Today’s Prayer Focus
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MOVIE REVIEW

Justice League

also known as “Liga de la Justicia,” “Liga da Justiça,” “Adalet Birligi,” “Az Igazság Ligája,” See more »
MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for sequences of sci-fi violence and action.

Reviewed by: Samuel A. Torcasio
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Young Adults Adults
Genre: Superhero Sci-Fi Action Adventure Fantasy Adaptation
Length: 2 hr. 1 min.
Year of Release: 2017
USA Release: November 17, 2017 (wide—4,051 theaters)
DVD: March 13, 2018
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Relevant Issues

Where does the DARKNESS in our world come from? Answer

Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures

WHY is the world the way it is—filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty? If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this? Answer

Courage / bravery / self-sacrifice

God expects His children to do good for others in His service.

What is Christian love? Answer

Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures

What is JUSTICE? Answer

What is the JUSTICE OF GOD? Answer

What is true GOODNESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS?

Goodness of God

Who is the true SAVIOR? Answer

Is Jesus Christ the answer to your questions?
Discover the good news that Jesus Christ offers
Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures
Featuring Gal GadotDiana Prince / Wonder Woman
Robin WrightAntiope
Jason Momoa … Arthur Curry / Aquaman
Connie Nielsen … Queen Hippolyta
Amy AdamsLois Lane
Ben AffleckBruce Wayne / Batman
Ezra Miller … Barry Allen / The Flash
Amber HeardMera
Henry CavillClark Kent / Superman
Diane LaneMartha Kent
Kiersey Clemons … Iris West
Billy CrudupHenry Allen
J.K. SimmonsCommissioner Gordon
Ciarán HindsSteppenwolf
Jeremy IronsAlfred Pennyworth
Jesse EisenbergLex Luthor
Daniel Stisen … Ancient Warrior
Ray Fisher … Victor Stone / Cyborg
Erin Eliza Blevins … Amazonian Warrior
Lisa Loven Kongsli … Menalippe
See all »
Director Zack Snyder
Joss Whedon
Producer Atlas Entertainment
Cruel and Unusual Films
DC Comics
See all »
Distributor
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures. Trademark logo.
Warner Bros. Pictures
, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company

“The truest darkness is not absence of light but that light will never return… But the light always returns… Hope is real.”

“Justice League” brings together: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Cyborg. It is the DC Universe equivalent of “Marvel’s The Avengers.” The film has an all-star cast including 3 Oscar® winners: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Irons, J.K. Simmons; and 4 Oscar® nominees: Amy Adams, Willem Dafoe, Diane Lane and Jesse Eisenberg. The film is directed by both Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon.

This is the third live-action appearance of the Justice League after the failed TV pilot “Justice League of America” and “Smallville.” This movie was initially going to be split into 2 parts: “Justice League Part One” and “Justice League Part Two,” with an alleged singular continuing story line. But by the time of filming the idea of the film being in two parts seemed to have quietly gone away, and it is now rumored to be two self-contained movies with two related but separate plots. Considering the above, it is interesting that this is one of the shortest DC films to date.

I try to be as spoiler free as possible in this review, but if you are going into this movie knowing nothing about it, be aware this review might give some things away.

I think DC succeeded in giving us an entertaining, visually stunning, action packed film with a straightforward storyline that’s not too complex. Its story isn’t as rich as that of the recent “Wonder Woman” or even “Man of Steel,” but it is a much smoother ride than the very choppy “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

The challenge with a film that has multiple main characters is not making it too clunky, and this film avoids that error. This movie has a really good pace, a simple plot, and fantastic action sequences. The heroes are introduced early on in the film, and, while there is not a whole lot of character development, I think there is enough to suit the film’s purpose. Enough curiosity is generated about characters we don’t know too much about (as far as the film universe is concerned) to make us interested in a solo film for them. Wonder Woman established herself in the last film. And, let’s be honest, we know Batman and Superman, and they need very little introduction.

The interplay between the characters is solid. There is a great dynamic and chemistry, and all of the actors are a nice fit. Ben Affleck, in this film and others, has given us a great take on the Batman, and I hope he will continue with the role. The filmmakers were also smart to only give us one main villain. This keeps the story focused. And the soundtrack is superb. I was so glad to hear Danny Elfman’s Batman theme again. They only give you a little bit, but it’s enough to please fans of the classic 1989 film.

While the plot is smooth, and the characters and visuals kept me glued to the screen, it is not a terribly original story idea. We have seen this before. In fact, there are some striking similarities to the first Avengers film. Aliens from the sky are threatening the world, and a team of super heroes rises to save the day. Now it is by no means an exact parallel, and we already know that there are many parallels between the DC and Marvel worlds. It’s just hard to not point out that it’s a similar film and feels quite familiar. The basic plotline of this film has been done before, so don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

Now, with all that said, it is still a whole lot of fun to watch. And I think DC fans should be satisfied with this first entry into the Justice League series. We get to see Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the crew on the big screen and it’s pretty sweet. We are even left at the end with a little preview of what’s coming next, so I think it’s safe to say there is indeed a planned future for this franchise.

About Hope
Click here to watch THE HOPE on-line!
Discover God’s promise for all people—told beautifully and clearly from the beginning. Discover The HOPE! Watch it on Christian Answers—full-length motion picture.

About despair, fear and hope

Themes and Message

One of the themes of the film is HOPE, as well as the lack thereof. In the beginning of the movie, all hope seems to be lost. A gloomy picture of the world is given. Superman, in these films, is seen as a savior of humanity. With his death, it appears that the salvation of the world died with it. Throughout the film various characters are found lamenting about how the world has changed. Can we not see a parallel in our own day in the real world? With everything going on today, things just don’t seem to be getting any better, and in fact they are getting rapidly worse. So, the film reflects the picture many have of our world today.

Steppenwolf in “Justice League” (2017)

Along with that there is also a theme of FEAR. The character Steppenwolf (who looks a bit like what we might imagine the Devil) has extraterrestrial henchmen called parademons who prey upon the fears of others.

So, too, today evil terrorists prey upon the fears of civilians. And the evil one himself, Satan, and his demons continually seek to terrorize humanity and keep people in fear. The devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Movies are a reflection of the real world, though they are imperfect reflections and often have a distorted view of the world. The good news in the real world is that the ultimate Hero, the Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate has come—and, through His death on the cross for sinners, He has defeated—and will one day completely “destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 9:14-15).

Trusting Jesus is the only way to escape eternal death, and the fear of it. Our Lord Jesus promised that if you trust in Him,

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

I don’t want to ruin the film for those who have absolutely no idea what will happen, but let’s just say that the return of one the characters is the cause for many to get their hope back. No doubt, parallels will be made between this character’s return and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the film this character is even referred to as “god.”

Whatever you make of the analogy, whether good or bad, remember that the world is looking for a Savior. But, there is only one true Savior, and it is the duty of each Christian to tell others His story. And no story can compare to the New Testament’s account of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! And the best part about it is… it’s true! That is the real and concrete hope for this world today! That is so much better than some kind of demi-god or superhero. We are talking about the Uncreated God taking on humanity to save humanity!

About The Savior

How did Jesus greatly HUMBLE himself for our sake? Answer

Is Jesus Christ the answer to your questions?
Discover the good news that Jesus Christ offers
Paradise or Pain? Why is the world the way it is?
Why is the world the way it is? If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this? (filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty) Answer
God’s Story Online home
Do you understand God’s Story? Take a multimedia journey through the Bible, from Creation to eternity. Hear and read an exciting summary of the Bible’s most important records, in chronological order.

There is a compelling quote in the film about true darkness being the conviction that light will never return. And indeed, if we do not have hope that things will get better, we will really be in the dark. Hope keeps us going. But our hope needs to be based on what is true. Hope is indeed real, and He is named Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ is the true light of the world and whoever follows Him “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Only in His light can we see light (Psalm 36:9).

In other words, only by viewing the world through a biblical lens can we see the world as it actually is, and see the hope of the Gospel. The Christian faith is a message of true and solid hope. Our Lord has conquered the grave and rose from the dead.

Reader, have you trusted in Him for the salvation of your soul? Please do. He is the only Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). True and living hope is only found in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5). That is your only hope for everlasting life. Without it, you are surely facing the Final Judgment of God, and after that you will never see hope again.

In this film, the character Steppenwolf claims to offer the truth. Likewise, Satan has always been trying to deceive humanity that his lies are the truth. The reality is only God has the truth. And the truth about God, the enemy, angels, us, this world, and our destinies can only be found in His Word. That’s where we need to go to get the truth.

There is also some discussion of science and debate regarding its ability to save versus its ability to destroy. There are many people in our world that think science (aka knowledge) is the ultimate answer. There is a great deal of science that is only so-called, it hasn’t been proved. But we as Christian believers must always remember that all true science is a gift from God. God made man in His image, and man (even in his fallen state) is capable of achieving great advancements in technology, medicine, space travel and so forth.

But one still has to understand all of this through a worldview. It is God that has given man such abilities, and when man becomes PRIDEFUL, he is falling into Satan’s own sin. Pride comes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

Why is HUMILITY so important? and pride so dangerous? Answer

Content concerns

PROFANITY: “J*sus,” “G*d,” “d*mn” (2), “h*ll” (2)

VULGARITY: F-words (3 or more—but bleeped-out, but it’s clear that’s what the character is saying, and then after those occurrences we continue to see the character’s mouth bleeped out on a TV news program which indicates she is swearing up a storm), “Sh*t-hole” (2), “Sh*t” (2), “A**-hole,” “A**” (2), “Praise to the mother of horrors,” “Son of a b*tch,” “Stop jerking around”

SEXUALITY OR NUDITY: • Alfred hints that Bruce Wayne may be interested in Wonder Woman for physical reasons. • Diana/Wonder Woman’s cleavage and tight leather pants • Female warriors (Amazons) with bare midriffs and form-fitting tops • Shirtless males • Brief kiss • Flash is briefly shown on top of Wonder Woman, in an awkward moment.

VIOLENCE—There is lots of violence—war, fighting, killing. The parademons hurt and kill people. You can hear snapping of necks. But all remains within the MPA’s PG-13 restrictions.

ALCOHOL—One of the superheros gulps down a whole bottle of whiskey.

Blasphemy concern

There is talk throughout the film of the “new gods” and the “old gods,” and this is never really developed. One character says “god is back from the dead.” But the most concerning statement is one in which it seems a direct reference is made to the Trinity. Speaking of three extremely powerful boxes that can remake the world as he wishes, the lead villain Steppenwolf (who looks like an artist’s depiction of the Devil) says, “Praise to the unity, praise to the three in one.”

Now, there is much that is troubling with this. First it is said by a devilish-looking character, and further the fact that such an evil character is offering praise to an alternate “three in one” is quite unsettling. Anyone who knows the historic and thoroughly biblical doctrine of God’s Triunity should be disturbed.

Trinity

How can 1 God be 3 persons? Answer

More about the Trinity

Is Jesus Christ a man, or is he God? Answer

Was Jesus Christ God manifest in human form? Answer

Is Jesus Christ really God? Answer

If Jesus was the Son of God, why did He call Himself the Son of Man? Answer

To make matters worse, in the next line he utters “Praise to the mother of horrors.” Paralleling the biblical Trinity with the mother of horrors (which sounds like the mother of harlots in Revelation 17!). This is blasphemy at the highest level. Now some may contend that the reference is vague, and that it’s reading too much into it to say it’s the Trinity. But I think the reference is clear enough to warrant concern.

Think about it, if we are concerned about immorality and violence, how much more should we be concerned about God’s Name and Character? The first four commands are all about our direct relationship to Him. God is concerned about His Name, and so should we. We should be especially concerned for our children who are impressionable. We do not want them to become desensitized to this kind of stuff, and we need to be very sensitive to it ourselves. So, I think discussion on this is quite warranted.

Conclusion

“Justice League” is an entertaining film, but not a great one. There is some content to be cautious about. The blasphemy insinuation is the greatest concern, and what causes me the greatest reservation in recommending the film. Believers who see it need to be prepared to interact with some of the content. Especially if you are taking children to see it. Never put your biblical worldview aside, even for a 2 hour movie—for your sakes, and your children’s.

  • Violence: Heavy to Very Heavy, but not very bloody —The worst is green goo on walls and people when parademons are killed.
  • Profane language: Moderately Heavy
  • Vulgar/Crude language: Moderate
  • Nudity: Mild
  • Sex: Mild
Editor’s Note about blasphemy: Keep in mind that, in this film, everything about the villainous character Steppenwolf and his henchmen is depicted as being evil, and his evil is strongly opposed by the far more moral “good” guys. This movie is basically a battle between GOOD and what at first appears to be insurmountable EVIL. In this film, does Steppenwolf say evil things because he is evil? That is, were his words and actions placed in the screenplay simply to demonstrate his internal evil character? Or is there something else going on here?

In my view, a film that depicts an evil person saying something blasphemous is not automatically blasphemous itself, UNLESS it agrees with, supports, encourages or praises the blasphemy in some way, or if it takes no position (pro or con) on the blasphemy—thereby indicating no opposition to it. OR, UNLESS the filmmakers threw blasphemy or near-blasphemy into the film flippantly or irresponsibly (sadly, not uncommon in Hollywood)—if so, that does seem blasphemous (or dancing on the edge of it, depending on the specifics).

Playing with blasphemy is an extremely foolish and sinful act in direct opposition to the all-powerful Creator of the universe—and evidence of a great lack of the proper FEAR OF THE LORD that all creatures should maintain.

Christian viewers, let us know how you interpret what was actually done in this particular film.

What is the sin of BLASPHEMY? Answer

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—My brother and I went to see the movie, and we both thought it was awesome.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Charlene, age n/a (USA)
Positive—I strongly recommend you re-watch BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (preferably the R-rated Ultimate Edition) and WONDER WOMAN before seeing JUSTICE LEAGUE. Even if you didn’t like one of those films, you will have a better understanding of the story that continues here. The writing by Academy Award winner Chris Terrio (with additional material by Joss Whedon) is great, but since plenty of scenes in the trailers were cut from the final film released to cinemas, it’s not as emotionally rich as the aforementioned entries. But the acting is top-notch, and there are plenty of surprises in store, musically and visually, for the die hard Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman fan. Hopefully, a Director’s Cut will be released a la BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE on Blu-Ray.

Biblically speaking, there is some moderate profanity (including several bleeped f words), heavy but mostly bloodless violence, and at least one mild sexual reference. The villain (who looks like a cross betwixt the horned malevolents in “Legend” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” in my opinion) utters the statements construed as blasphemy by the original reviewer, but it is not condoned, and it’s not a spoiler to say that Justice has its due.

I recommend this movie, and stay through the credits for a scene in the middle of the credits, and another scene at the end of the credits. Your patience will be amply rewarded.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
D, age 31 (USA)
Positive—My opinion about this topic on Blasphemy and the movie: it’s ridiculous. An evil character, his evil army and his evil dogma are depicted as EVIL, wrong and, though powerful, are defeated by faith, hope and love. What more do you want… ? If an accurate, verse by verse movie were made about the end times, and the character of the Antichrist is depicted as evil, doing and speaking evil, heretical words, so as to be biblically accurate, would you be making the same argument… ?
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
William, age 52 (USA)
Positive—I found the “Justice League” movie to be very entertaining and enjoyable. For the most part, good is called good, and evil is called evil. There are numerous moments where the members of the league do good deeds for one another and expect nothing in return. Wonder Woman saves innocents from an evil terrorist group; Bruce Wayne buys a bank to end a foreclosure on the Kent house; Victor Stone stops pitying himself when his father is in danger; The Flash loves his father despite the fact the father killed The Flash’s mother (there are hints that the father might have been framed, but it’s kind of hard to say); and Aquaman helps (a destitute village, then the Justice League) others simply because it is the right thing to do.

Heroism is glorified and evil is defeated in the end. While the violence does get intense, it is “good versus evil” and the goal is for the league to create a peaceful world.

There are a few objectionable moments.

1. Wonder Woman’s outfit is a bit too revealing and the camera tends to give us some “male gaze” type of angles.

2. Aquaman is shown drinking an entire bottle of alcohol (albeit, he is still sober for the most part immediately afterward).

3. The league members are shown sneaking into the Kryptonian ship to resurrect Superman, including Flash and Cyborg using a fake ID to sneak in. I know if it is done out of helping the greater good (and the Bible does mention the spies who hid in Rahab’s house), but I wish Commissioner Gordon had given them clearance or something.

4. Too many times is the Lord’s name used in vain. One particular moment is when Bruce is horrified over The Flash’s mother’s murder and mutters Jesus” name out of sadness. Couldn’t he have said “So tragic” or “What the poor boy must have gone through”?

As for the blasphemy comment, Steppenwolf is portrayed in a negative way. As others are saying, when evil is portrayed in a negative light, it is a good thing. Judas” betrayal, the Pharisees” stubbornness, and Herod’s hedonism are evil events that the Bible states in a negative light.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Peter, age 27 (USA)
Positive—This review is for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the director’s cut of Justice League as Snyder originally filmed it before his adopted daughter committed suicide and grief caused him and his wife to leave the film while the movie was in post-production. Joss Whedon was brought in to rewrite and reshoot scenes, and the final result was inconsistent with “Man Of Steel” and “Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.”

Four years later, Warner Brothers finally acquiesced to overwhelming pleas from fans for The Snyder Cut, and the fruit is much sweeter than Justice League. With a four hour two minute running time, characters are fully developed, and the plot is greatly expanded. Everything about Zack Snyder’s Justice League is better than the PG-13 Justice League.

Biblically speaking, there is graphic violence (not on the level of the 1983 loose remake of the 1932 classic Scarface, but blood sprays and pools are seen intermittently), some profanity, and one sexual reference. Refreshingly, God’s Name is not blasphemed, although His Son’s Name is at least once taken in vain. There is a black-and-white version of Zack Snyder’s Justice League which is sadly only available on HBO Max, but it dilutes the graphic violence to some extent. I recommend both versions.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is rated R.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
D, age 35 (USA)

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.