The Suicide Squad (2021)

[The Joker]

I watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood the other night, and it reminded me how attractive Margot Robbie is when she's not made up to look like a dead hooker.

Judging from all the cosplayers of Margot's Harley, particularly her depiction in 2016's Suicide Squad, the dead hooker look must be pretty popular these days. 

I'm bored with the Harley Quinn character in general and I think she's been badly overexposed in recent years. She was never one of my favourite Batman villains to begin with, but I did like the original B:TAS version, back when she was a funny sidekick for a less violent version of the Joker. I never liked the trashier and more sexualised version of the character that's since become dominant, and I never bought into the idea of the more psychotic versions of the Joker maintaining a long-term partner or ally. I can imagine the lighter Romero-esque versions of the Joker keeping her around for a while, but the more deranged versions would have killed her in a matter of days.

I believe that's one of the reasons why there appeared to be some sort of reluctance in introducing Harley into the Post-Crisis DCU (what was it? 1998-ish or so by the time it finally happened?), was due to how the Joker had been depicted for some time by then. Not a good mesh, and certainly not one that could be realistically viewed for the long term. Unless of course there was a consensus of scaling back the Joker's antics to some degree, but I believe Denny O'Neil was on his way out as editor of the bat books around this time as well, so it begs the question just how 'unwavering' plans might have been going forward...

I also hate the way Poison Ivy has been relegated from a top-tier Batman villain to a sidekick/girlfriend for Harley. The whole point of Ivy was that she didn't relate to humans – any humans – because she identified more with plants. But in recent years she's become more of an accessory to Harley's adventures, much like Leto's Joker in the DCEU. I'd be happy to scrap Harley and let both the Joker and Ivy re-establish themselves without her.

I think it goes beyond Ivy being a sidekick/girlfriend for Harley. As the character hasn't had a crystal clear presentation for quite some time now. Sometimes she's the classic antagonist with the eco-terrorist worldview (sometimes painted as absolutely psychotic, other times painted as credible to a extent ... depending on what day of the week of course), and other times she's portrayed as a decidedly queer righteous/empowered "yas queen slay" protagonist that's conveyed in a more positive light.

When you have a company that publicly wrestles with chaotic characterization like that for an extended period of time, it pretty much leaves the reader to gravitate towards which portrayal is to his/hers liking the most. Simply due to the lack of a clear cut portrayal. Poison Ivy's one of those Batman character's I've never really had a ton of interest in, and much less after they decided to green her up. I'm into visuals, and a ginger haired She-Hulk just ain't it.

With Harley, I think you could have gotten away with Joker/Harley break up, make up, break up, make up scenario pretty much forever in the DCAU. As that DCAU Joker, that DCAU Harley, and that overall DCAU Universe is much more, I don't know, benign(?) than the ever changing main universe of DC Comics over the years where the Joker is often depicted as much more extreme and violent, featured in stories decidedly more 'mature' than that of the DCAU style of storytelling. Now DC could have kept Harley as a DCAU "exclusive" character, but that wasn't going to happen because it's a business, and Harley makes the company money. Having the DCU Joker kill her at some point makes sense in a realistic view, but good luck having that actually "stick" for a substantial amount of time, so what's the point? Breaking the two up then became inevitable, especially with the DCU Joker becoming, clearly, increasingly aggressive towards Harley (which probably wouldn't do either characters any favors in the long term), but unfortunately the consequences of introducing Harley into the ever changin' main line DCU ends up changing her original characterization/presentation as a result.

The only way that could have possibly been avoided, in my mind, is if DC would have kept Harley, essentially, though not completely, "separate" from the DCU shared universe and all it's event shake ups. Kinda/sorta like Harley Quinn's mostly self contained 2000 comic series that lasted 38 issues (bought this entire run back in 2005 for like $50. That damn sure doesn't happen these days!), and/or how DC kept Swamp Thing in the Vertigo line (the Bruce Jones run of The Incredible Hulk, I guess, would be another example). Where that DCAU "presentation" of Harley could have, ideally, remained largely intact under a DCU lens.

However, that would call for some restraint, and these days, Harley's is just as, if not even more, overexposed than the constantly-reappearing in the Bat-Books, Joker himself. As she's pretty much the DC equivalent of what Punisher/Venom/Wolverine were in the 1990's over at Marvel.

Not my preference, but then again, A LOT isn't these days. C'est la vie.         

[The Laughing Fish]

James Gunn has once again said something idiotic:

Gunn, 55 — who wrote and directed the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films and is returning for the third, after initially being fired when insensitive years-old tweets resurfaced that included jokes about pedophilia about rape — said on Wednesday's episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast that "it just seems awful cynical that Martin Scorsese would keep coming out against Marvel and then that's the only thing that would get him press for his movie."

"So then he just kept coming out against Marvel so that he could get press for his movie," he argued. "He's creating his movie in the shadow of the Marvel films, and so he uses that to get attention for something he wasn't getting as much attention as he wanted for it."

https://people.com/movies/james-gunn-slams-martin-scorsese-criticism-of-marvel-films-wanted-attention/

Scorsese is a legend whose work often stands the test of time. Suggesting he needs to badmouth ANY franchise to get press for his films is nothing but childish sour grapes over his honest opinion about superhero movies. Last time I checked, he was asked about it during an interview, so Gunn looks even more stupid for still griping about it a couple of years later.

I'll take The Irishman any day of the week over anything that cretin Gunn does. Having Harley Quinn mentioning doing number two isn't f***ing cinema. Get f***ed.

[thecolorsblend]

I did a Scorsese deep dive a couple years ago. Taxi Driver, King Of Comedy, Cape Fear, The Departed, Shutter Island, rewatched Casino, Gangs Of New York, The Aviator, etc. Didn't watch everything. But I watched a lot. And, of course, The Irishman, which was a serious treat and I rly enjoyed it.

I got more joy (and extra-buttery popcorn) out of just one of those movies than everything James Gunn ever directed combined times 10.

Even if Scorsese bashes on Marvel to hype up his movies, (A) his criticisms are fair and (B) the man is an institution in Hollywood at this point so whatever he says goes as far as I'm concerned.

Edit- In fact, Scorsese is one of my guys. At this point, I'll watch basically anything directed by Scorsese, David Fincher or Chris Nolan.

[The Dark Knight]

These are some of the tweets Gunn deleted and wants people to forget about:

[Silver Nemesis]

10 Reasons Why 'The Suicide Squad' Is A Box Office Disaster

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/08/08/8-reasons-why-dc-films-suicide-squad-2-starring-idris-elba-and-margot-robbie-was-a-box-office-disaster/

[thecolorsblend]

Oh, we're going there? Cool. I said ages ago that the decline of the comic book movie either started or else it would start very soon.

It would appear that Razorfist agrees with me. And he shows his work.

God f***ing speed!

[The Laughing Fish]

I said ages ago that the decline of the comic book movie either started or else it would start very soon.

Maybe there is another reason why Variety was interviewing actors over the Ayer cut during the red carpet premiere. Everyone must've known this reboot would be projecting low box office numbers, and began cheer-leading for the cut to desperately hoodwink more fans into seeing this new film.

Here's a thought: release the Ayer cut already!

[thecolorsblend]

I said ages ago that the decline of the comic book movie either started or else it would start very soon.

Maybe there is another reason why Variety was interviewing actors over the Ayer cut during the red carpet premiere. Everyone must've known this reboot would be projecting low box office numbers, and began cheer-leading for the cut to desperately hoodwink more fans into seeing this new film.

Here's a thought: release the Ayer cut already!

At the risk of poking the bear, WB is having a bad year, are they not? First (in a sense), WW84 underwhelmed basically everybody. Then ZSJL came along and cleaned tf up on HBO Max. And now this Suicide Squad reboot that basically nobody wanted has been show to be a reboot that basically nobody wanted.

As it goes for the Ayer cut, I imagine some people might be having that conversation now.

And that will probably include the Snyderverse fans whose fan event got postponed by the release of Gunn's movie. I like conspiracy theories. It's the romantic in me. This weekend (i.e., when the fan thing was originally scheduled), all those fans would've had to talk about is "Release the Ayer cut!" That's great but it's nothing new. But next weekend, they'll be able to add "because Gunn's reboot flopped" into the mix. Which is new. And they'll be right.

All of this is enough to make me wonder that Ayer might've gotten a look at Gunn's first weekend tracking and told those fans "Hey, you want something to talk about? Wait just one week. There will be plenty then. You'll thank me later!"

Because that would be my move. Just saying.

[The Dark Knight]

10 Reasons Why 'The Suicide Squad' Is A Box Office Disaster

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/08/08/8-reasons-why-dc-films-suicide-squad-2-starring-idris-elba-and-margot-robbie-was-a-box-office-disaster/

This article makes valid points. I can't get past the idea the movie is just a vehicle for deviant Gunn to be weird while hiding behind the fact these characters are villains, and obscure villains at that. Apart from Harley, who is overrated and overused, there is not much of a hook to get me interested.

From the outset the approach was an insult right down to the title, which says this is THE Suicide Squad. Gunn's film may be superior – I don't know. I haven't seen it. But it was not a level playing field. Gunn was seemingly given carte blanche to achieve his vision while Ayer's was altered beyond recognition. Ayer now has to sit back and hear reviewers state how he was eclipsed by Gunn in every way.

We can only assess things properly if the Ayer Cut is released. You don't make something right by remaking the same film. You make something right by actually addressing the wound in the first place.

I think CBMs will always be a thing, but they're far from infallible. The golden age of Marvel is over as their big actors are now gone, leaving behind less appealing options with even less appealing storylines. But I think it's deeper than just superhero films being in a state of decay. Just about everything is in a state of decay.

[The Laughing Fish]

At the risk of poking the bear, WB is having a bad year, are they not? First (in a sense), WW84 underwhelmed basically everybody. Then ZSJL came along and cleaned tf up on HBO Max. And now this Suicide Squad reboot that basically nobody wanted has been show to be a reboot that basically nobody wanted.

As it goes for the Ayer cut, I imagine some people might be having that conversation now.

And that will probably include the Snyderverse fans whose fan event got postponed by the release of Gunn's movie. I like conspiracy theories. It's the romantic in me. This weekend (i.e., when the fan thing was originally scheduled), all those fans would've had to talk about is "Release the Ayer cut!" That's great but it's nothing new. But next weekend, they'll be able to add "because Gunn's reboot flopped" into the mix. Which is new. And they'll be right.

All of this is enough to make me wonder that Ayer might've gotten a look at Gunn's first weekend tracking and told those fans "Hey, you want something to talk about? Wait just one week. There will be plenty then. You'll thank me later!"

Because that would be my move. Just saying.

I like your theory, but that would assume Ayer isn't that chummy with Gunn as he seems to be on social media. But then again, the last thing he needs is to give those blogger wankers ammunition to write stories about how "bitter" he is. After all, many of those sh*theads were accusing him of trying to steal Gunn's spotlight, when they were the ones who were piling on him in their praise for this goddamn reboot.

Meanwhile, the pro-Snyderverse YouTuber FilmGob gave a review of this reboot and poked fun at its stupidities and inconsistencies.