6 things you need to know about Zack Snyder's 'Justice League'

After years of fans petitioning to #ReleaseTheSynderCut, the anticipated movie arrives at HBO today!

But what exactly is the "Justice League" Snyder Cut? The long and short of it is that it's director Zack Snyder's version of the 2017 superhero film, which he had to step down from due to a family tragedy.

To recall, the original film failed to impress most viewers and critics alike.

Here's what you need to know about the Snyder Cut:

1. It's 4 hours and 2 minutes long.

Snyder’s Justice League is twice as long as the usual cinematic films. Now, what could possibly have been added to account for an additional two hours? The answer, apparently, is plenty!

In this version, fans get a deeper look into each member of the Justice League: Superman or Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), Batman or Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman or Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), The Flash or Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Aquaman or Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg or Victor Stone (Ray Fisher). We get to see their backstories and their past experiences that motivate them today.

Diving into the complexities of their lives, Snyder introduces viewers to Victor Stone’s mother Elinore (Karen Bryson) and Barry Allen’s love interest Iris West (Kiersey Clemons). This movie has a more emotional story arc for Lois Lane (Amy Adams), greater context for Aquaman’s past courtesy of Vulko (Willen Dafoe), and the full range of Silas Stone’s (Joe Morton) love for his son Cyborg.

2. It's practically a brand-new movie.

Using all the footage he had previously shot (and never released), this epic movie also includes:

• Never-before-seen footage!

New footage with Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello), Martian Manhunter or Calvin Swanwick (Harry Lennix) and Ryan Choi (Zheng Kai) to round out the mythology, and the first appearance of New God Darkseid (Ray Porter), contribute to the 4-hour running time. It even has a freshly-shot finale and a new after credits scene.

• New scenes involving The Flash and The Joker

With Ezra Miller shooting Fantastic Beasts in the UK, Snyder had to direct a fresh scene with him via video conferencing on Zoom. At the same time, he was able to address his regret that Batman and the Joker were never brought face-to-face so he brought Jared Leto on board just for one scene.

• Thousands of new VFX shots

Production continued through the height of the pandemic, with international VFX teams working remotely to complete or redo thousands of shots.

• New music score

Original composer Junkie XL, also known as Tom Holkenborg, returned to the project, writing an entirely new score that captured the character and struggle of each character.

3. The film is divided into six parts.

Fans can choose to watch the epic in one sitting, or they may ease into the viewing experience by watching it in its separate parts.

• Part 1: "Don't Count On It, Batman"
• Part 2: "Age of Heroes"
• Part 3: "Beloved Mother, Beloved Son"
• Part 4: "Change Machine"
• Part 5: "All The King's Horses"
• Part 6: "Something Darker."

4. More ‘authentic’ battle-damaged costumes

While superhero costumes often appear pristine, in real life, latex doesn’t last that long! After four years, Batman’s cowl disintegrated when Ben Affleck tried to put it on. With time in short supply, they went ahead with its damaged appearance, lending more authenticity to the post-apocalyptic setting.

5. Never underestimate the power of superfans!

This special release was made possible because a group of dedicated fans initiated the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign. In the process, they bombarded Warner Bros. with high-profile gestures that included billboard advertisements, social media campaigns, and – at one point – even sending airplanes to fly over the studio.

6. Best to watch Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice beforehand

Snyder’s Justice League is the third movie of the Snyderverse beginning from the Man of Steel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The best way to experience the Snyderverse? Watch Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice first!

For Filipino viewers, Snyder's "Justice League" is available on HBO GO starting today, March 18 at 3 p.m. —JCB, GMA News