivering the final blow to Uxas, and the last Old God in Snyder's DCEU, Wonder Woman, delivering the final blow to Steppenwolf. Thus making him a clear example to Darkseid himself.

I still haven't seen WW84, but ZSJL was nonetheless a palette cleanser. 

Junkie kept the Zimmer WW theme, which I'm thankful for, but he did overdo the wailing.

I quite like Junkie's new Batman theme, but the BvS version is better. I accept the basis for him doing so, and a new theme is much preferable to rehashing a theme that belongs to another universe.

But I will never accept the exact same BvS theme couldn't have been retained, but lightened up. Elliot Goldenthal managed to use his Schumacher theme in a variety of different moods. There's no reason why Junkie couldn't have done the same.

Junkie used part of Flight, but Zimmer's rendition packs more punch in comparison. A good enough score but MoS/BvS are better.   

Not addressing Clark's return to civilian life was a gaping hole in the plot, given he was reported as dead and had an open casket funeral. I'm surprised that wasn't addressed, unless this was to be addressed in follow up films. Snyder said the return of Superman is as important as his death, and if you do something you need to have a resolution in mind. I'd like someone to ask him about Clark.

[thecolorsblend]

Opinion: Zack Snyder's superhero universe is unsettling — but says a lot about our reality
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/24/zack-snyder-superhero-movies-mcu

Look, I don't like the Washington (Com)post any more than the next guy. But a fair point is a fair point.

The writer basically makes the argument that Snyder's DC films are far grittier and more realistic than the MCU. Which is a weird observation because it's (A) observably true and (B) the complete opposite of both Marvel and DC's long-established brands as comic book publishers.

Notwithstanding, it is true that day-to-day life in the MCU isn't much different after Endgame as it was before the first Iron Man. Things are just chugging along more or less normally. This is in spite of an alien invasion, the revelation that aliens and mythic gods exist irl and half of the world's population going missing for five years.

Meanwhile, day-to-day life in the DCEU basically ground to a halt upon one alien's existence being revealed to the world. As a microcosm arguably of all mankind, that one revelation basically destroyed Bruce Wayne's life and drove him off the deep end for about a year and a half. Big things don't just get swept under the rug in the Snyderverse.

For that reason alone, the Snyderverse must be brought back.

[The Joker]

I find Snyder's sensibilities, blatantly, gravitate towards comic book storytelling that isn't comparable to a comedic, family friendly, formulaic, and sanitized product. Now would Snyder enjoy a random comic that told a light hearted story? Probably so. Sure. However, storytelling that takes more a more adult approach to the material, like that of Alan Moore and Frank Miller, is very much appears to be what Snyder, likely, was influenced by the most, as a man, and as a filmmaker. It's painfully obvious that his films, based on material that originated in the medium, exemplify this influence to a great degree. We already know the relevance Snyder has for Frank Miller with 300 and The Dark Knight Returns. Ditto with Alan Moore with Watchmen, and speaking of Moore, I personally took MOS' Metropolis fight between Superman and Zod to be possibly influenced by Moore's Miracleman. Just what would happen if two super powered beings did battle within a heavily populated area? People would die, and the numbers would be in the thousands. This wasn't a probable scenario that Moore shied away from, and likewise, neither did Snyder with MOS. Sure, Snyder could have absolutely chosen to go for more of a Avengers1 route, with everything being, basically, hunky-dory following a bona fide alien invasion, but, once again, that's definitely not where Snyder's sensibilities lie, nor would it be storytelling that would greatly interest Snyder as a director and storyteller either.

This view, I completely understand. After being bombarded with a more sanitized, and formulaic Disney style of storytelling for over ten years now, a break, every now and then, is always a welcome sight. Heck, I would prefer a break much more frequently, but it is what it is. Especially considering Warners, and one definitely should not expect too much from them.

Snyder has provided us with great breaks from that style of storytelling. I agree, and hope we see more. This whole thing has been fascinating. Just utterly fascinating.

[The Dark Knight]

I've watched ZSJL again in one sitting, and there's no doubt in my mind this is a modern classic.

DC are unbeatable when they embrace the darker elements of their universe, which Joker, BvS and now ZSJL demonstrate. Any franchise would kill to have those types of movies in their catalogue, and I'm hoping The Batman can tap into that same energy. There's deeper cultural significance in these approaches.

And another thing: I appreciate the establishing shot of the Wayne Aerospace building with the Gotham skyline in the background. It removes all doubt those sequences are taking place in a seperate location and not the batcave, as the theatrical cut made us believe.