Despite its thrilling action sequences and sterling work from Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot, Zach Synders Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) was impeded by its over reliance on CGI and a poorly written villain.

Sadly, Snyder’s fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe is similarly afflicted.

The film follows Bruce Wayne/ Batman (Affleck) as he enlists the aid of a mismatched group of superheroes to protect the world from the clutches of the nefarious Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds).

The main problem with Justice League lies in its towering, gravel-voiced antagonist.

So thinly sketched is Steppenwolf and so unclear are his motivations that any real sense of jeopardy immediately dissipates whenever his poorly computer rendered form appears on screen.

Equally problematic is Synder’s dependence on CGI throughout, undermining the emotional core of many of the film’s key scenes and overwhelming its central themes.

Nevertheless, Snyder peppers his film with plenty of well-executed, gripping action set-pieces to keep viewers entertained.

The performances are also strong. Affleck is particularly impressive as Bruce Wayne, imbuing the character with a quiet charisma that makes his iteration so engaging.

There are also strong turns from Gadot as the virtuous Diana Prince/ Wonder Woman and Ezra Miller as the ebullient Barry Allen / The Flash.

Despite its shortcomings, Justice League is an entertaining and arresting superhero film bolstered by exciting action and compelling performances from its central cast.