Film This is what a modern myth looks like
First things first: I generally found Josstice League an average movie at best when I first watched it, but between reading more about the movie's behind-the-scenes problems, the allegations from Ray Fisher, and the general hackery of WB executives who are clearly shooting themselves in their feet, I became more soured on it. So when I heard the "Snyder Cut" would indeed be coming to fruition, I was cautious but hopeful. After all, Josstice was already a low bar, so anything would be better. And I figured ZSJL would at least look better in the visuals department (no creepy CGI mouth on Henry Cavill for starters).
I am happy to say that I immensely enjoyed this movie. In fact, I'm still shaken by it in a way that's rare for movies to do to me. For one thing, I didn't think any moment could top Captain America finally saying "Avengers, assemble!" in Endgame, but ZSJL did that with Flash running faster than the speed of light and reversing time.
ZSJL, more than any other superhero movie I've seen, plays up the modern myth aspect of superheroes to the fullest potential. The heroes are treated with a grand reverence that really gives the thematic impression that they're the gods of a contemporary pantheon. The action sequences are phenomenal and everyone gets a legitimate chance to shine whereas Josstice made everyone chumps in order to make Superman into a borderline Gary Stu. Cyborg and Flash especially benefit from this cut, but really, every character's arcs feel much more natural and satisfying on the whole. The stakes also feel legitimately enormous, with villains to match. Darkseid is pants-poopingly terrifying, and Steppenwolf has been redeemed after the laughable hackjob he was reduced to in Josstice. The score is also much more epic and memorable all around (though I'm cutting Danny Elfman some slack here). Also, that pointless Russian family is gone and we have cool characters like Ryan Choi (who deserves his own movie, frankly), Iris West, and Martian Manhunter. Hell, it even managed to make Jared Leto's Joker genuinely scary, and I just want to express how much I love that Harley Quinn's last words in the Knightmare future were telling Bruce to kill the Joker, because, as Lucille Bluth says, "Good for her!"
Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't admit the flaws. The runtime wasn't TOO much of a drag for me at least, but there were parts that easily could've been shaved down and scenes that were just weird (like the Icelandic villager sniffing Aquaman's shirt), there are some pretty silly over-the-top parts, and admittedly, the grandeur and mythical feel the movie wraps itself in does cross over into a sense of self-indulgence and self-importance. The Knightmare sequences also still feel like pretty pointless sequel bait too.
On the whole, I'd rate this a strong B+.
Film Vindication
I've often considered Zack Snyder to be an underrated filmmaker, but I didn't expect his version of Justice League (2017) to be elevated to GOAT status, but I was still "cautiously optimistic" regarding the Snyder Cut, and I am pleased to say that my faith bore fruit. It's not the greatest thing since sliced bread (that would be Little Caesars delivery), but it's certainly far from bad. I would say that it's DC Comics equivalent to Revenge of the Sith in how it vindicated the legacies of their respective directors. I never saw fit to watch the theatrical release aside from a few clips, but after watching this movie, there's no going back: this is the film we should have gotten in 2017. It's not perfect, as the runtime of "FOUR HOURS" causes it to be slow (a consequence of having to provide proper introductions for Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg since somebody had the bright idea of not making solo films for them prior), the violence is a little bit much (I know Snyder's films have visceral action, but just because I should expect lots of Stuff Blowing Up in a Michael Bay movie doesn't mean I shouldn't critique it), and the swearing wasn't really necessary, but the improved Character Development for the cast, Snyder's balance of style and substance, Junkie XL kicking ass with his soundtrack, the impressive action sequences, Steppenwolf's status as a Tragic Villain, and the scope of the story raise it to a very strong 8 out of 10, with a Badass Seal of Approval.
Film Better than the theatrical cut, but still flawed
After the theatrical cut of Justice League disappointed fans, viewers were quick to demand the "Snyder Cut," or the film Snyder was trying to make. Years later, we have that film, and while it's superior to the theatrical cut, some flaws remain.
The plot is essentially the same as the theatrical cut- Steppenwolf is trying to collect and unite the three Mother Boxes to conquer Earth for Darkseid. Basically, if you've seen the theatrical cut or know how it ends, you know the Snyder Cut's major story beats. That said, the plot is significantly more coherent in the Snyder Cut.
The characters are somewhat more interesting and better-developed than the theatrical cut, especially newcomers The Flash and Cyborg, whose backstories are explored in greater depth. Aquaman doesn't get as much development, but he's less of a comic relief than in the theatrical cut. It probably would have been better to give The Flash and Cyborg their origin story movies first, and release Aquaman before Justice League, a la The Avengers (2012), but this is a step in the right direction.
Steppenwolf, who was previously a one-note villain in the theatrical cut, turns out to have some sympathetic traits, as he's desperately trying to conquer Earth to redeem himself for his past betrayal of Darkseid. He's not a great villain, but he's more interesting and more of a threat.
The special effects are noticeably better in the Snyder cut, especially Steppenwolf's appearance.
Unfortunately, the film has its flaws, most notably the runtime. At over four hours long, including credits, the film can be a slog to sit through, and even if you don't do it in one sitting, it has a Slow-Paced Beginning and more than a few extraneous scenes, making the first half drag on.
I disliked a few stylistic elements. The film relies too heavily on slow motion for action scenes. The "ancient lamentation music" that plays when Diana or the Amazons do anything gets old after the second or third time. There are too many songs with lyrics inserted into the film, which feel out of place and don't quite fit the mood; one song, or two at most in a film this long, would have been more sensible.
The last flaw, which admittedly isn't Snyder's fault, is that the film promotes sequels that are never going to be made, from Martian Manhunter joining the Justice League, to a "Knightmare" vision of Batman and the others fighting a hopeless battle against an evil Superman. While the Snyder Cut effectively delivers a payoff for the plot points set up in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it's still frustrating to know that the cinematic tale of the Justice League will never be finished.
All in all, the Snyder Cut improves on the theatrical cut, but there are some problems that it can't fix. I recommend seeing it if you have an HBO Max subscription and were disappointed by the theatrical cut, but don't get your hopes up for a revival of the DCEU.