Movie Review: The Suicide Squad - Gun(n)s Blazing

While it had some good elements in place, the 2016 Suicide Squad film is my least favorite entry in the DC Extended Universe. As it turns out though, the film had as much of a troubled production as "Justice League" so that's another cut that needs fighting for (keep #releasetheayercut going). For what WB wanted to be their answer to "Guardians of the Galaxy", it seemed they tried too hard to make that happen. When it came to the sequel, they were able to get that Guardians magic from the source by signing James Gunn on as director during his brief break-up from Marvel. With free reign on "The Suicide Squad", Gunn has brought his creative insanity to DC and gives what is surely one of the best and funniest films in this universe.

To be blunt, "The Suicide Squad" is everything WB wanted the first film to be while at the same time being its antithesis. The first film had a dark aesthetic that made some of the over the top elements feel out of place. Gunn's film however is able to find the right balance, popping with color like a comic book and features action that is as bloody and gory as you'd expect from a film about a clandestine supervillain team, some of whom are not shy about how demented they are. Each character feels vital to the story (for better or worse) and the CGI use for the main villain looks much more believable than before, and that's really saying something considering it's giant freaking alien starfish this time around. It really plays into the air of weirdness this film brings that's much akin to "Doom Patrol."

Something interesting is that from the beginning of the film, they make it clear that Task Force X has been at work even after the events of the first film with rotating members. There's even secret dead pools between those who work at the command center. And on that note, one of the taglines for the movie was "Don't get too attached." That is definitely accurate and is part of the film's way of subverting expectations. You know some characters are going to die, but you shouldn't base your guess on the popularity of a character or an actor. There will definitely be moments where you'll be like Randy Marsh on Black Friday.

Like the first movie, I do have some analysis on a few characters.
* Viola Davis' return as Amanda Waller is a reminder of just how scary her character can be. While not technically a villain, it's not hyperbole to say she is the most evil character in the film.

* I really enjoy Joel Kinnaman's portrayal as Rick Flag this time around, coming off more as a natural and likable character. Development wise, I think he's learned a lot from the first time in terms of trust and respect towards those on the Squad; he's even willing to put the mission on the line to save Harley. Speaking of which...
* What else can be said about Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn? She once again turns in a funny and badass performance. At this point, Harley is shown to be much more independent, having finally let go of her relationship with the Joker. Despite her peace of mind though, there are two pretty awesome moments in the film that show just how damaged and deadly she truly is.
* Idris Elba brings his A-game as Bloodsport, who is essentially our lead character of the film. Reportedly, Elba was originally set to replace Will Smith as Deadshot due to Smith's unavailability but was later swapped out for Bloodsport in the event Smith was able to return for a future film. With that in mind, throw in a few rewrites and it's very easy to see Deadshot fitting in this film. Putting that aside though, Bloodsport is a pretty good character. I like how he acts as a father figure to Ratcatcher (played by Daniela Melchior) and his rivalry with Peacemaker (played by John Cena). In regards to the latter, it's really interesting how similar they are in terms of their proficiency at killing but their motivations are completely different. Bloodsport is a mercenary who kills for the money while Peacemaker does it out of enjoyment and a warped sense of freedom; I really got a sense the comparisons between the two is commentary on race and privilege.

* King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone) is kind of like Groot, but with a slightly higher vocabulary and much more carnivorous.

* As a Doctor Who fan, I really enjoyed seeing Peter Capaldi as the Thinker. Much like David Tenant as Kilgrave in "Jessica Jones", there's something quite fun about seeing a former Doctor bringing their flare to a more villainous role; though to be honest, it was very believable to see Capaldi break bad by comparison.

Overall, "The Suicide Squad" is freaking awesome and freaking nuts with fun characters and fun action. It's both a case for how much a project can benefit when an artist is allowed to create without interference and a prime example of a film worth going back safely to the theater for.

My DC Extended Universe Film Rankings:

1. Aquaman

2. The Suicide Squad

3. Wonder Woman

4. Zack Snyder's Justice League

5. Wonder Woman 1984

6. Shazam!

7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

8. Man of Steel

9. Birds of Prey

10. Suicide Squad

Movie Review: "Batman: The Long Halloween" - Seasons Bleedings

 

Since its publication between 1996-97, "The Long Halloween" by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale has been regarded as one of the best Batman stories of all time and its influence can be seen in adaptations of the character, including Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. While it took awhile to get there, the story was a prime candidate for DC's animated film line and much like "The Dark Knight Returns", it got the two-part treatment. Nearly 25 years after the original, the film adaptation is able to capture what makes "The Long Halloween" so great and still relevant to the Batman mythos.

While the film adaptation takes quite a few liberties, it doesn't really hurt or distract from the original in any way that can disappoint those familiar with the story. It's able to tell its own story while still capturing the tone of the original and being respectful to it. At a nearly three hour runtime, my eyes were glued to the screen the whole movie, not feeling bored or wanting to check my phone at all. With the heart of its story being a gangland murder mystery, the film was able to create a dark and gritty tone (thanks in part to the score or in some scenes lack thereof) as the hunt for Holiday goes on.

The art style doesn't directly lift from Tim Sale's illustrations, but there are times where it does its best to homage it. Much like the original story though, the art is able to capture a mostly timeless feel. It actually reminds me a lot of "Batman: The Animated Series", especially with its use of traditional mob bosses and gangsters, something I don't think an animated Batman adaptation has done since then.
As for the animation, well, this is something I've wanted to address for awhile now. "The Long Halloween" film is set in the unofficial rebooted DC Animated Movie Universe that began with "Superman: Man of Tomorrow" and "Justice Society: World War II" and shares the same look as those films. I haven't watched those films because because their look just didn't appeal to me. It reminds me a lot of Venture Bros.; while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's a style for DC that comes off as cheaper compared to their previous animated works.
That being said, when the animation works, it works. The action scenes flow really well and you can be enthralled in the characters' conversations that you don't care how it looks. But there are still moments I noticed where it feels like they cut some corners. I'll admit I'm more inclined now to check out those aforementioned Superman and Justice Society films despite my initial feelings.
I also give the film bonus points for the Scarecrow fear gas scenes as they create a nightmarish style different from the rest of the film.

The voice cast is absolutely stellar. Veteran Batman voice actors return like Alastair Duncan as Alfred and Troy Baker as Joker while Jensen Ackles gets a promotion from Red Hood to the Dark Knight himself. For his first time out, Jensen settles comfortably into the role, being able to switch seamlessly between Bruce's voice and Batman's. And as a rookie Batman still rough around the edges, Ackles is able to capture the wariness in the character's voice as he tries to become a better crusader. As the DCAMU's new Batman, I really look forward to Ackles' future appearances as the character.
With an abundant cast of characters also lead by Josh Duhamel as Harvey Dent and the late Naya Rivera as Catwoman, there's not one voice actor who sounds out of place. Well, there is one exception in Zach Callison as an eight year old Bruce. While Callison is a talented actor and only has a few lines, his performance makes it sound like Bruce went through really early puberty; I guess he can't hold on to that young Steven Universe voice forever.

Overall, "Batman: The Long Halloween" delivers another entry into the Batman animated film hall of fame. I can't recommend it enough and I have my fingers crossed that the story's sequel, "Dark Victory", is also on the table for an adaptation.