Zack Snyder’s Justice League: The reviews are in

Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League is a four-hour epic fans have waited years for - but can it correct the sins of the original film?

It’s been three years since the release of Warner Bros. Justice League, which failed to impress diehard DC fans and was a box office disappointment.

Zack Snyder was the original director before he dropped out of production after the shock death of his daughter in 2017, when control was handed over to a now under siege Joss Whedon.

After much begging from fans, the film is now getting a do-over, with Zack Snyder’s Justice League set to drop and show the world how it was originally intended to be seen.

We’re just days before the film’s Australian streaming premiere, but reviews are appearing online thanks to some early screenings in the US. The verdict? Yes, it’s very long (four hours and two minutes to be exact – stock up on snacks), but also a passionate, bold epic that corrects many of the mistakes of the Whedon cut.

RELATED: How to watch Justice League in Australia

The film’s original release was fraught with controversy.

RELATED: ‘Wildly expensive’ cost of Snyder’s remake

Here’s what the reviewers are saying so far:

Peter Bradshaw at the Guardian gave the film four stars, saying it’s a marked improvement on the original cut: “This new cut adds operatic colour to (a) vapid original – and a bold new ending,” he writes. No spoilers!

He calls it “an epic so splurgingly huge that you can see how it might have been purposed as four streaming episodes … Snyder’s film may be exhausting but it is engaging.”

Rolling Stone calls the Snyder cut “bigger, longer and better than the original”: “This is a director unmistakably reclaiming his territory,” writes reviewer K. Austin Collins.

“You’ll know, within minutes, what sets Snyder’s film apart,” says Rolling Stone, calling Snyder’s cut “compelling.”

Watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League on BINGE from 6pm March 18. New customers get a 14-day free trial. Sign up at binge.com.au

Justice League gets a do-over, with fans now able to enjoy original director Zack Snyder’s edit.

Vulture says the film is four hours of pure Snyder, love him or hate him – and there are plenty on both sides of that divide. “The Snyder Cut has its share of problems — when you get the best of Snyder, you also get the worst — but it’s an undeniably passionate and moving work. It earns its self-importance,” writes reviewer Bilge Ebiri.

Reviewers and fans have also tweeted their early thoughts on the film:

I can now say that I have watched #ZackSnydersJusticeLeague and it is far superior to the original theatrical version. Rich character development, much better action, a coherent story & some terrific badass moments. Definitely a long watch, but I never felt tired of it. Well done pic.twitter.com/QXyQLdUApv

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 14, 2021

#ZackSnydersJusticeLeague is DC’s Lord of the Rings. Simple as that.

Epic and grand, JL is led by great performances, especially from Ray Fisher.

With an amazing score by Junkie XL and Snyder’s eye for directing, @SnyderCut is every DC fan’s dream movie come to life. #SnyderCutpic.twitter.com/DLerGt5WNS

— Sheraz Farooqi (@SherazFarooqi_) March 14, 2021

#ZackSnydersJusticeLeague does indeed exist, I seen it THREE TIMES now, & IT IS FREAKIN' AWESOME! I had an absolute blast watching each time & shocked at just how good it actually is and how well it plays! Action packed, it hits all the beats & that @Junkie_XL score is straight🔥 pic.twitter.com/UgFW1Le9kA

— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) March 14, 2021

I watched (multiple times) #ZackSnydersJusticeLeague!

The movie is EPIC. The characters just matter more. They have purpose and emotion. The villains are intimidating. Cinematography is beautiful. It's EXCITING!

It's hard to believe anyone thought this story should be canned. pic.twitter.com/V7Au2gt6c5

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) March 14, 2021

#ZackSnydersJusticeLeague is truly epic. Superior to the 2017 version in every way. Amazing action and score. Every character shines and story arcs follow through from MOS and BvS. Can’t believe this exists. Incredibly satisfied and so, so worth the wait. #RestoreTheSnyderVersepic.twitter.com/ioDQTvn9ic

— Fico (@FicoCangiano) March 14, 2021

#TheSnyderCut is loaded with scenes people haven't seen & are going to love. It is such a better movie than the theatrical cut of #JusticeLeague. Night and day difference. Saying that have no idea how this version could have ever been released in theaters. Perfect for @hbomax. pic.twitter.com/Fnamv6GcKj

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) March 14, 2021

Zack Snyder's Justice League: I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's both very different, and eerily similar, to the original film with almost all of the changes and additions improving the characters and story. Better motivations. Bigger stakes. It's bloated but superior & worth the wait pic.twitter.com/h7PRADzeJn

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) March 14, 2021

Here, however, it's earned through sincere beats of coming to understand one another, figuring out how to operate as a team and well conveying that they all had something to fight for. Was utterly fascinated watching the footage included in the 2017 cut become more powerful here. pic.twitter.com/p9IRy756MR

— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) March 14, 2021

Despite having mixed feelings about his previous DC films, #ZackSnydersJusticeLeague has completely won me over. The movie is downright awesome, and it’s the most operatic superhero film ever made. As grand as the set pieces are... pic.twitter.com/2C8zNLEJGc

— Brian Davids (@PickYourBrian) March 14, 2021

I watched #ZackSnydersJusticeLeague last week. It made me wish there were a JL trilogy and a plan for the larger universe, where this Aquaman and this Wonder Woman sync up with the solo movies better, where Cyborg gets his due, etc. It’s long but also too short in that respect.

— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) March 14, 2021

Australian audiences can watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League from 6pm Thursday on BINGE.