The long, LONG-awaited release of the so-called Snyder Cut of the Justice League film is coming out on HBO Max on Thursday, March 18. Here are just a few quick tips when it comes to watching the movie.
First Off – Some History
Zack Snyder was the original director of the DC movie Justice League. However, once principal filming was complete, Snyder had to step away from the production for family reasons. He was replaced by Joss Whedon, who came on board to finish editing and production. As part of that process, Whedon reshot numerous scenes, and rumors upon the film’s initial release suggested that he made substantial changes to the tone and overall story arc of the film.
The film was released in theaters in 2017 and was largely panned by critics and viewers alike. Not long after its release, there were rumblings and rumors that another cut of the movies existed, which was the rough cut that Snyder completed before leaving the production. Over the past few years, fans have created a groundswell of support to get that version of the film released.
Warner Bros. eventually relented and brought Snyder back to finalize his initial version of the film, really as a passion project for the fans. Snyder obliged and has delivered a longer and quite different film than the theatrical release.
What’s up with the weird screen ratio?
Anyone who has watched older films on a widescreen TV has likely come across the annoying ‘black bar’ effect on both sides of the screen. But, we don’t expect to experience this issue when watching recent movies. And yet… When you turn on Zack Snyder’s Justice League on your modern TV screen, you are going to find those dreaded dead spaces on the left and right of the screen. Don’t bother trying to adjust your display settings. This is the expected viewing experience. But, why?
Snyder actually filmed with IMAX formatting in mind, which has a different screen ratio. Perhaps if the film was actually getting a full release, the studio would have delivered a widescreen version, but that is not the case.
So, just find a way to ignore the odd screen format and focus on the movie. But, don’t waste your time trying to change your settings, since everything is as planned.
It’s How Long?
You may have heard the Snyder Cut is a bit longer than the original film and that would be correct. This version comes in at 4 hours and 2 minutes. So, expect a marathon viewing experience and plan your food and beverage consumption and bathroom breaks accordingly.
How do I Watch the Snyder Cut?
You will need a subscription to HBO Max. The film will debut on the streaming service on March 18. So, get that subscription set up now if you don’t already have it.
Will There Be a Sequel?
Nope. No matter how successful Snyder’s version of Justice League happens to be, this is something of a creative dead-end. The changes to character stories and everything else that varies from the original will not lead to any sequels or impact any future films about the characters already in the works for Warner Bros. So, you need to just watch and enjoy the film for what it is – a one-off alternate take on the original film.
Stay tuned for our official review of the film next week!
