#side4

After nearly four years, Zack Snyder’s original vision for the Justice League movie has finally arrived and, damn, it did not disappoint. Although this film follows the story of the 2017 version very closely, it adds so much more to the viewing experience on so many different levels. It was great seeing the world’s greatest superheroes back together again but it was also wonderful to see new heroes and villains being added to the story. Every single character in the movie, both the familiar and the new faces, gets the chance for the audience to know them better and they also have their own shining moment within the narrative. Without a doubt, my favorite new character is the diabolical and terrifying Darkseid, ruler of Apokolips and a legendary comic book villain in his own right. He looked so damn dark and intimidating, he was voiced perfectly by Ray Porter, and it was thrilling to finally see him in the DC Extended Universe. One of the things that disappointed me the most about the 2017 Justice League movie was the decision to replace the original composer, Tom Holkenborg (also known as Junkie XL), with Danny Elfman; Elfman is a legend, of course, and he did a good job with that score but I knew that Holkenborg’s music would have been something special and his soundtrack for Zack Snyder’s Justice League proved me right. He greatly impressed me with his work alongside the great Hans Zimmer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and this time around he brought epic, emotional, and engaging songs the perfectly suited what happens on-screen. The only negative thing I have to say about this picture is that it tries its very best to completely ignore the 2017 Justice League film and at times this mindset tends to affect the editing and pacing of the story; there were also a couple of lines and moments from that movie that are not in Zack Snyder’s (Pet Semetary, anyone?) and I sorely missed those. Other than that, I honestly loved this new version; there was plenty of action, but also some touching moments, great humor, and some very nice surprises within its four-hour runtime. More than anything though, Zack Snyder’s Justice League filled me with hope: hope for the upcoming DC movies featuring the Flash and the New Gods; hope for Ben Affleck’s Batman, because he is undoubtedly my favorite version of the Dark Knight and I want to see him again in future films; and hope for this version of the Justice League, the adventures they could have, and the new friends they make along the way. The silver “S” symbol on Superman’s black costume and the burning red omega symbol beneath Darkseid’s feet filled me with so much hope and excitement for the future of the DC Extended Universe. I loved what I saw and I can’t wait to see what happens next… 9/10

As all of you know, 2020 was a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year. So many lives have been impacted by the ongoing global health crisis and life may never be the same again. The film industry is only one of the social and economic entities that was negatively affected by the effects of COVID-19: some studios closed, some theater chains shut down, many movies were postponed or disappeared altogether, and many people had tough situations and decisions ahead of them. Despite all of these universal setbacks, a lot of great movies were released in 2020, one of which being the latest chapter in the DC Extended Universe. Wonder Woman 1984 was a wonderfully entertaining flick and a worthy sequel to the preceding film. It had an intriguing story with plenty of laughs, emotional moments, and action scenes that are to be expected from a superheroine epic. The excellent cast was probably the film’s strongest element, which also included a few great cameos (most notably one from a very “wonderful” woman). It’s always an immense pleasure to see Gal Gadot as the titular Wonder Woman, especially since she embodies the essence of Diana Prince both on and off screen. She kicked so much ass and also made emotional connections to the other characters and to the audience as well. It was also great to have Chris Pine back as Steve Trevor, for (maybe) the last time. Visiting from a galaxy far, far away is Pedro Pascal, who did an excellent job portraying the power-hungry Maxwell Lord. My favorite character this time around was definitely Barbara Minerva, played by one of my favorite comedic actresses Kristen Wiig. Not only did she bring her quirky charm to her role, but she also gave Cheetah strength and determination that fit the villainess so well; at times, the audience may even feel a bit of pity for her. Another thing that I loved about the movie was Hans Zimmer’s fantastic musical score; he’s one of my favorite film composers and this soundtrack was another great addition to his already legendary discography. Overall, Wonder Woman 1984 was an excellent movie, worthy of the titular heroine and an outstanding addition to the DCEU. With a third film in the series already in the works, I honestly cannot wait to see what’s in store for Diana Prince as she continues her trek across generations and across the earth, helping the helpless, bringing justice to the corrupt, and inspiring everyone with both hope and wonder… 8/10

Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Side 4 Travis