Is Zack Synder actually a good director?

This is a question that needs to be answered -- is Zack Synder actually good at directing?

His newest film Rebel Moon is due to come out this month on Netflix.

He has a huge fan base who petitioned for the release of the Justice League Synderverse -- but is he worth the hype?

[Bonebridger]

Marcus your content is awesome and I just wanted to say keep making content like this and you are going all the way!

[dignerds]

Zack Snyder is a great director. He has the praise and support of other top directors like Nolan and Cameron.
Many of Snyders movies suffer under studio (WB) interferance.
All but 2 of his movies were successful. Thats a great record. He's earned $3.1 billion back to WB over his career.
He tells his stories mostly visually, not to just look great, but actusl story beats and character moments are conveyed visually. Some people dont pick up on this because of the very unique way he tells his story. Many people pick up on his great storytelling upon rewatching his movies.
Snyder tells his stories this way due to his Dyslexia condition.

[FrankX]

Another thing i noticed was that he shoots too much footage. Which I imagine makes it harder to tell a coherent story in the edit room.

[tamalchakraborty]

He is divisive. He has the best and the worst movies, nothing in between.

[nyssaalghul-queen]

I like watchman a lot but. I do find pacing of his films quite daunting though, but I'm happy to see someone else thinks that Sofia Boutella is Underrated, I first saw her in a movie called Streetdance 2 it was on hbo😊 when I was a kid. And yes Climax was great and it terrified me till end. I still think about that ending

[pedrolopes]

He can't write dialogue. The cinematics tend to be great.

[theroguerider]

As a filmmaker, don’t you find his recent use of lenses ridiculous?
Rebel Moon was some sort of Frankenstein lens that makes this bloom or nonsense, and since he desaturates EVERYTHING it’s just a smush of sick in the background.
It’s like how I was when I first learned about DoF when I was a newly minted teenager. I just don’t get it.

[FrankX]

You took the thoughts right out of my mind. Saw 300 and I knew this guy was going to be special. Then sucker punch came out i was ecstatic going in the theater. I came out feeling let down somehow. Thats when i first realized he was no good with story. Same thing with man of steel. Great visuals not quite hitting that refreshing taste when you walk out the theater. Yes he didn't write that one still his job to get the theme across.

[gamervet]

I followed Fassbender's career with great interest. I think it was Jonah Hex I remembered him in. It was a very meh movie, but Josh and Michael were the best parts of it.

[kieroncampion]

I think the theatrical cut of Justice League is the closest Snyder has ever come to making anything worthwhile.

[theroguerider]

I am a film buff so I guess that might be why I know who Jon Watts is without looking him up.
I don’t think he’s as divisive as you might think.
I think, those who went out and saw the Dawn remake thought it was good, if maybe not missing out on the underlying message.
300 was seen and enjoyed by most as well. Seen as a real accomplishment in visuals.
Watchmen was a bit more-of-the same and film people started to tire of it a bit.
His written movie was about female empowerment and he couldn’t have been more wrong and it feels like most agreed.
THEN Superman. I think the DC heads jumped on that movie and were forever “ride or die” and others thought it was only “okay”.
He kept up with speed ramping and slowing, desaturation and basically snyderizing everything in his way.
THIS was the divisive time. His defenders versus his critics. The Snyderites cannot be told it’s anything other than amazing and they cannot be critical of him and that is what starts the divide.
The lovers dig in, and the newly created haters dig in as well. I was there up until Watchmen, though I think he missed the point of that story as well.
Zack Snyder is the Donald Trump of film. His sycophants cannot see anything wrong in anything he does, and the other side starts to LOATHE him because he gets a free pass for some odd reason.

His movies are beautiful at times, but NEVER in furtherance of the story. Just pretty. Like a Kardashian.

[merder]

Just clicked…but this is always the question left lingering in my head when it comes to Snyder and the way people discuss his work. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts though!

[oli]

The hell Marcus...why so little subs mate? This was such a good watch. The only good things from Zack that i watched was the first 300 and the watchmen, both of which were ready to just put into visuals...anything he did on his own...they lack substance...people are dazzled by his visuals (rightfully so) but those who do are likely to be tricked easily by smokes and mirrors. I wish he teamed up wiyh another director.

[FTropper]

I think the main problem is that he is coming from the commercial world. And a commercial is pretty short, so you need to use your time. But a movie is a different thing. I think he need someone who pull him back. Pretty sure that why 300 is considered good (I personal didn't enjoy it when I was rewatching it). Where as in his Netflix Projects he can do what ever he wants and we see what kind of junk comes out. So I would say overall he is a bad director because he does not understand who movies work. Kinda like Michael Bay.

[niconico]

The comparison to Jon Watts is asinine. We have Zack Snyder who is popular but makes BAD films and we have Christopher Nolan who is also popular but makes GOOD films. SO which of the two is better? I don't wanna be like Zack Snyder who is popular but is known to make bad films. Forget popularity, just make good films first.

[hannonbendall]

I know the name Jon watts and I wish you algorithmic success, let’s make a film together.

[tahnadana]

bad faith even from the start... saying its a star wars rejected script and its will be replacing star wars

[dignerds]

Suckerpunch was completely overhauled by WB ..major studio interfereance.
I would love to see what Snyders Suckerpunch would be like.

[victorramos]

Well, I'm not sure if he's a good director but with Rebel Moon he's going down the same direction as Star Wars casting another female empowered lead.

[nestorarranz]

I think that if he wasnt given all the money he wanted and wasnt allowed to write his scripts i think he would make better movies. More than a bad director he's a terrible writer.