Marked improvement over Suicide Squad, but falls short of being spectacular

Rating: 6/10 (22 November 2017)

I didn't know what to expect for Justice League - after the alleged travesty of Batman vs Superman (a film I decidedly skipped) and Suicide Squad, contrasted against Wonder Woman, Justice League could either go south so far or transcend all expectations to wow its audience.
Safe to say, it didn't go either way.
Pacing-wise, it felt a bit all over the place. It started out slow and steady, introducing each member of the Justice League in its own time (as opposed to the montage in Suicide Squad), but conflict resolution was over in a blip. The apparently mandated 2h runtime could be to blame for.
Plot-wise, it did try to undo its mistakes from Batman vs Superman. However, it came across as shoddy patchwork with no purpose other than to erase the events of the aforementioned film. The erasure of the events is done so clumsily that any potential consequences are immediately resolved within minutes, pretty much leaving the audience like "What? That's It?"
Following the idea of undoing the events of Batman vs Superman, it could've created interesting villains. However, Justice League opts for the 'safe' villain - a textbook villain that isn't impressionable, but can do no wrong.
The characters in the Justice League itself are quite interesting. There are outstanding ones, as there are ones that just fade into the background.
Ben Affleck's Batman just didn't do it for me. It's been a running gag that Batman's only got riches without any 'real' power or skillset that just keeps being emphasised in the film. Sure, that's comic relief, but at the expense of Batman being valued as an asset to the team. By the end of all the gags, you're just left thinking, "So why is Batman even needed in the film?" It would've been better to see Batman demonstrate his redeeming qualities, maybe as a leader or a tactician, but as far as I can tell, the film makes no such effort.
In contrast, Henry Cavill's Superman is just too powerful. As a character, Superman is done brilliantly, but his skillset is far too broad and far too great. He's basically overpowered, leaving me wondering why there was a need for Batman vs Superman at all. If he is all that powerful, and Batman is lacking, a conflict between the two seems like a ludicrous idea. (Again, coming from someone who hasn't watched Batman vs Superman) If he is all that powerful, why the need for the Justice League? Surely the Justice League allows heroes with a niche skill set to help each other out, but if DCEU's Superman exist, why bother at all? Justice League just seems like Superman and the Gang.
Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman is just as charming as she was in the character's feature film. She has grown as a fighter and a person, but still has her own demons which she grapples with, making her that much more likable and charismatic.
Jason Momoa's Aquaman appears long enough in the film for audiences to have a good idea on what his character is like, but short enough that leaves them wanting for more in his own standalone film. Needless to say, his performance doesn't disappoint.
Ezra Miller's The Flash is brilliant. He provides the appropriately-timed comedic relief, all while showcasing what he can offer to the team. The shots of him in action are done perfectly, complementing his humorous character. I'll definitely be waiting on a solo film from The Flash.
Ray Fisher's Cyborg - not too sure what to feel about the character just yet. As the centerpiece of the team in this film, a lot is expected from his character. However, due to the compelling performance of his counterparts, Cyborg seems the least impressionable of the team. He doesn't really add anything new to the table, other than what is required to facilitate the plot. That doesn't make Cyborg bad, though - he is decent, but just not strong enough.
Overall, this film is a 6/10. Just above average, as it is a cut above its predecessors, but even with its brilliant cast (albeit disappointment in the portrayal of some key team players), its pacing is haphazard and the plot is standard superhero-fare, with nothing fresh to offer.