My biggest complaint is 4:3. I get it, Synder envisions this hitting Imax and wanted it in that format, but for those of us with OLED screens and a 4 hour run time, not a good mix. Though it took me 3 days to finish, so I guess there is that.
What I liked (Spoiler Free)
1. Better character backstory
2. Added some nice action sequences
3. Introduction of other DC characters
4. Much better ending IMO than original (does not include epilogue)
5. Epilogue - was nice addition
What I disliked
1. 4:3 enough said, should have had 2 formats if he wants to bring to Imax
2. Same challenges with plot holes
3. Soundtrack (the mix of original mixed with Synder's version (think watchman) doesn't gel at times)
4. Snyder likes up close shots and they work a lot of times, other times they don't
5. CGI, two steps below Marvel
If this is this was the original version, I would have enjoyed it minus the extra long run time. But overall I did like it.
I agree with a lot of your points. Yes, that aspect ratio is my biggest complaint as well. That's good and bad I think. If that's the biggest complaint, that means there was a lot that worked. Otoh, it's a pretty big gripe and affects the entire movie...
There's no doubt this version is much more Snydery. It felt bigger and more epic. A bit much with the slo mo here and there and lacking some color but this has moments of Zach at his best with his very visual story telling style. He's very much a "show, don't tell" kind of director, whereas Whedon has a more clever, quippy dialogue heavy approach. Both styles work, but I think trying to force them to work together had a lot to do with the mess we got the first time around. I'll bet Whedon would have done something completely different if he'd had it from the start. Instead he got a mostly finished movie dumped in his lap and had to "make it work".
I like that The Flash actually has more to contribute this time, and holy cow, Cyborg! He went from the weakest character to a big player in this version with a fully fleshed out backstory that makes so much more sense. In fact they all have something resembling a character arc now, but that's what you get with 4 hours to tell a story. Steppenwolf is greatly improved as well with much better defined motivation.
Again, it still isn't the "bestus evar!", but a big improvement. Left me wanting to see more, which is unfortunate because I don't think they're planning to go forward with Zach's version of the DCEU.
