The Suicide Squad (2021)

[Travesty]

I watched the first hour yesterday(I'll finish it tonight), and man, is it just nonstop jokes. I don't think 30sec goes by without a joke. I think there's more jokes and humor in this than a typical comedy.

And don't get me wrong, I like humor in CBMs, but damn, is this relentless.

[Gotham Knight]

Saw it this past weekend. What struck me is that it's (in the broad strokes at least) basically the same movie as the first one except told as a story (IE more competently) and I have to say that it rocks. It has a voice. Yes the that voice bares a striking resemblance to GotG, but a good story teller is a good story teller. And that is what has been either missing or stifled thus far in the DCEU. Save for Shazam (which is easily the best mainline film in the DCEU continuity) most of the films are either admirable but overstuffed and clunky (Aquaman, WW84, Bird's of Prey) or are films where the filmmakers fail to compellingly convey ideas in a story setting. Enter David Ayer (no I don't think his version of SS will be much better) and Zack Snyder (shock horror) who is the ultimate 'has lots of ideas but isn't a great story teller' guy.

[The Laughing Fish]

I just skimmed through a Variety article saying Warner spent an additional $100 million on promotion, on top of the film's $185 million budget. I noticed #TheSuicideSquad  hashtag was trending on Twitter, accompanied with the caption "Promoted tweet". That money must've gone into the social media engagement too.

Unless a miracle happens, this movie will become a big money pit. Meh, I don't really care, its not as if I was ever gone see this movie. From the glimpses I've seen from clips and trailers, it's dogsh*t.

[The Laughing Fish]

While we're on the subject of James Gunn, an associate of his has been sued for child abuse, and a journalist shared this transcript of the lawsuit:



https://twitter.com/PoRican/status/1424875660535808003

This is the second person who Gunn knows has been in trouble with the law over pedophilia. The first culprit, Huston Huddleston, was convicted for possessing child pornography three years ago.

You know what they say: when there's smoke, there's fire. Very disturbing.

[Gotham Knight]

While we're on the subject of James Gunn, an associate of his has been sued for child abuse, and a journalist shared this transcript of the lawsuit:



https://twitter.com/PoRican/status/1424875660535808003

This is the second person who Gunn knows has been in trouble with the law over pedophilia. The first culprit, Huston Huddleston, was convicted for possessing child pornography three years ago.

You know what they say: when there's smoke, there's fire. Very disturbing.

I'll just say that the pedo parody party or whatever the hell it was has always bothered me. Still irks the hell out of me. And I still think where there's smoke there is fire. I never really liked that Gunn got hand waved. I'll trade the good movie for some consequences.

[The Joker]

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.

I have no doubt that Scorsese was drawing attention to his film using Marvel, but Scorsese is absolutely right in admitting that his films, and anyone else for that matter, are in the shadow of those movies, when they dominate the number of screens in a theater, that's kinda the point. They've used up the cinematic bandwith, with not much left for different kinds of movies. I think something similar was a point of contention with Tarrantino and Disney back when "Hateful Eight" was opening close to Disney Star Wars.

Course, Gunn is using the controversy, as well, to promote his movie. Absolutely.

-----------------------------------------------

SPOILER REVIEW

Welp, I checked this out a few days ago, expected a ultra-violent romp, and I can't say that I walked out of the theater disappointed. Admittedly, my hype for this was much more subdued than it was for the 2016 Suicide Squad movie, but I ended up having fun with it. For what it is. As incredibly disjointed as the films within the DCEU have been (which I don't necessarily think is a *bad* thing considering how mundane the formuliac Disney MCU style is), TSS pretty much comes across as if Gunn had a run on the Suicide Squad title, and this is his story. Whether that's a positive or negative is up to you, though I can roll with it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Personally, I felt the unpredictable sight gags and use of music (one choice making me think of Snyder via one of his non-DCEU movies ... cool song too.) worked better than the constant barrage of verbal jokes that was being spouted off (with much coming across as forced, or falling absolutely flat with me. Leaving me wondering sometimes just how old is James Gunn? As some of the jokes come across like something written in a bathroom stall in some rural gas station out in the middle of no where. However, this is a guy who tweeted some weird stuff in the past, and got his start, or there about, from Troma films, so, yeeeaah, go figure.). Unless, of course, they're coming from Sylvester Stallone voicing King Shark. That guy's hilarious!

As far as the character's go, the film pretty much follows the previous Suicide Squad movie where you have a bunch of villains tasked with a mission, but thru the course of the film, we as an audience find out many of them, though not all, deep down, can be heroic during chaotic circumstances. If I were to compare it to John Ostrander's run on the comics, I have to assume that Idris Elba was originally slated to play Deadshot. As Gunn's DCEU interpretation of Bloodsport is pretty much Deadshot. To the extent that Bloodsport is given Deadshot's characteristics, like being courted into the team via, essentially, blackmail involving his daughter, ect. I mean, I might be misremembering, but I recall the comic book version of Bloodsport being an incredibly violent character, but also being cowardly in his past shaping him into what he ultimately became. Which was the dichotomy of the character. Again, Gunn's DCEU's Bloodsport isn't that at all, but to me, I actually think Idris Elba was a much better lead than Will Smith Deadshot. I don't know, I just found him more engaging and a stronger lead. Much more likeable than Smith's Deadshot.

Harley Quinn in this is a focal character, but not the main driving force as she was in BoP. Speaking of which, the movie is very much self contained it seems, as there is no reference about anything from BoP, and any references towards the previous SS movie are very, very minimum. We get she knows Rick Flag, and is familiar with Cap Boomerang, but that's about the extent of it. Margot is fine in the part, however, there is about a 10 minute scene featuring her that I honestly think could have been trimmed down, as it really slowed the pace down for me to be perfectly honest here. Getting Margot into the familiar red and black colors was a nice touch. It's either with this movie, or Suicide Squad 2016 cut that features the best version of Harley within the DCEU. I think her portrayal in this film probably edges out her 2016 theatrical cut self, although I honestly was on board with Joker/Harley-Mickey/Mallory Knox angle that appeared to be the way they were going with the relationship back then. As having them firmly established as a cinematic "power couple", BEFORE you go into the expected route of breaking them up, would have worked best. Establish. Build. Then if the break up happens, it'll mean more.

Rick Flag is pretty cool, never had a problem with Joel Kinnaman, and think he's good in the role of Flag, but once again, there is no mention of his relationship with the Enchantress from the previous movie what so ever. Having kept away from spoilers prior to seeing this, I was surprised Flag was actually killed off in this. As Flag and Peacemaker come to blows over what "Project: Starfish" really is, and Flag becoming suddenly ethical and wanting to expose the secrets of the Government's involvement with said project. Which, again, is pretty much out-of-character when it comes to Rick Flag. As he's classicly portrayed as doing, essentially, anything to keep the mission on track. I can only assume this was done just in order to contrast Rick with Peacemaker. Giving their opposing philosophies something that made me think of The Watchmen. As the film has Peacemaker in a "we must protect the U.S. Government at all costs", where Flag ultimately couldn't be trusted to keep the secret. Thus taking the Rorschach role, with Peacemaker being similar to The Comedian. Just a lot less cynical, and more twistedly patriotic in his mind.

Speaking of which, Peacemaker in this comes across better than I thought he would. I'm not really a fan of John Cena (yeah, Taiwan is a country, bro), and was always indifferent on him as a wrestler, but I found the character kinda plays to his strengths. Very, very similar to Batista with Guardians. Although, the entire time I watched him, I kept thinking he looks like something right out of the 1990's The Tick animated series. Like literally.

Also, Peacemaker is definitely the REAL villain of the film. The running joke is that he's continually compared to Bloodsport (with another joke being that Waller states each member was chosen for their unique skill set, with Peacemaker and Bloodsport sounding identical, which they even make a quip about it if I am remembering correctly), which eventually culminates to how different they are over time. Highlighted by how Bloodsport solves the bar encounter compared to how Peacemaker 'was' going to solve it. The guy is a psychopath, loves to kill, and has no problem making up whatever justification he can to continue to do so.

By the end of the film, the Squad chooses NOT to expose the US, like Flag had tried to do, and used the information about the U.S. Government's involvement with "Project Starfish" to buy their own freedom instead. However, we see that none of them were completely villainous enough to leave an entire country to be enslaved by Starro, or to abandon their teammates to fight it alone. Which was also presented in the 2016 cut of the first Suicide Squad.

Cap Boomerang is barely in this, and I mean, BARELY in this. He has a couple of good scenes where he uses his boomerangs to kill some guys, and another where he's taunting Michael Rooker's Savant, but that's about it before he gets killed off. In the comics, more specifically the Ostrander SS, Cap Boomerang was basically the ultimate survivor and mascot of the team. Here, he's killed off pretty quickly, which I think was a waste. Jai Courtney is awesome playing this Australian redneck scumbag, and I like the idea that Cap Boomerang just kind of accidently trips over the finish line time and time again to survive, plus I wanted to see him included in the "Rogues" team if that ever comes to pass in the DCEU.

I still really like Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. However, this film really did a disservice to her character. I mean, I enjoyed seeing her in the part, and angrily dropping F bombs due to members of Task Force X noncomplicance's, but she's surrounded by goons who are there for jokes and comedy, and is even knocked out by one near the end. If I were to compare the 2016 Waller with the 2021 version of her, she's downright cuddly in this (especially so with her direct subordinates).

Polka Dot Man was alright. Admittedly, I am not very familiar with the character, but he was serviceable, and I can see being a standout for some. I think he was basically put into the Doctor Light role, as no one on the team takes him seriously at all, until one fleeting moment of glory.

King Shark was pretty much the Groot of the team, but I found him much more amusing. I've always liked the character ever since he was introduced in the 1990's Superboy comic, even though he was pretty much appeared only sporadically until becoming a Sucide Squad regular. I even liked the CW version of King Shark, but not so much the whole beauty and the beast angle they gave him where he's actually human, and was turned into King Shark, but remembers his girlfriend as a human, and her with him. Pass on all that, but his design is cool. Here, he's much more of a chunky monkey, but again, it works for what they're aiming for, and Stallone's lines are hilarious. So was i already predisposed to like King Shark? You bet your ass! Sly comedically voicing a shark demigod? Pure gold right there!

As far as Rat Catcher #2, that girl might have stolen the film to be perfectly honest. I can't say I am at all familiar with Rat Catacher from the comics (I think Silver did a comparison of Batman 1989 and his suit looked familiar to one of the statues within Keaton's Wayne Manor if I am remembering correctly on that?). Also, I am not familiar with the actress, but she by far was one of the better standouts in this. As far as her power set, it looks like she basically has some sort of flashlight device to control rats, I'm thinking that it's allowing her to "speak" to, and maybe coerce, nearby rats telepathically?

Thinker is ok, I guess. He's involved with the "Project: Starfish" deal, but he really didn't leave much of an impression on me. Weasel is there just as a gag. The rest are pretty forgettable. Having Mongal appear in the DCEU before Mongul is pretty crazy.

With Starro, hoo boy! Well, the out-of-character narrative continues since THIS Starro is originally more benevolent than malevolent in nature, and was happy to just 'float out in space, watching the stars' until the U.S. Government captured Starro and brought him to earth to use as a weapon. So it kinda plays out like a King Kong story where Starro causes much havoc after escaping his Corto Maltese Jötunheim prison, but can be viewed as a somewhat innocent creature (at least initially) since his being on earth was certainly not by his own doing. As we see footage of Starro (I think in the film circa 1990, implementing a very grainy film footage asthetic), being captured by 4 astronauts who made contact, then tied Starro to the wall with zip ties and are posing like a dentist posing for selfies, who shot a lion. With the intention of taking Starro back to earth to do experiments on (the intention to do the experimenting from the start was not apparent at the time we saw the video, but iirc was mentioned later). So yeah, not exactly "Arrival" levels of attempted cautious first contact here. You can hardly blame Starro for lashing out, as he does.

As you would expect, Starro eventually escapes his 30 year imprisonment, and the whole "Suicide Squad vs. Starro The Conqueror" act begins (Starro "The Conqueror" name given to Starro by the Thinker. Apparently, rather divisively). To me, Starro's presentation in this comes across as very Toho Showa-esque (or at the very least akin to Shin Godzilla first destruction of a city while still undergoing his mutation in that film). I also thought Starro walking around the city of Corto Maltese was similar to how the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man walked in the original Ghostbusters. Just something in how he moved around... Very animated suitmationy. I still agree with Silver that Starro being the villain in a Suicide Squad movie feels odd, but then again, I always thought it was strange that Starro never got his due in eiher DCAU JL or JLU animated series, but rather in a 2 part Batman Beyond arc. Plus, there's a SS vs JL video game, so I guess considering all of that, it's not quite as jarring when you think about it these days.

There's also the whole 'Conformity vs Individuality' subtext that's always there when you're talking about Starro. I thought this would possibly be something that would be focused upon going into this, but I don't think it's really addressed to the degree I was expecting. Also .... I really can't buy how Starro is killed off in this. It's not like I can't just go along with some outlandish ideas (cause a lot of this movie makes no sense) but Starro's defeat was just plain underwhelming. Starro should be a global threat, on par with Godzilla, or even more so. In this, Starro really isn't that big a deal. At least from the United States' perspective. The Starro in the film is a nightmare for a civilian population and an unprepared military, but it kinda comes across that even Corto Maltese would have eventually taken Starro down. The most basic of face coverings would prevent takeover, and artillery would have made short work of the big one. Hell, even if Corto Maltese had any spare Cold War era air-to-ground missiles around, it probably would be even easier.

Again, a better film would have made Starro a clear global threat and thus Waller a moron for not throwing everything at it. As is, Waller's concern was simply to cover up the United States involvment with "Project Starfish", and being content in letting the entire population of the nation die. She doesn't even consider Starro on the loose to be a threat worth dealing with. Waller's right, in this case (morally reprehensible, but right). Sad to say.

Speaking of "Project Starfish", the film makes a point in highlighting the US Government with not only the top secret project, that the Government wants kept absolutely quiet, with any association being completely bleachbit (Peacemaker in the know, Flag, evidently, couldn't be trusted to keep the info quiet), but also it's involvement/fallout with political figures in the region as well. Painting a picture that the US Government isn't quite the bastion of honesty, morality, and 'fortification' that we get a lot these days. In this respect, the movie comes across like a film that was made by a early-mid 2000's era liberal minded person, rather than what we have in current times when questioning the Government. This was kinda interesting to me.

All in all, "The Suicide Squad" is pretty much a 1990s MTV Liquid Television/Adult Swim version of Suicide Squad with a huge shark. I can't say that I am overly familiar with Gunn's filmography, but will agree with those who say this movie is probably the best he's ever done thus far. Partly due to the unrestrained R rating that plays opposite with the vast majority of films featuring DC or Marvel characters. I've been so saturated with family-friendly formuliac it's PG-13 and you're gonna love it product, that I am more forgiving when it comes to atypical R rated material (and with this box office with this, mega budgeted R rated material may be done for the foreseeable future with DC as it'll likely be deemed "too risky" now). In some ways, it feels like a mega budgeted Troma film, that embraces the absurdities found in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead movies. If you walk into this with that sort of frame of mind, and not continally think of the main DC canon comic book lore like I did (I am well aware I am very much in the minority), you might enjoy it for what it is. The film is shot well, incorporates some nice transition shots that are kinda creative, and doesn't come across as nearly edited down by music video editors like the 2016 cut (and I remember being fairly easy on that movie, as I liked it well enough, but wouldn't consider it "great" by any means) of the first SS.

I'd give it a 6 or 7 out of 10 (Sly's King Shark giving my score at least an extra point, and yeah, I'd much, much, MUCH rather a King Shark HBO Max show than Peacemaker). It's got some problems, but it also has more of a rewatchability factor than the current cut of 2016's Suicide Squad we're stuck with, but it's not the best DCEU movie of all time as some people are claiming (haha!).

Those guys must be smoking Parmesan cheese.

[The Dark Knight]

I'll just say that the pedo parody party or whatever the hell it was has always bothered me. Still irks the hell out of me. And I still think where there's smoke there is fire. I never really liked that Gunn got hand waved. I'll trade the good movie for some consequences.

I wouldn't. By hiring Gunn there's the surface idea that Marvel talent had to show DC how to make a good film, which I reject. But it's deeper than that, as has been discussed above. I've seen Weasel's backstory in TSS is that he apparently killed 27 kids. This is where Gunn's mind is at. He had been posting pictures of young kids crying with a man dressed as a rabbit, and at his so called parody party this photo was taken:

Gunn should never have been hired by WB. I'm not a fan of Whedon, who seems to clash with actors on set, but I think Gunn is much worse in comparison, who seems to get on well with actors on set. In this instance I'm more concerned about what happens off set. One director is getting shunned while the other continues work just as before. If 'some consequences' involves potentially rewarding life changing pain and suffering, a 'good movie' isn't worth that.

[thecolorsblend]

What I'm hoping is that WB stops poaching Marvel talent to work on DC films. Because that now has a clear track record of failure.

[The Laughing Fish]

What I'm hoping is that WB stops poaching Marvel talent to work on DC films. Because that now has a clear track record of failure.

Don't hold your breath. Toxic WB have announced their intention to work with Gunn again, in addition to rumours of giving Taika Waititi and even Scarlett Johansson deals. They will never learn. We can only hope the Discovery merger kicks out all of these worthless dropkicks who are currently in charge.

But then again, maybe there is a bigger problem than simply trying to copycat Marvel. Toxic WB really love to associate themselves with assholes, even if it cost them huge money. For example, Geoff Johns was interviewed by Entertainment Weekly a few days ago to hype up the latest season of Titans, and the journalist never questioned him about the allegations made against him over Josstice League, and his role in costing the studio so much money. And yes, he's still the EP on the show. In fact, Johns should've been blacklisted in showbiz alone for the flop he produced with GL 2011, yet even after Josstice League, he still co-wrote WW84.

It's amazing, isn't it? Had Ray Fisher not spoken out last year, maybe Whedon would still be involved in some capacity.

[The Laughing Fish]

As TSS continues to tank at the box office, I appreciate this frustrated guy's passionate albeit foul-mouthed rant about the state of DC on film and Warner Butchers' stupidity.