Rated – M
Duration- 2 hours 2 mins
Release – August 2016
Director –David Ayer
Cast –Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne
Mr Knight
So it took a big film to get myself and Mrs Knight back in the game. I did have concerns though before watching this one. The previews had a mixture of could be good and could be cringe-worthy lame. The scrappy Bostin accent getting tossed around by Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn combined with Jai Courtney’s, doesn’t actually do much, Aussie criminal Boomerang filled me with fear. BUT… my curiosity and hope of an interesting new chapter in the DC world filled me with optimism.
To kick-start the tale, enter Viola Davis’ super spy boss Amanda Waller. If anyone has ever seen Viola Davis before they know that she fits the CIA, straight faced, angry, tough, power house authority like a glove. She proposes to the President to put together a group of meta-humans to stand tall, now that Superman is dead and buried, in case another General Zod or the like decide to take out the Earth.
After a slight arm wrestle, her program under the watchful eye of Colonel Flag (Joel Kinnaman) has her team approved and not long after some age old powerhouse evil spirit siblings decide to bring the world to its knees. The squad is then tasked to go in to certain death and save the day.
Suicide Squad isn’t trying to be anything else which was refreshing. I felt it was a clever blend of the original Batman films (the Keaton, Clooney, Kilmer era) with the bright colours and comic book costumes, and the more serious Nolan trilogy of the gritty, dark, no holding back, break-neck style. Where other films may have been cheesy, Suicide Squad blasts you with an upbeat soundtrack keeping the viewer deeply involved and enjoying it.
Will Smith was a highlight. I enjoyed seeing him play a role where he wasn’t the lead star, on his own, taking the spot light. His character Deadshot along with Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn were the two most featured characters which makes me feel we will see a lot more of them in future spin offs.
Jared Leto’s Joker also rose triumphant. Again, not trying to be Heath Ledgers infamous version, but his own, which I felt stayed truer to the comics and video games. I was glad he didn’t take too much of the movie either. He came in and out with just the right amount of involvement.
The best small role for me though, who I continued to wait for, was Ben Affleck’s Batman. His role was so small that he actually goes uncredited in the movie, I assume not to take the limelight away from the other cast members. He managed to make me more pumped for Justice League and any other film with him in it. I think he has a lot more to offer and I’m curious to see what’s to come.
Suicide Squad was fast paced, with good strong characters, scattered with some less important ones, some great music and a good foundation to build on for future flicks.
Mrs Knight
There was a lot of hype and a lot of big expectations around Suicide Squad, especially after the huge success of the other anti-hero film, Deadpool. The trailers released a frenzy of opinions, mostly negative and specifically negative about Margot Robbie’s role as Harley Quinn. Personally, I liked the music from the trailers but that’s about all, but the music was hated by others. In any case, due to all the negativity surrounding the movie’s release and initial bad reviews surfacing in the media-sphere I went in with very low expectations. Often I am pleasantly surprised when I go in with low expectations and this is no exception. I actually really found it quite enjoyable.
Don’t get me wrong, the story line is a bit meh, so is the script and some of the acting but it was fun. The costumes were great, the music was amazing and it was just a good popcorn flick to sit back and enjoy. Take it at face value. It’s Suicide Squad for crying out loud, not the next Oscar winning film.
The movie follows America’s most dangerous and deranged criminals who the Government assemble in a group to fight against a mysterious and supernatural identity. The story focuses on the A-Listers, Will Smith who plays Deadshot and Margot Robbie who plays Harley Quinn. Other members of the group, placed slightly in the background in comparison are Captain Boomerang (Aussie, Jai Courtney), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Diablo (Jay Hernandez). The supernatural identity is the Enchantress played by supermodel Cara Delevingne, despite loving her as a model I’m not a fan of seeing her in movies. I found her to be the weakest part especially her weird ‘mystic’ dancing towards the end… Once you see it you’ll know what I mean.
Another thing I wasn’t a fan of was the over sexualisation of Harley Quinn, with the fishnet stockings, prancing around in her underwear and being a big old flirt. But to my understanding, and from what I’ve seen thanks to Google, they stayed true to the comics, cartoon, games etc… which doesn’t make it right but does make it understandable and would keep the mega fans happy. But let’s be honest, to quote another reviewer, ‘she is a teenage boy’s wet dream’. Despite this, I didn’t mind watching her, she was still entertaining and I loved her makeup. Speaking of Harley Quinn, her lover The Joker, was played by Jared Leto. I thought this version of the Joker was really good. They cleverly stayed clear of the dark, twisted and iconic portrayal done by Heath Ledger and Leto really made it his own. It reminded me of the 1989 Jack Nicholson version in a way, but serious and believable.
I think this lot of Batman/Superman/DC Universe movies sit in between the 80’s/90’s classics and Christopher Nolan’s adaptations. They lack the same dark realness that Nolan’s series has and play to a slightly younger audience, but they’re not as funny/silly as the classics. Which by the way, I did love as a child, which might be why I have a soft spot for this movie.
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