Should the Snyder Cut Justice League be Shown in Theaters?
Should the Snyder Cut Justice League be Shown in Theaters?
No, four hours is just too long to sit in a cinema. From my point of view, it's a significant drawback that the movie was shot entirely in the IMAX format. While this format is meant to look epic on a massive screen, it won't translate well to standard screens. On regular screens, the image will appear squeezed, with the sides blank, which will not enhance the viewing experience.
Logistical and Financial Implications
The logistics of running a theatrical release for a four-hour movie are challenging. Even if you manage to fit the movie in twice a day, the second showing is almost guaranteed to be a significantly less full room due to fatigue and scheduling conflicts. Moreover, no matter how dedicated the audience, the financial implications are negative. Studios typically need a substantial audience to justify a theatrical release. If people aren't flocking to see the full-length version, they won't recoup their investment.
Studio Perspective
Warner Bros, the studio, faces a no-win scenario. No matter how well the movie performs at the box office, it will likely be unfavorably compared to other big releases on the same weekend. Audiences will remember they've already seen parts of the movie. This will result in poor box office returns, further defeating the purpose of creating the Snyder Cut in the first place, which was to drive viewers to the streaming service. A cut-down version might be possible, but even the tighter edits that some fans have seen haven't impressed them enough to consider a full rebuild.
Would It Cost Too Much?
Warner Bros doesn't have the luxury of time or financial resources to release the Snyder Cut in theaters. While there are passionate fans eager to see the full vision, the average moviegoer is unlikely to be interested in a four-hour adaptation of a story that they are already familiar with through other forms. Changing the movie before release would be a costly operation, involving extensive re-editing and possibly re-shooting some scenes to make it more palatable for the mainstream audience. This would cost millions more, which is unlikely to be recouped.
Project Readiness
The project's state of completion is a topic of debate. One VFX technician mentioned that the visual effects shots are almost done. However, the project has had different opinions from various stakeholders. Personally, I believe the movie isn’t as ready as it might appear. DC have released a lot of alternative shots from Snyder's version, but most of them seem to be in the realm of concept art rather than final scenes. If Snyder himself only has concept art to show, it suggests that Warner Bros doesn't have all the necessary visual elements finished.
Conclusion
While I understand the frustration of fans wanting to see the full vision of Zack Snyder's Justice League, the economic and logistical realities make a theatrical release impractical. Warner Bros needs to focus on delivering a movie that resonates with the mass audience rather than catering to a dedicated but small fan base.