Aside from Steppenwolf, another major issue that gets fixed is Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen/The Flash. In both versions, Miller plays The Flash as the comedic relief of the team. In Synder’s cut, the comedy is subdued and intelligent, not comical and annoying like it was previously. His backstory with his imprisoned father (played wonderfully by Billy Crudup) was definitely one of the emotional highlights. The Flash’s powers are stunning to watch, and the way he uses them is innovative and imaginative. The character of Flash went from insufferable to being one of the best dynamics of the superhero team.
The other character that gets an obvious fix is Ray Fisher’s Victor Stone/Cyborg. Snyder has repeatedly stated that Cyborg is the film’s heart and soul, and I definitely agree. Cyborg features far more prominently here, and Fisher’s acting and personality shine brightly. His performance showcases Cyborg’s growth and maturity. Victor starts as an angry, sullen self-proclaimed monster. By the end, he embraces being an optimistic, golden-hearted hero. His relationship with his father, Silas (Joe Morton), has more emotional weight behind it now. This is Cyborg’s movie, but that doesn’t mean any of the other characters get downplayed or overshadowed.
“…Affleck proves once and for all that he is the best cinematic Batman/Bruce Wayne.”
Ben Affleck proves once and for all that he is the best cinematic Batman/Bruce Wayne. He’s not burdened by a massive shift in character tone and bad jokes. Here his more optimistic existence is earned and is informed by what happened in the previous movie. This Batman isn’t the same Batman from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It’s the logical next step in his character evolution. I want to see Affleck’s Batman get his very own film or miniseries. I want that… I need that. Please make it happen; Affleck is perfect for the part.
Wonder Woman is the biggest badass in the film. Gal Gadot looks like she’s having a blast playing the Amazonian princess. Her action sequences are some of the coolest, second only to The Flash, in terms of spectacle. This isn’t the cheesy take we got in Wonder Woman 1984. This is something on an entirely whole other level.
If I had to pick one aspect from Joss Whedon’s reshoots that I wish held over to Snyder’s film, it’d be Aquaman. Jason Momoa’s character from the 2017 theatrical release is much more in line with what we saw in James Wan’s Aquaman. I liked Momoa’s “Aquabro” take on the character, as different from the comics as it was; it worked for me. In Snyder’s cut of the film, Momoa plays Arthur Curry as far more stoic and broody. We already have a brooding and troubled character with Batman; we don’t need a second one. Aquaman gets a bit nerfed here, but not to a detrimental degree. Momoa is still great in the role, and he does have some excellent character moments.
"…this is Zack Snyder's best film. Hands down."
