While it has only been just five days since its highly anticipated release, there has been much disappointment and disrespectful talk about the wildly entertaining DC Comics film, Suicide Squad! Many have shared their disgust, disapproval, and overall disappointment in the film via various social media platforms and reviews. Some felt that the movie overall lacked a true background, some characters were not needed for the film, and that the plot was rushed and not well thought out.
Directed by David Ayer, the comic-book film from Warner Bros, focuses on a collection of familiar villains from the DC comic-book universe. These incarcerated, lethal, super villains get a chance to be relieved from their bondage and help save the world. A no nonsense, grim, intimidating, U.S Government agent, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) decides to assemble this team of super villains to work together and destroy a supremely evil force, The Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) and her sadistic brother Incubus (Alain Chanoine). Led by Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), this “squad” consists of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Diablo (Jay Hernandez), Katana (Karen Fukuhara), and more. As they are given a second chance at life (if you will), they must learn to work together and also avoid the immense urge to disobey / rebel against Amanda’s commands or they will be destroyed (due to a chip placed inside of each of their necks prior to the group’s assembly that can detonate at Amanda’s will).
Many major platforms voiced utter disproval and disappointment in the film:
According to The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern wrote, “In a word, “Suicide Squad” is trash. In two words, it’s ugly trash. Maybe no more words should be wasted on a movie that is, after all, only a movie, not a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. Still, movies contribute to the collective awareness. They can color the way we feel about the life around us. This one deserves further attention by virtue of its exceptional cynicism and startling ineptitude. “Suicide Squad” amounts to an all-out attack on the whole idea of entertainment.”
The New York Daily News writer, Edward Douglass says, “The biggest problem with the movie is that, despite all the villains, the main antagonist — wisely hidden in the advertising — is as ridiculously silly as something out of “Ghostbusters 2.” By the time the Squad faces off against this baddie, the movie turns into another one of those laughable FX-laden messes that has plagued so many other comic book movies.
Fans will probably appreciate “Suicide Squad” for trying something different — and it gets bonus points for diversity — but the weaker characters and generally weak plot keep it from being one of the better comic book movies.”
A.V. Club’s Ignatiy Vishnevetsky says, “Like so many of Ayer’s directorial efforts, Suicide Squad feels like it was re-drafted in the editing room. It’s clumsy, disrupted by at least eight different plodding flashbacks, filled with lines of dialogue that cut well into trailers but make zero sense in context, and patched up with an embarrassment of rock-along musical cues.”
After reading several reviews, I found myself becoming agitated and annoyed because of the deep harshness in judgment of the film. I went to see Suicide Squad with a friend on its opening night and (we both) unapologetically loved it. From beginning to end, the film grabbed my attention and peaked my interest. While many were annoyed with the flashbacks that took place in the film, I appreciated them because they seemed to give me slight insight into the characters and who they were supposed to be.
Now I must admit that I never read many of the comic books that these movies and reboots are created from (so maybe that is why I did not see much wrong with the film). I learned about many of these famous superheroes / villains that we now see in theaters, through childhood cartoons and stories told by my parents, who broke down the comics to me. As an average person who saw the previews for the film, I thought the movie was pretty darn good!
While every movie has its strengths, it also possesses some weaknesses. In the beginning, I did feel that the plot line was a bit shaky. It was a little confusing because it did not give much background into the lives of each of these villains. It gave glimpses with the flashbacks that helped ease the confusion slightly, but I felt it should have focused more on past to help better explain and propel the future so that we could understand the characters more. Instead, we just somewhat saw them being captured and in prison without much detail. The movie was trying to engage in so much and satisfy everyone that it jumped from one place to the other sometimes.
For example, it showed little of The Joker! In the movie, we see The Joker (Jared Leto) in intervals. We’re quickly introduced to him early in the film but throughout the movie, we simply wonder when he’ll return to the screen. The previews played it off as if we were going to see so much of him and that he was the main villain / character, but in all honesty, I felt that we did not get to witness the full essence of The Joker.
Although it had a slightly rocky start, as the movie proceeded and we see the squad assemble, there was much comedy and action to help with some of the film’s problems. Also, as the movie progressed, the story was able to further develop and create a pretty decent plot that everyone could follow. We see the team called to fight; as they get closer to the main antagonist they have to fight to survive. As they fight, they are tempted with diverting from the mission they were assigned. They eventually learn the truth about the main villain and about each other, which ultimately helps them grow as a team.
The action in the movie was great! I loved seeing these villains viciously take out these faceless zombie-like creatures created by The Enchantress. I also loved how they interacted with one another. It made the plot appear more believable and realistic. The action was so great that there were even some moments in the movie that made you jump a little. The action sequences were captivating, thrilling and amusing. Some of my favorite parts were watching Deadshot (Will Smith) go crazy shooting the practice dummies with various guns, ultimately dominating an entire scene shooting the faceless zombie creatures, and the scene where each of the villains surrounds Rick Flag in an attempt to protect him and begin destroying the zombie-like creatures. Another was watching Harley Quinn fight and destroy the same creatures as she goes inside of an elevator alone.
The main antagonist of the movie was rather…. weak. The Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) wowed me more as a dancer than a villain. In many of the scenes she was in, she just appeared to creepily mutter eerie phrases, and comically gyrate and dance. The main villain should have been a bit harsher, eviler, and more violent then what we saw.
The climax where the team fights against Incubus and eventually The Enchantress could have been better. I don’t know if it was simply just myself, but I really expected more in the ending. The action was there but it did not feel complete. It felt weird. It wasn’t that it was horrible at all; it just could have been way better. Despite some of those weaknesses, the movie was decent and kept me wanting more. Maybe if the film were rated R instead of PG 13, it may have been able to deliver more that the fans desired.
In terms of some favorite characters / actors, I thought The Joker was great! Regardless of what any of the critics say, Jared Leto did an outstanding job playing The Joker. I found myself asking aloud in the theater, “When is Jared coming back on screen?” I was eager to see him on the screen more than many of the other actors. While he may not have mirrored the artistic excellence and flawlessness that was seen in Heath Ledger’s impeccable performance as The Joker in the spectacular 2008 The Dark Knight film, Leto was still amazing. His version of The Joker was more so that of a sadistic pimp if you will. He possessed the psychotic vibes and feels that we usually equate with The Joker, but in a more modern sense. Joker and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) were the show stealers whenever they appeared on screen. I did appreciate how the movie showed flashbacks of how the two came to become the turbulent, disturbing, chaotic couple that they were in the film. The movie also shows how The Joker really does love and care for Harley as he pursues her throughout the entire movie.
I think the film’s pioneers were none other than Will Smith, Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, and Jared Leto (well in the few scenes we did see him in). The joy I received from watching Will Smith absolutely kill this role was amazing. Smith did a great job as Deadshot. I now understand why Will’s son, Jaden told Will that he would never have to make another movie after seeing his father in Suicide Squad.
Will Smith truly showed his leadership and skill in this movie. Along with his fictitious character, Smith really helped to keep the movie flowing with great acting and much humor (as expected). When he got on top of the car and started killing any and every zombie creature that was approaching I knew at that moment that this was one of his best roles. I had never seen Smith in this way. He truly delivered an unforgettable performance and this will go down as one of his greatest movies.
Viola’s presence as Amanda Waller brought a more serious and frightening appeal to the movie and I loved every minute of it. The terror she delivered playing the team’s dictator (if you will) was amazing. She was ruthless, fearless, scary, aggressive. and so much more. I honestly could not see any other person playing Amanda Waller except her. Davis seemed completely in her element. Her performance simply demanded the attention of every person in the theater. There was no way that you simply could not pay attention to her whenever she appeared on the big screen. In a way, it was like Davis brought How to Get Away With Murder’s Annalise Keating to the big screen! Her performance was very critical to the plot and a huge factor to the movie’s delivery.
When Margot Robbie was casted as Harley Quinn I knew for a fact that she was going to completely dominate this role! After seeing her performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, I knew she’d be an unstoppable force in the entertainment industry; and just as she did in that film, she truly delivered in Suicide Squad. Her acting in this movie was so amazing I literally forgot that she is not from this country. She radiated true psychotic vibes as Harley Quinn and whenever she and Jared Leto were on screen they made magic together. The two truly did an amazing job (and I’m expecting a Joker and Harley Quinn movie in the future).
Honestly, the entire cast did a pretty decent job. I think they each delivered different aspects needed for the film. Again, regardless of what any of the critics stated, I thought the movie was really fun! It was definitely something I would pay to see in theaters and buy on DVD. Please go see the movie for yourselves; you will enjoy it!
Overall, I give Suicide Squad a solid 7 / 7.5. The film was humorous, action-packed, and enjoyable for people of all ages. If you have not gone to see the film, please go see it! Suicide Squad is now playing in all theaters!
