Will the Snyder cut appear on HBO Max?

[Gotham Knight]

Lois is summed up as someone the world needs in the theatrical cut as well, it just does it without needing copious amounts of exposition to do it, which is basically my argument for the whole comparison between the two films. She speaks to Clark more naturally and in character as a love interest and despite her love for him sends him to help the League. It is funny you mention that because I'd argue that her scenes are among the strongest in the release cut, especially her push for him to get involved. in Snyder's, Superman shows up because 'might as well.' Talk about structural problems. Superman deciding to save the day after placidly shrugging, not to mention that Lois just happens to be at the monument.

I think what it comes down to is that having the theatrical cut fresh in my mind enables me to better highlight the problems I have with Snyder overall. Exposition is not characterization. Lore is not characterization. Easter egg hunts are not characterization. World building is not characterization.

His scenes don't build off one another because we only accomplish bits and pieces at a time, so scenes do not progress, they feel like detours. All of his movies in the DCEU feel like assembly cuts that have yet to find the story. They feel like a collection of scenes. The theatrical version takes on stripping the fat and trying to characterize while handling more than one piece of business at a time. Having eons of time does inherently make something deeper or more significant. Film making of this sort is about time management. The work done is ham-fisted and streamlined, but it does a better job at getting over characters while moving the story along. That was the goal.

Fair enough. We obviously disagree here. Still, I maintain that's a positive thing. It bugs the you know what out of me when people castigate me for having a different opinion. So, treating you that way would be hypocritical. I'm glad that at least one person out there sees value in the theatrical cut. Or at least more value than I see in it.

I appreciate you mentioning that. Being able to discuss mutual interests without it resorting to personal character judgement or insults is always a good thing. Speaking as someone who, as a younger person, let this stuff carry me away, I greatly appreciate it. It is a lovely thing. This aint Facebook, thank God.

[The Dark Knight]

I appreciate you mentioning that. Being able to discuss mutual interests without it resorting to personal character judgement or insults is always a good thing. Speaking as someone who, as a younger person, let this stuff carry me away, I greatly appreciate it. It is a lovely thing. This aint Facebook, thank God.

It's all cool. I'm sure you know I was being playful before. I appreciate out of the box thinking and if someone genuinely believes something and expresses why, I respect and welcome that. I prefer the Snyder cut in all areas, but can still see what the Theatrical had in mind with the sequence of big blue lifting the house and racing Flash at the end. I won't forgive the CGI mouth, but Superman probably did need extra moments like that to round things out a bit more given the scarcity that exists. He didn't get the opportunity to properly interact with the League.

[thecolorsblend]

I won't forgive the CGI mouth

Nor I. And I feel a little bad for the effects technicians who did those shots. Because it's obviously possible to do a better job. But they were under the gun and had to finalize shots rapidly. Obviously, the quality will suffer. It sucks for them that their reputation probably took a hit on that when I assume they could've done a better job with just a month or two extra to do their work.

[The Laughing Fish]

I must tell you, the pregnancy thing intrigues me. That subplot does shine a different light on the bathtub scene from BVS, where, obviously, it's implied that they had sex. And originally, I thought that was all there was to it. Probably like most people, I assume.

But water is a symbol of fertility since I don't even know when. So, you've got the bathwater splashing around as Lois and Clark do the you know what in BVS, which could certainly be considered foreshadowing of the pregnancy, the home test, the bassinet, the whole program from ZSJL.

I never knew water represented that sort of symbolism. It definitely adds a whole new perspective on the bathtub scene in BvS, doesn't it?

IIRC, most Superman comics make it impossible for him to procreate with another human being. But in this movie continuity, it definitely appears he has no such disadvantages. It also makes Darkseid's that much of a cold-blooded monster to murder Lois while she's still pregnant and uses the Anti-Life Equation to brainwash a devastated Superman. And the fact that Cyborg's vision shows Lois' murder had happened at the Batcave makes Superman's hatred of Batman in the Knightmare world much more clearer.

"She was my world, and you took her from me".

[The Dark Knight]

I won't forgive the CGI mouth

Nor I. And I feel a little bad for the effects technicians who did those shots. Because it's obviously possible to do a better job. But they were under the gun and had to finalize shots rapidly. Obviously, the quality will suffer. It sucks for them that their reputation probably took a hit on that when I assume they could've done a better job with just a month or two extra to do their work.

The effects technicians were given a clown situation and they had to work within those guidelines.

The small details add up:
The Knightcrawler leg stomping the Parademon when Batman saves Wonder Woman, which is absent in the Theatrical.
Batman kicking the Parademon off the walkway and watching it fall to its death.
The gauntlets absorbing energy, which is completely absent in the Theatrical.
The wreck of the Batmobile taking out a squad of Parademons.
Parademons swarming Batman's ejector seat immediately after he rappels away from it. 

Batman's wealth:
Showing Arthur the cash
"What are your superpowers again?" - "I'm rich"
"You have a satellite?" - "I have six"
"I bought the bank"

Batman's will:
"He said he climbed over the mountain. Impossible."
"I don't care how many demons he's fought in how many hells. He's never fought us. Not us united."

I also dig how once Batman arrives at the scout ship he tells Cyborg to set off the alarms, which he does. Batman may be a man without any powers but his street smarts are respected. He's directing the whole thing in there, telling the team to keep going no matter what. As a fan I liked seeing that.

[The Laughing Fish]

Fans on social media are buzzing over ZSJL gaining 340 million views and counting on a Chinese streaming service in only a little over a week since the film debuted legally in the country. Word is going around is that it surpassed Endgame too, though I can't verify if that's true. Nevertheless, here is the link to the site where you can translate to English to see the views.

https://www.miguvideo.com/mgs/website/prd/detail.html?cid=709642929

I'm not an expert on streaming numbers, let alone the viewing habits in China and how films are measured in success there. But I suspect one of the reasons for the film's big streaming figures in that country has to do with Kai Zheng, a well-known actor from the country who played Ryan Choi. Now, can you imagine the enormous box office potential the DCEU would've had in China if they had stayed the course with Snyder's plan and have Choi star in an Atom film, as he suggested to WB four or five years ago? Too bad WB let their shortsightedness and pathetic little egos get in the way of their own success.

Meanwhile, ZSJL tops the UK's Official Film Chart on digital downloads, for a third consecutive week in a row.

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/zack-snyder-s-justice-league-flies-into-third-week-atop-the-official-film-chart__33119/

Something tells me ZSJL has been a lot more successful than WB cares to admit.

Finally, something irked me about the differences between Superman's arrival to battle Steppenwolf between ZSJL and Josstice L.

In ZSJL, Superman arrives just in time to block Steppenwolf's axe from hitting Cyborg and then proceeds to fight; buying Cyborg more time to stop the Unity.

In Josstice L, Superman arrives AFTER Steppenwolf took a chunk of Cyborg's shoulder with his axe and ripped his leg off.

Yeah, I know which one impresses me the most.

Was the Whedon scene a result of hazing Ray Fisher? After hearing about the hostile atmosphere going on behind the scenes of the reshoots, it wouldn't surprise me. But even if you put that aside, it's yet another reason why I think any argument that Josstice L had the better characterisation of the two versions of JL is a complete and utter joke.

[thecolorsblend]

I have no idea what this means. Or if it's true.

AT&T Board Meets as Discovery Merger Discussions Accelerate; Shock Reverberates Around WarnerMedia
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/att-discovery-jeff-zucker-david-zaslav-warnermedia-1234974237

"There's no way this deal doesn't make AT&T look like fools," said a WarnerMedia veteran.

Tempted to agree with that, actually. But since this is AT&T we're talking about, I want to believe there's an angle here that isn't apparent yet.

EDIT- As a preliminary, I don't understand why this is happening. I also don't see how this could possibly be a good thing for restoring the Snyderverse. Not looking good, fam.

[The Laughing Fish]

The merger is confirmed.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/david-zaslav-warnermedia-discovery-merger-1234974393/amp/

The news that Toby Emmerich could be on the way out from a fortnight ago might start to look even more sense, but let's see where it goes. So far, Snyder approved this unflattering comment about Emmerich on Vero.



As for whether or not this good news for the prospects of the Snyderverse continuing, ZSJL was listed as a valuable piece of content already on display in this screenshot. Make of that what you will.

[The Laughing Fish]

This is the first time that WarnerMedia has recognised ZSJL as a "hit MAX original".

https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/hbo-max-announces-ad-supported-tier-pricing-previews-new-original-series-and-content

Too bad they didn't embrace the film's success openly as soon as it came out.

[The Joker]

Jesus.

At&T ultimately spent damn near the same amount of time debating Congress to get approval to buy Warnermedia as they did owning them outright.

So if I'm reading this correctly, Discovery will take over WB and AT&T will virtually have nothing to do with it? Essentially being "spun-off" into a new company that AT&T won't even control despite owning a majority stake on the company.