Okay, finally saw it....And Really liked it. As others have said, the first 45 minutes are chopped up and rushed, but it wasn't so bad you were left wondering what was going on. Once it got to the part of a certain character's return through the end , the pacing was right and worked.The two post credit scenes are great.
Where the movie is the most successful is in the chemestry of our team. It's a shame Ben may be leaving, Because this is the Batman I've always wanted. Gal was wonderful as usual,and Jason and Ray did well with their roles.
The stand outs are Ezra, (whom was absolutely entertaining as Barry) and Henry. Anyone who walks away from JL still bitching about "not muh Superman"... Seriously there is no pleasing you. He's not only " my" Superman, but yours too. He's become the classic Superman the naysayers have wanted without turning him into a copy of Chris Reeve. As some have pointed out, he feels like Greg Pak's Supes with a touch of Tomasi's and Jurgens current version, all the while still in line with the last two installments. He's earned his arc.
My only real nitpicks are again ,the rushed first act. This movie should have been at very least 15 minutes longer. I too hope there will be an extended cut, if not Zack's full original version. In fact I'd be up for three cuts. Zack's original 3 hr cut before the Whedon reshoots, the theatrical cut, and a best of both cut that incorporates more of the material to flesh out the first half in particular.
The CGI was a little wonky here and there but not terrible. Steppenwolf wasn't great as a villan, but neither are most villains in these types of movies not named Loki,Zod Vulture or Red Skull. He's still better than most of Marvel's villains of late. He was serviceable and served to set up the Fourth World for later movies ,and gave our heroes something to punch.
Also, without spoiling anything, I think Lois Lane was not well served. Nothing character breaking or ruining, but not quite consistent with the character we saw in MOS and BvS. I also missed Laurence Fishburne's Perry.
All in all though, I say Option 2. It's the third best cbm this year for me ( Logan is #1, WW is #2) and really sets the DCEU on a good path.Its actually world's better than Age of Ultron and Thor: Devil's Anus. It knew how to blend in subtle comedy without sacrificing drama or turning it into a farce , which Ragnarok failed at.
I just hope JL does well enough so we can at least some great solo efforts to build out this universe, Particularly another Supes film and eventually in a few years a JL 2 that builds on the promise here.