Unity in JUSTICE LEAGUE

December 1, 2017

From left: Ezra Miller (The Flash), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ben Affleck (Batman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Written by

Jude Bautista

Ray Fisher (Cyborg): My father called it a change engine. It was found by the British during World War I. They studied it but they couldn’t even date it, it was so old. It was shelved ‘til the night Superman died. Then she lit up like Christmas. They brought it to Star Labs where my father recognized it as a perpetual energy matrix.

The Mother box and Steppenwolf allowed writers to deal with the origin of Cyborg and add the histories of both the Amazons and Atlanteans. Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Ezra Miller (Flash): That sounds cool. I thought it was like a nuclear bomb. Cyborg: A mother box destroys as it creates. It’s a cycle of life a million times faster. My father thought it was the key to unlimited energy. New formulas cellular regeneration but its too volatile to control. Ben Affleck (Batman): He used it on you.

Ray Fisher (Cyborg); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Cyborg: I was in an accident. I should’ve died. My father thought he could use the mother box to rebuild the broken parts of me with a few cybernetic adjustments. Instead he built a living machine, maybe stronger than its host. Batman: Too much, too much life. Jason Momoa (Aquaman): What’s on your worried mind? Batman: Coordination basic cellular integrity. The human being can only absorb so much. The mother box was designed to reshape a planet. Aquaman: So?

Batman: What if you were stronger than a planet?

From left: Ezra Miller (The Flash), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Henry Cavill (Superman), Ben Affleck (Batman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

JUSTICE LEAGUE puts together the strongest team possible, at least in the DC Universe: Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Batman (Ben Affleck), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Flash (Ezra Miller).

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Any superhero mega blockbuster movie in my mind is not only as good as the team up but the villain has to be just as compelling and awe-inspiring. The antihero here is the very reason why they’re coming together. That’s why even on the MARVEL side of things they’re already hyping up the enemy in Thanos.

From left: Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Henry Cavill (Superman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg) and Ben Affleck (Batman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

DC Film Legacy

I’ve written this before in previous reviews BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, there’s greater pressure on DC because they have the added burden of pleasing the critics and award giving bodies as well as having to make a gazillion dollars to be called a ‘success’. MARVEL for the most part just has to make money.

Jeremy Irons (Alfred); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger have either been nominated or won an Oscar for the Joker role. Christian Bale, Michael Keaton have both made their mark as Batman not to forget their directors Chris Nolan and Tim Burton. And even before those Christopher Reeve & producer Alexander Salkind have also reaped critical acclaim for SUPERMAN in the 1970s. Marlon Brando was Jor-El, Gene Hackman (Lex Luthor), THE GODFATHER novelist Mario Puzo co-wrote the screenplay. Their work was so memorable that a huge number of people to this day think of Christopher Reeve as THE Superman.

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While JUSTICE LEAGUE may not necessarily be Oscar material, I feel it has more than lived up to the creative expectations. If you were to say ANY other film breached the half billion mark it would have been considered a huge success. But because of production costs along with global marketing and having to compare it with the competition apart from other DC AND Marvel titles specifically WONDER WOMAN, THE AVENGERS etc. it is seen as a box office disappointment.

Mother boxes Origin

So going back to the point of why I think it’s a creative success, one of the reasons is their usage of Mother boxes and Steppenwolf as the antagonist. The mother boxes help thresh out the origin of Cyborg. In cartoons Cyborg has come out in TEEN TITANS but his origin was never fully dealt with. As related in the lead dialogue above the mother boxes put an interesting twist to the human/cybernetic combination that is not a new concept.

Ray Fisher (Cyborg); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Cyborg is a lot more than just a Six Million Dollar Man or ROBOCOP. Victor Stone’s exposure to mother boxes allows him to evolve and give him a direct connection with machines, both physical and ‘mental’. For the youth of today who are constantly online, seeing someone who can surf the web with the internet coming out of his hands is a power they can relate to.

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Steppenwolf

The Steppenwolf character also ties together the history of the Amazons and the Atlanteans. There’s a greater appreciation of the origin stories of two JUSTICE LEAGUE members in Wonder Woman and Aquaman. That’s why Wonder woman was the one who best explained what the mother boxes are and Steppenwolf:

Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Gal Gadot (Diana Prince): They don’t contain power, they are power. Carried from planet to planet the mother boxes combine to form the ‘unity’ an apocalyptic power that not only destroys worlds but transforms them into the primordial house gate of Steppenwolf’s birth world. We should’ve died but we formed our own unity: Amazons, Atlanteans all the tribes of man fought side by side. Warriors of legend, allies from other worlds even the gods themselves all acted as one laying down their lives to drive Steppenwolf away. Some say it drove him mad the disgrace of his first retreat. Before our alliance would crumble the darkness would cover the earth. He vowed that he would return when it did. Left behind the mother boxes were too dangerous to be kept together. One was entrusted to the Amazons, one to the Atlanteans, both sealed and guarded secure strongholds. The box of man was buried in secret so that no tribe would be tempted to use its power. Such harmony out of such horror, it was truly an age of heroes.

In any movie I review I include either dialogue or a scene that would pique the interests of the readers. At the same time I don’t want to divulge too much that would ruin the experience of watching it. For the dialogue I have included in the lead and the explanation of Diana (alter ego of Wonder Woman), I feel having a better understanding of the mother boxes and Steppenwolf would definitely enhance the experience.

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Unity

Not included in the dialogue above are the scenes running while she related this story which included the Green Lantern race—‘allies from other worlds’ as described by Diana. It may be a teaser for a future member of JUSTICE LEAGUE, which is Green Lantern (most famous human alter ego) aka Hal Jordan.

Green Lantern race joins fight against Steppenwolf. Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Using Steppenwolf as the antagonist we get a better sense of how Aquaman came to be. And how the Amazons are not just parts of Greek lore but are defenders of humanity. The use of the mother boxes also drives home a theme of unity from both sides: the boxes have to come together to form a portal for Steppenwolf and the JUSTICE LEAGUE heroes have to gel as a team.

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Director Zack Snyder has story credit with Chris Terrio who wrote the screenplay with Joss Whedon. Story and dialogue aren’t the first things that come to mind with superhero movies but in this case they made it work. Terrio has already won an Oscar for ARGO. He also wrote: BATMAN VS SUPERMAN and the upcoming STAR WARS Episode IX, he’s also on board for JUSTICE LEAGUE 2. Interestingly enough Whedon co wrote both AVENGERS (2012) and AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON (2015).

Ciaran Hinds as the legendary Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones. Mance Rayder quote from http://gameofquotes.blogspot.com/

Casting Choices

Connected to Steppenwolf is the actor in the role: Ciaran Hinds. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and his name is pronounced KEE-rin. For most fans they know him as Mance Rayder from Game of Thrones. Rayder was an exceedingly tough, legendary leader who united the Wildlings, North of the Wall. I think that’s part of the reason why there was some dissatisfaction with not seeing him and having a CGI character instead.

Ciaran Hinds is the voice behind Steppenwolf. Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

The problem is the need to have Steppenwolf as physically imposing or threatening to the likes of Wonder Woman and Batman. If you can imagine Jason Momoa (Aquaman) who looks like a 6’3” bodybuilder, running back, Heavyweight UFC fighter. You have to have an antagonist who puts the fear in THEM. So in this age of 3D animation, the visual compromise was acceptable. Hinds vocal performance was powerful and scary, definitely a testament to his acting abilities.

Jason Momoa (Aquaman); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

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Connie Nielsen

Nielsen is an unforgettable, tall almost imposing Danish beauty. She was also one of the women offered by the devil (Al Pacino) to seduce Keanu Reeves in THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE. There’s something striking in her features and blonde hair that seems to denote royalty. She was notable as the emperor’s daughter in GLADIATOR. That’s why as Queen Hippolyta, Nielsen’s performance is equally memorable. One of the scenes hinted at a Lesbian relationship. Which is understandable since they are all women who cannot leave the island of Themyscira. Hippolyta’s sister and Amazon Lieutenant Menalippe played by Dutch actress Loven Kongsli also makes an appearance here. If only for those scenes, JUSTICE LEAGUE has proven its worth.

from left: Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta) and Loven Kongsli (Menalippe). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Ray Fisher (Cyborg); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Millennial Heroes

Ray Fisher, will reprise his role in a stand-alone movie CYBORG and FLASHPOINT (with The Flash) in 2020. Fisher has a solid acting background in theater and once played Mohammad Ali in FETCH CLAY MAKE MAN. He also auditioned for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, although the part went to John Boyega. Cyborg being included in JUSTICE LEAGUE is a great way to add a hero, the younger generation can relate to.

From left: Ben Affleck (Batman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Ray Fisher (Cyborg). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Ezra Miller is the youngest and geekiest of the heroes as the Flash. He looks like a younger, Asian looking version of Jimmy Fallon. Miller’s quirky, self conscious and insecure version of the Flash, is again a character millennials can identify with. His performance however is a departure from his more serious dramatic roles that have earned him critical praise in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (2011) opposite Tilda Swinton and PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012) with Emma Watson. He earned a Chopard trophy in Cannes as a homicidal son in …KEVIN. Most fans will likely remember him as Credence Barebone in FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM.

Ezra Miller (The Flash); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall

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J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Oscar Winners

Talking about awards, JUSTICE LEAGUE boasts of several Oscar winners (as actors): Jeremy Irons (Alfred) JK Simmons (Commissioner Gordon). Ben Affleck has two, as producer in ARGO (2012) and as screenwriter in GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997). The one weakness, however in the performances for this movie should be Affleck’s. We understand that the voice of the Batman with the mask is distorted. But he made the decision to make himself sound tougher when he’s not wearing the suit/mask. The result is closer to a bad impression of Clint Eastwood in DIRTY HARRY.

From left: Ben Affleck (Batman) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Once you can get over that, you can enjoy the rest of the movie especially with the gorgeous and strong Gal Gadot more than making up for it. Ever since WONDER WOMAN Gadot has raised the bar high for women in action films. JUSTICE LEAGUE not only continues that but allows her to ‘fight’ together with other members that makes the scenes even more complex and exciting at the same time.

Jason Momoa (Aquaman); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Jason Momoa

In my opinion, casting Jason Momoa as Aquaman was Zack Snyder’s best decision. Aquaman isn’t necessarily the action laden, tough, superhero that attracts legions of fans –unlike Batman, Superman or even Wonder Woman. HBO’s ENTOURAGE in one of their episodes made a joke of it as Vince Chase (Adrien Grenier) was hesitant to take the role in a blockbuster film.

Jason Momoa (Aquaman); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Enter Jason Momoa who instantly makes Aquaman, for lack of a technical term: bad ass, or bad ‘mother@#$%*!’. Momoa’s most famous role also in GAME OF THRONES is Khal Drogo. Fierce doesn’t begin to describe that role as the undefeated leader of the Dothraki. Novelist and creator George RR Martin based the Dothraki as an amalgam of real nomadic horsemen in history: the Huns, Mongols and the Apache. Unlike Affleck, Jason doesn’t have to change his voice or speech, he just looks, sounds naturally tough and intimidating. Before his breakthrough role he also played CONAN THE BARBARIAN in the 2012 remake. His look and identity is exactly what the Aquaman role needed to be taken into kick ass level and he did it.

Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo the feared king of the Dothraki in Game of Thrones. Wallpaper from https://s3lwyn.deviantart.com/art/Portrait-of-Khal-Drogo-from-Game-of-Thrones-304219209

Momoa’s Haka for Mark Hunt

There’s a video on YouTube of Jason performing the Haka a Maori war dance for Mark ‘The Super Samoan’ Hunt. Jason is friends with Hunt who is a UFC heavyweight fighter, living in Sydney, Australia. Momoa was there to shoot AQUAMAN the movie set for release in 2018. In an interview with BBC he revealed that it was director Zack Snyder’s idea to use his Polynesian heritage and covering him with tattoos for his role of Aquaman.

Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo the feared king of the Dothraki in Game of Thrones.

Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall. Wallpaper by Bryan Zap from https://bryanzap.deviantart.com/art/Justice-League-Wallpaper-Art-707003829

If you’re a fan…

The critics have not been kind, but if you’re a comic book fan who wants fast action, if you’re cartoon series fan, a Game of Thrones fan, a Millennial or just a kid in a grown up body (like me), you’re going to love JUSTICE LEAGUE.

Alien supermen from left: David Bowie, Henry Cavill (Superman) and Prince. Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Snyder pays homage to some of the same heroes I have apart from the DC ones. In one early montage, there’s a newspaper front page with David Bowie, Superman and Prince. Recently passed Bowie and Prince certainly seem otherworldly because of their unprecedented talent as musicians and larger than life personas. All the 12 year old in me can say is: Thank you Zack. You showed that you don’t need to wear a cape to be a hero. But it can be really fun to watch people who do.

Director Zack Snyder and Ezra Miller (The Flash). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

From left: Ezra Miller (The Flash), Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Ben Affleck (Batman) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

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Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) drives a Mercedes Benz. Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Ray Fisher (Cyborg); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

from left: Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta) and Loven Kongsli (Menalippe). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

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From left: Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ezra Miller (The Flash) and Ray Fisher (Cyborg). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Ezra Miller (The Flash); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall

Jason Momoa (Aquaman); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

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from left: Ray Fisher (Cyborg) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Ray Fisher (Cyborg); Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

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From left: Ben Affleck (Batman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Henry Cavill (Superman). Catch JUSTICE LEAGUE in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall, Eastwood City Mall, and Lucky Chinatown Mall. Wallpaper by Bryan Zap from https://bryanzap.deviantart.com/art/Justice-League-Wallpaper-Art-707003829