Justice League: Rise of the Motherboxes

Here we go again, another review for one of my favorite faneditors!

Regarding the two original versions of the films, I think I saw the theatrical twice and Snyder's one time. I enjoyed the theatrical to a certain degree, but I loved Snyder's version, obviously. My two gripes were the numerous future teasers that we are never going to see come to fruition and the 4 hour runtime. 4 hours is a lot, especially if you have a job. Glad I saw it, but bad for the occasional DCEU marathon, which is what I did now in preparation for the Flash movie.

The changes are obviously a lot, Wakeupekeo cut an entire hour of the film, and to be honest I can't really remember exactly what was cut, so I will just comment in general about the editor's version and then write about a couple of things I wish were also cut. So, the edit was awesome! The fact that the editor managed to cut down one hour and combine skillfully some scenes from the theatrical cut with Snyder's, is simply phenomenal. But I expected no less from Wakeupkeo. With the exception of one scene, that I will mention in the negatives, the cuts were seamless and I couldn't understand what was missing at any given time! Also, ----------- SPOILERS ------------ major props for putting Tomar-Re and Kilowog at the mid-credits scene and making it look almost like it was there from the start!!

Now, for the negatives. The first two are purely subjective, you'll see why. One of my biggest gripes with the DCEU was that we didn't get all the solo films before JL. And don't get me started on the premature death of Superman, but that's all done and dusted and nothing any faneditor can do about it without ruining the continuity. So, what I tried to do with this marathon, was watching Wonder Woman first, which can be done because it's in the past, then MoS, BvS, SS (wakeupkeo's edition), and then I wanted to watch Aquaman (wakeupkeo's edition) before JL. The reason I tried that with Aquaman was because the editor removed the connection with JL, more specifically the line Arthur says about defeating Steppenwolf, and because I was planning to watch this edit for JL, which is from the same editor, I was hoping he removed the two scenes that put JL before Aquaman. Unfortunately, to my great disapointment, he did not..These scenes were with Aquaman meeting Wulko and Aquaman meeting Mera almost right afterwards, (maybe there were more in the original 4 hour version, but here these were the problem). I know this is not the only issue, there is another plot hole that gets in the way, and that is that his mother's trident is not cut in half (but let's say he could have fixed it or something) and that he is not using the king's trident in such an important battle. To be honest, I could live with having a different color trident, whatever, but having the characters acting like they don't know each other forces me to watch Aquaman after JL..

Two things that I don't remember if they were in the original movie or if it is the editor's choice and I found them a bit much, was the overuse of the Amazon lamentation song and the volume of the voices in CGI characters, For the song, if it was used a couple of scenes less it would be great and also, at the very start of the movie, there is this wiiiide shot of the landscape of Themyscira and the dome and we hear very clearly horses running. And I was like, where are they?? I managed to spot them at the very end of the scene and still, they were really really small. So, the crystal clear sound with how far they were, didn't match for me. The other thing was that voices of the CGI characters, like Steppenwolf and De Saad, were really loud compared to the rest of the film and even compared with the action scenes.

One weird looking scene, was the beginning of the mid-credits. It seems that something is really off for the characters that we see from afar, but when we get to the close up though, it is excellent!

So, that's my two cents on this edit! For anyone who has the same issues with the original, like that it's too long in general or that it needed some trimming or the numerous future teasers, I believe that this is the edit for you! I know it will be for me!

Thank you Wakeupkeo for all your hard work and thanks to anyone who read this review!

Introduction:
Justice League: Rise of the Motherboxes is an extraordinary fan edit that reimagines the original 2017 Justice League film, elevating it to new heights. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the source material, this fan edit by Wakeupkeo showcases the true potential of what the Justice League movie could have been. With its refined narrative, seamless editing, and enhanced character development, Rise of the Motherboxes is a triumph in the realm of fan edits.

Editing and Presentation:
The editing in Rise of the Motherboxes is nothing short of exemplary. From the first frame to the last, the pacing and flow of the film have been expertly restructured to create a more cohesive and engaging experience. Wakeupkeo has skillfully trimmed unnecessary scenes, reducing the film's runtime without sacrificing its core essence. The transitions between scenes are seamless, allowing the story to unfold smoothly and effortlessly.

Furthermore, the visual and audio quality of the fan edit is top-notch. The editing seamlessly integrates new visual effects and audio enhancements, creating a more immersive and visually stunning experience. The attention to detail in this aspect is commendable, as it truly elevates the overall production value of the film.

Narrative and Character Development:
One of the most remarkable achievements of Rise of the Motherboxes lies in its refined narrative. Wakeupkeo has brilliantly restructured the plot, incorporating new sequences and eliminating certain subplots that detracted from the film's central story arc. This results in a more focused and compelling narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the entire runtime.

Moreover, the character development in this fan edit is a true testament to the Wakeupkeo's understanding of the source material. Each member of the Justice League is given their due, with more screen time and meaningful interactions. The audience gains a deeper insight into the motivations, struggles, and growth of these iconic superheroes, forging a stronger emotional connection. The relationships between the characters are explored with greater depth, adding layers of complexity to their individual journeys.

Visual Enhancements:
In Rise of the Motherboxes, the visual enhancements bring a fresh and captivating perspective to the film. Wakeupkeo has masterfully integrated new and improved visual effects, seamlessly blending them with the original footage. The result is a visually stunning experience that not only enhances the action sequences but also elevates the overall aesthetic appeal of the film. The attention to detail in the visual enhancements is impeccable, demonstrating Wakeupkeo's dedication to creating a visually cohesive and impressive work.

Conclusion:
Justice League: Rise of the Motherboxes is a monumental achievement in the realm of fan edits. Through skillful editing, refined narrative structure, enhanced character development, and captivating visual enhancements, Wakeupkeo has transformed the original 2017 Justice League film into a masterpiece that surpasses its predecessor in every aspect. This fan edit stands as a testament to the creative talent and passion of fans who are dedicated to bringing their vision to life. If you're a fan of the Justice League or simply crave a more satisfying and immersive superhero experience, Rise of the Motherboxes is an absolute must-watch.

While I am not a fan of Snyder's interpretation of these DC heroes, I do recognize their appeal and I think Wakeupkeo has done a fantastic job with this edit. The edit remain faithful and true to Snyder's main through line, except now it feels like he had a strong executive producer to slightly reined him in and encourage him to inject some much needed humanity into the characters. But at the end of the day, this is still very much a Snyder flick; thus for me, some of the sequences are just a tad too long and a tad too much slo-mo. But that is a minor nitpick.

An excellent edit and well worth watching.
Thumbs Up.

I just finished watching Wakeupkeo's edits of BvS, JL and most of MoS, and I'm coming away very impressed. I think the highest compliment you can give any edit is that it's the only version you will watch in the future, and that is definitely the case for these terrific versions of JL and BvS. I never really had any problems with the theatrical edits of MoS or WW, so I'll probably stick with the originals for those.

For JL, he takes the core of the ZS version, trims the scenes that made you look for a fan edit in the first place, and seamlessly (color correction and FX) integrates the more redeeming parts of the JS version to make it a bit more fun. Scene transitions are entirely unnoticeable, and as I watched it was honestly hard to recall the bits that had been cut and which bits were from each movie. You just get lost in the pacing, and that's the heart of a great edit.

I don't have any major criticisms of the editing or story choices, though I personally will choose to skip the credit scenes in future viewings as they (again, just my opinion) detract more than they add. I hated the race scene, and Luthor's escape isn't going anywhere.

The only minor technical issue I had was with the sound. My receiver is reading the mix as Dolby Digital, but it seems to be encoded in stereo (no center, no surrounds). But the sound quality in JL is the best of the three, and there's a much higher quality version of it available as well (compared to BvS and MoS).

Mostly, just thank you for doing this. The JW version of JL was terrible, and the ZS version was bloated, and this is just a really nice balance of the two. Cheers!

This is easily my favorite edit of Justice League. It keeps what worked about both Snyder and Whedon's vastly different versions and finds a happy middle-ground between them. Everything that can be fixed with the existing material has been fixed.

Absolutely stellar work.