Earlier we shared what’s likely the final trailer for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and now we can provide the early reactions to the film from critics and journalists. With only a few days remaining until Snyder’s second crack at Justice League bows on HBO Max, there are people out there who can actually tell us whether all this hype and hoopla has paid off. We know Snyder’s film is a four-hour extravaganza (luckily, there are six chapters, meaning six built-in breaks, should you need them), but how does the film play?

The initial reactions are…very positive! It seems Snyder really has delivered on his promise of bringing out a more cohesive, emphatic storyline. The reasons these assorted superheroes team up, so long used to working alone, is just one aspect that Snyder’s cut gives more time to. Most of the reactions note that while, sure, four hours is a long time, Snyder’s cut is vastly superior to the theatrical film in just about every way. Oh, and HBO Max is the perfect medium to enjoy it in.

Without further ado, here are a few of the initial takes:

#ZackSnydersJusticeLeague is the stronger cut by far. Yes, it’s long, but for most of that 4-hour running time, the material has purpose. The 2017 cut got away with the characters coming together simply because it was a superhero team-up movie …

— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) 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

#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

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 bombastic, ambitious, and so rewarding. It’s the kind of cinematic storytelling the team has deserved for decades, and a complex love letter to the legacy of DC Comics as a whole. It’s not completely perfect, but the joy that it brought me was. pic.twitter.com/5U6jAJcd7L

— Jenna Anderson (@heyitsjennalynn) 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. #SnyderCut pic.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

ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE is a masterpiece. Snyder brings his brilliant technical & emotional storytelling to an awesome continuation of what he beautifully built in MAN OF STEEL & BvS. Great mix of soundtrack & score. 1.33 aspect ratio is incredibly immersive. Loved R-Rating. pic.twitter.com/JWbZx9041K

— Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) March 14, 2021

Zack Snyder’s Justice League hits HBO Max on March 18.

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Featured image: Teaser Art for Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Courtesy Warner Bros./HBO Max.