The trailer for the movie covers more or less the same ground as the Comic-Con footage from last summer. Batman and Wonder Woman are still trying to form a team in order to defeat some impending enemy. Though as the trailer suggests, it’s Batman doing all the work.
We get shots of all the heroes being recruited, including the first footage of Cyborg. The character’s design is interesting but we don’t get much more of a look than some action shots. No idea of the character’s personality or how he will be different from the Cyborg we’ve seen in the comics and animated universe.
In fact, most of the trailer is action shots. There’s very little explaining what’s actually going on. I still couldn’t tell who the villain is based on shots in the trailer. It also lacks the general excitement of a team-up movie. Unlike THE AVENGERS, this is the first time we’re seeing half the team on screen. There was no build-up with standalone Aquaman, Flash, or Cyborg movies leading into this ensemble movie. So I find it difficult to feel the same kind of excitement I first felt when watching THE AVENGERS' first trailer.
I also fear we might be retreading old ground? The brief non-action shots of the Flash were of him visiting someone in jail, who looks to be his father. Are we really going to have this Barry Allen have the exact same backstory as the one in the CW television show universe? I realize these two properties will appeal to somewhat different audiences, but why would you go the same route? At least try to do something different.
So that’s what I wasn’t fan of, but it wasn’t all bad. Speaking of the Flash, I really like the way they show his powers. Which is much more substantial than the CW show, they can bring even more life to Barry's powers. Here they seem to almost have a destructive quality. Each time he moves, he causes an electrical outburst that appears to affect everything around him. That’s an awesome affect.
Aquaman easily looks like he’ll be the standout character of the film in the same way Wonder Woman was in BATMAN V. SUPERMAN. His sarcastic attitude will be a breath of fresh air against all the self-seriousness of Batman. JUSTICE LEAGUE also has the advantage of giving us an interpretation of Aquaman that goes against the popular idea of him. Most people still see him as a silly man who wears orange and talks to fish. He obviously hasn’t been just that in the comics for decades, but popular culture jokes are still a tough thing to shake. He might be the only character who could benefit from a darker, more serious approach.
Lastly, the lack of Superman might not seem like a positive, but it presents a unique opportunity to help soft reboot the character. As I have discussed on Twitter, there’s a chance for them to give the character a lighter personality and make him more in line with how people know Superman to be from the comics, instead of him being a more powerful version of Batman.
Overall, I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of JUSTICE LEAGUE. Part of that is the lack of marketing. I completely forgot the film was coming out this year (though the same could be said for WONDER WOMAN). At the same time, I still know the release month of all the Marvel movies this year and THOR: RAGNAROK hasn’t even gotten a trailer... yet. I realize the faith Warner Bros. has in their DC universe is a bit shaken by critical panning, but letting people forget about your movie isn’t going to help things.
Written by Peter Freeman, TV & Animation Writer -- Click to read Peter's posts
Related Posts:
Aquaman is Such a Badass in the First Full JUSTICE LEAGUE TrailerJUSTICE LEAGUE: See New Promo Images of Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg
Here's 17 GIFs From the New JUSTICE LEAGUE Trailer
A Silver Batman Chest Logo in JUSTICE LEAGUE is a Bad Look