Justice League (2017)/Zack Snyder’s Justice League- The 4kids Version vs the Japanese Version

First off, yes I will be discussing both versions in one post. Despite being different in terms of direction, tone, cinematography, editing, and score, both cuts still share the majority of the same beats, plot points, and character arcs that both can only be described as the exact same movie to me. If you don’t like that, well too bad. Anyways, on we go with the last Batman piece for The Batman hits theaters!

Anyone remember 4Kids? Y’know, that controversial children’s network that was infamous for butchering anime series. The one entertainment company that would change up the script, tone, feel, and editing of the whole anime series it was dubbing for younger audiences even if the original anime was actually targeted towards teenagers and young adults. Whether we’re talking about Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Sonic X, One Piece, etc., 4Kids would do everything in their power to make sure that each episode of a show they dub would be as kid friendly as an episode of Sesame Street or Dora the Explorer. Even if it required some of the most stupidest and pointless edits/cuts imaginable, like having a character spell out G.U.N. instead of just saying gun (Yes, really!), the agenda was to always scale down each individual episode, cut out anything even remotely dark, have the most lighthearted tone and kid friendly script possible, and make sure it’s no longer than 20 minutes so there can at least be 10 minutes of commercial breaks. As a kid, you don’t notice any of this because you’re not suppose to know any better but as you get older, you see that something is clearly wrong here.

It’s then that you watched the original anime dub that it was based on, most notably the Japanese version and you realized that this is the version that feels right. This is the version that makes the series feel whole and the one that you were actually meant to see. It’s more serious, has more adult and mature themes, there’s some swearing, sexual humor, drug references, and you never feel like you miss a beat when watching it unlike with the US one. Granted, Japan is not necessarily a country that is very sensitive to subject matter and vocabulary language as America is (Like, it’s perfectly normal for a child in Japan to swear. There’s only one or two actual bad words in Japan), but you know damn well this is the version that feels like the definite one, even if it’s practically the exact same show as the massively inferior English one.

Those are the kinds of vibes I get with these two cuts. They have basically the exact same plots with hardly a single beat or arc missed. The whole story in both cuts is about how Batman and Wonder Woman must find the other superheroes out there, form the Justice League, collect all the mother boxes scattered throughout before bad guys get it, fight the evil Doomsday and his deadly army, and attempt to resurrect Superman before all is lost and mankind loses itself once again. The same thing can also be to applied with the original supposed arcs that the characters themselves go through. Batman must learn to be a team leader, Wonder Woman has to use the hope she gain in mankind over the past two movies (BvS and the first WW) to get this gain of superheroes together, Flash is searching for the friends and family that he has lost or left behind bars, Aquaman is learning to adjust to life, people, and resources outside of his wet world, Superman is wondering if there’s any heroism and humanity left inside him, and Cyborg is trying to find his purpose with a group of unique outcasts so he no longer has to be one. Regardless of how much fans of the Snyder cut would like to argue that it’s as different to the theater cut as say The Dark Knight is to Batman 1966, it can’t be denied that the plot points and structure remain in tact.

And make no mistake about it, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is by the far superior version. It feels like an actual complete film with an actual complete vision. It’s able to take it sweet ass four hour long time to build up to each conflict, team-up, and story progression as it cans without losing the style and direction it’s going for, even if it’s stretched out in the first half to almost comical degree. It has it’s own unique score that doesn’t feel like a sloppily remix of prior Batman movies like the theater version. It also has a more improved and more satisfying climax with much better visuals and effects to back it up. It also sure does help to NOT have to use CGI to remove a mustache. Even if there are still some flaws for the theatrical cut that are carried over here (certain characters not having much of a presence, a scattershot first act when getting the JL members together, Doomsday being a boring as f*ck baddie), and even create some new flaws of it’s own (like the absolutely godawful last 15 minutes), the Snyder cut is no doubt the definite version and the one you should watch if you want to have the full experience.

In general, it’s just so amazing how much time it takes into editing, lightning, shooting, framing, directing, and doing redos of all of that can take a movie that has practically the same story to tell but make it as it’s something completely different and gamechanging in comparison. Just like how 4kids took something more mature and aimed at older audience and made something more watered down for a target audience that are probably still a few years away from dropping their first f bomb, the theater cut of Justice League manages to strip away the heart and soul of it’s original version in favor of something more crowd pleasing and a cut short enough where you can fill as much theater showings of it n a day as possible. It’s only in through production and post-production of a flick can make or break it no matter the quality of your actual motion picture. If you don’t believe me, just watch this side-by-side comparison of both cuts.

Now, you might be wondering about me discussing Batman’s role in the movie. Well, to be honest, there’s not much to say about Batman in this movie. His role and arc in the story is about as simple and straight forward as it gets. For a cut of a movie that aims to be more grown up and SMART, his character development is about a by-the-numbers as you could get that even a child can see his story turns coming from a mile away. Granted, this is a Justice League movie first and Batman movie second so that’s understandable but you would think the most popular DC character would have more of a presence in a Justice League movie than say Cyborg (Although, the stuff with this Cyborg is some of the best stuff in the whole movie btw). There’s really nothing fascinatingly awful or fascinatingly great of his role in this movie. It just seems like he’s kinda there.

(Also, side note, it’s quite funny how Snyder fanboys/defenders always like to brush off criticism towards his films claiming that people just didn’t get it despite the fact his DCEU movies has been as unsubtle and oversimplied with it’s themes as possible. Like, what is there to not get about the Martha scene? Or Lex Luthor needing a piss jar? Or even Zod claiming that there’s only way to end a fight between him and Superman despite the fact that’s actually two ways? What is there not to “get” but any of that?)

Sorry, I got sidetracked!

Batman’s sole purpose in this movie is to be a team leader. He and Wonder Woman’s overall goal in this movie, which carries over from Dawn of Justice, is to build an army of superpower beings that they can find in favor of forming an allegiance that will help protect the world at all cost. He still just as bit as moody and brooding as in the last film (unless you watch the theater cut) although not as cold blooded, murderous or bloodthirsty towards crime fighting. He does feel more of the Batman this time around than say, the Punisher but there’s just not much that makes this Bruce Wayne/Batman standout as it’s own thing to be engaged in. Ben Affleck definitely does try harder in the Snyder Cut than he did in the theater cut (where he looked like he rather just stayed in bed) and some of the Batmobile action is top notch but Snyder still fails to make his version of Batman engaging in his own rights without the needs of aesthetics, visuals, and performance wise to do the work for him. His take on Batman overall is…….passable but it should have been much better.

They do also hint at in the abominable epilogue about the possible reason for Batman killing had to do with the murder of Dick Grayson and Lois Lane caused by the Joker. Once again it’s HINTED at, not confirmed. And once again, we never once got the insight into the relationship or connection to Dick or Lois either so that just falls flat. At least it’s more buyable than trying to pretend that Bruce actually cared all that much about that poor Dave fella who Superman got killed. Although, this does lead to easily the funniest line in the whole movie where Batman tells Joker he’s gonna f*cking kill him! I shed tears of laughter everytime I hear that!

I still don’t get what’s preventing Batman from killing the Joker here. It makes no sense, just do it! You’ve killed plenty of others less evil up to this point, how is killing off Mr. J gonna ruin your reputation.

Also, this whole scene is just a dream sequence, something that Snyder sure does love to put in his movies. So, who’s to say that any of this is true and that there even is a real Robin. Heck, maybe this while entire Snyderverse was one crazy fever dream. All kidding aside, I get the sense this scene was only done just to have an excuse for the DCEU Batman to have an interaction of some sort with the DCEU Joker. And my god is Jared Leto has terrible than ever! He should go back to trying to do his best Mario impressions.

But yeah, Batman may not be as much of a mindless killer as he was in the last one and it is cool to see a Batman in live-action being able to interact with other Justice League members but having to follow through the context or lack thereof baggage from Dawn of Justice can’t seem to make the movie do any favors. I sure do hope Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson are up to the task to with making their version of Batman more distinct and filled with depth that you don’t need multiple sequels or decades of resources to get you to care about him.

Overall, that just about does it for my Batman marathon. It sure was interesting to go back to watching all these films once again and seeing how each one stands out with the others. Not all of them are winners of course but this was definitely a purely fascinating experience. There has been many different kinds of Batmans over the years and I only hope Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson are able to bring something to the table that’s fresh, different, but also feels just right. I get the feeling that they will do just that but I will wait to find out when I see the movie myself on March 3rd. I will have my review out for The Batman shortly after I’ve seen the movie, do a ranking of every single theatrical release Batman film to date, and possibly do a spoiler-heavy piece a few days after the movie has come out.

A big thanks to every single one of you that has read all of my Batman posts and other pieces up to this point even if you don’t always agree with what I am saying. I hope you continue to enjoy my content! And if you haven’t already, be sure to follow me through WordPress, Twitter, and Letterboxd if you want to keep up to date with my content or have any questions for me.

Hope you all have a swell day and enjoy The Batman whenever you see it!

One last thing!

For Autumn