Zack Snyder is a somewhat divisive filmmaker, with his unique style making his movies the stuff of legend in the eyes of some and downright unwatchable to others. No matter where you sit on that scale, there’s no denying that the director has made some incredible contributions to Hollywood and, more specifically, the comic book movie genre.
Even before he was tasked with taking charge of the DCEU, Snyder had helmed 300 and Watchmen, two game-changing efforts that adapted titles we never thought would be brought to the big screen.
From there, he took the helm of Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before things got…complicated…with Justice League. Ahead of this weekend’s “Full Circle” event, we’re now taking a look back at Snyder’s contributions to this genre, ranking them from worst to best.
To check that out, simply click on the “Next” button below to find out which of these movies we put at #1!
(Dis)Honourable Mention: Justice League
The 2017 theatrical cut of Justice League was wrestled out of Snyder’s hands and given to Joss Whedon. The Avengers helmer was only supposed to write new scenes for reshoots but ultimately stepped behind the camera to direct those, allegedly making the cast’s life a hell in the process.
Many of Snyder’s ideas and scenes remained, while he was also the only credited director on the DCEU crossover.
Despite that, we think it would be unfair to include this version of Justice League here as it isn’t truly a representation of the filmmaker’s work in the comic book movie realm. In fact, it ranks among the genre’s worst efforts.
5. Man of Steel
Many of you will be unhappy that Man of Steel isn’t ranked higher, but outside of some stellar visuals and an exciting Krypton-set opening, we’d argue this origin story made a lot of mistakes with Superman.
The destruction of Metropolis and the hero’s decision to kill General Zod are high up on the list, but so too is the fact Clark Kent didn’t become a superhero until he was in his 30s! Throw in the fact he essentially let his father die, and this story was definitely lacking, particularly with how it handled the emergence of Superman.
There’s plenty to love about this CG-heavy effort, but it simply doesn’t sit up there with some of Snyder’s better movies.
4. 300
This ultra-violent big screen adaptation of Frank Miller’s beloved comic book was where Snyder established his visual style. It wasn’t to everyone’s liking, but it’s hard to think of another historical epic like this that’s as striking as it is thrilling.
300 featured moments that have become nothing short of iconic. The “This is Sparta!” scene is among them, of course, but it was the edge-of-your-seat action that really established Snyder as someone who could take a comic book and actually bring it to life on screen.
If we’re being honest, the script was a little OTT in places and the acting wasn’t always perfect; despite that, it’s a movie which is still worth revisiting.
3. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Leaps and bounds better than the theatrical cut of Justice League, Zack Snyder’s Justice League was a victory for the filmmaker and his fans.
The four-hour spectacle still had some problems – Superman being dead for such a large chunk of the movie did it no favours – but everything from that massive final battle to the sequel teases added by Snyder during one final round of reshoots left DC Comics fans with a smile on their face.
Do we wish the filmmaker was given the chance to make his sequels? Honestly, it was hard to watch this director’s cut and not hope they become a reality in some form, especially based on what Snyder has since revealed about where this story was heading.
2. Watchmen
Say what you will about Snyder’s decision to ditch the giant squid and that bizarre sex scene set to “Hallelujah,” but for any fan of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen, this movie was a very special experience.
Essentially a shot-for-shot adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel, it brought a story to the screen that many had argued could never be adapted. Snyder proved the doubters wrong but, as expected, Watchmen struggled to find an audience due to its graphic, and often weird, story.
Still, we have nothing but good things to say about this movie, particularly when it comes to its cast, visuals, and pulse-pounding soundtrack.
1. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
This is going to be controversial, isn’t it? Look, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice made some mistakes and boasted a lot of odd creative decisions, but we still believe it stands out as Snyder’s best comic book movie.
Why? Well, if you can put Jesse Eisenberg’s weird Lex Luthor and the whole “Martha” thing to one side for a moment, this blockbuster delivered the epic battle between the Dark Knight and Man of Tomorrow we’d spent years dreaming about seeing on screen.
Throw in the fact that Wonder Woman was thrown into the mix, and Batman v Superman was pretty damn great…even if that Doomsday design sucked.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
