Justice League

All of Snyder's DC films - Justice League included - seem more concerned with the repercussions of actions than with the actions themselves.

It's an even messier saga than Dawn of Justice, with a tiresome and whiskery macguffin in which three magic boxes must be brought together for evil, then prised apart for good.

Perhaps the new Superman is closer to what the fans wanted. But he doesn't really feel like a character anymore. He, like the rest of his movie, feels like a focus group-approved concept.

Ribbing wisecracks, courtesy of co-writer Joss Whedon, jar with director Zack Snyder's oppressive, dour approach to the source material.

The action is exciting at times but the outcomes are predictable. Indeed, this often has the feel of a set-up movie, one made to kick off a series.

Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman got the tone right last time, which suggested things were looking up. But without director Patty Jenkins around, she's subject to the dismissive male gaze for which Hollywood's long been criticized.

It must be recognized that the film knows how to alternate between emotion, action and comedy because we expected is entertainment. In that point is superior to its prequel Batman Vs. Superman . However, it does not add anything new...

The artists are trying to retrace old paths and smooth over past missteps with redrawn swirls, lighter hues, and a fluffy cover-up we call comedy.

Despite its massive production issues and the studio’s mandate for a runtime shorter than two hours - dooming the film even when Zack Snyder was still at the helm - Joss Whedon still manages to deliver a reasonable superhero flick.

Justice League is a mixed bag that's largely full of hot air.