Review of 12 Strong (2018) by Howard K — 27 Jan 2018

Given what Joss had to work with---courtesy of 'Man of Steel' and 'BVS'---I think his ability to put ANY lipstick on this pretentious, cheerless swine of a franchise is admirable.

Is it derivative? Only if you call a movie with villain with horns on his helmet trying to take over the world with a glowing cube and a borrowed army from ANOTHER villain "derivative". But the team dynamic is solid; and the team actually ACT like super heroes, not just rehashes of Nolan's Batman. Aquaman is a truculent door-kicker, like he is in the 90's JLA show. The Flash cracks jokes and runs fast. Wonder Woman is competent, compassionate, nurturing and stubborn. Batman is frank, calculating, pragmatic and unflappable; and Superman, when he finally acts like Superman, is great! It takes a while---the resurrection is a painfully grating detour (and given Joss' work on Buffy, it smacks too much of the familiar)---but the resurrection trauma doesn't drag forever, and Clark eventually assumes the role he has always meant to be. The Man of Steel. The Man of Tomorrow. The guy who believed in Truth, Justice and the American Way. Finally, after two dumpster fires capitalizing on Superman's good name, we get to see the OP OG himself. When that moment happens, the movie falls into place; the team becomes THE team. The Big Six (minus the Lantern).

For everything the story gets right, despite Zack's pretentious pratfalls in previous films, I give it a solid C.

Close enough, Joss. Better luck next time.