CGI and close up shots don't a good story make

Rating: 4/10 (15 September 2018)

Following on from Batman vs Superman, DC had a problem with Superman and this is a contrived way of correcting that, while also introducing some of their other characters which they can spin off more films from.
That's the only reason I can think of for having such a dull villain, who basically becomes just a side show to the main characters. There's a fleeting mention of Darkseid - his nephew and considered the archenemy of the Justice League - yet Steppenwolf doesn't really have a big plan besides finding some mystical devices, that he had thousands of years ago and didn't get to use properly, and try to destroy the planet (edit: there is a deleted scene online that actually shows Darkseid, but for what ever reasons, it was removed from the original film).
The League itself isn't much better. Jason Momoa pretty much channels the same style he had as Ronan in Stargate Atlantis; muscle bound and brooding. Ray Fisher gives a dark and menacing portrayal of Cyborg, as he comes to terms with his transformation, and as a fan of Eureka it was good to see Joe Morton back as a scientist (and there's the other connection to the creation of Skynet in the Terminator franchise).
It might have been more enjoyable if they'd given them origin story films before throwing them into the group so this film doesn't have to run through their introductions. Having them join an already established character, like Batman, might make sense in other franchises, but they are established characters, with plenty of comic pedigree. Instead, we have to wait to find out more about them, then go back to Justice League to see what is going on.
We've already had Wonder Woman's introduction, and Justice League carries on with the close up face shots and beautifully tailored outfits (even my wife thought Theresa May would love a pair of leather trousers like she wears).
And lastly The Flash. I get it that DC don't want to integrate their TV and film universes, yet having four years of The Flash being on TV and obviously the comics creating an image of Barry Allen, Ezra Millers Flash is more like a take off from the new Spiderman; a kid with powers, but no direction to use them. Grant Gustins version is more together and focused, which he needs to be for a long running series. If anything, he ends up reminding me of Andy Samberg in Brooklyn 99.
And the reason for that is Grant Gustin wouldn't work so well with Ben Afflecks Batman. He still doesn't have the presence compared to Gal Gadot or Henry Cavill, or even Jeremy Irons, yet he's supposedly the central character tracking down the members of the League. As he says, his superpower is money!
Given their wealth of available backstories, DC do seem to be squandering their opportunities to make truly great films, in exchange for CGI nonsense.