If you’re watching “Suicide Squad” thinking you’re going to get a good guys versus evil doers storyline, we hate to break it to you, but you’re seriously mistaken.
DC’s newest cinematic blockbuster isn’t a movie about the good versus evil, but centres on bad versus evil. It’s essentially about a bunch of troublemakers who do bad things for good reasons, and sometimes, they just do it cause it’s fun to hurt somebody. From the first proper cinematic introduction of Harley Quinn to Jared Leto’s new interpretation of the Joker, there’s plenty to look forward to in “Suicide Squad”.
“Suicide Squad” opens in the notorious Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary, which is home to what government intelligence officer Amanda Walter calls “the worst of the worst”. The Task Force X aka “Suicide Squad” is a team of the world’s most dangerous super villains that she wants to assemble because Superman is no longer “flying” after the tragic events of “Dawn of Justice“.
The Task Force X is needed to protect Earth against meta-human threats. Complete the mission and they might get an early release from prison. Try to escape and the explosive devices injected into their necks (courtesy of Wayne Enterprises) can blow out their brains with the aid of a killer app.
Amanda’s dream team is then introduced to the government superiors via flashbacks and video clips of their past deeds. These awful criminals are one ruthless bunch who are behind bars for committing despicable acts including murder, but are now given a second chance by the government to redeem themselves.
The squadron of baddies are: Deadshot, a mercenary sharpshooter who never misses a shot; Captain Boomerang, the masterful bank robber who decides to pay America a visit after robbing all the major banks in Australia but gets taken down by this Justice League member; and a heavily tattooed human flamethrower named El Diablo.
There’s also the half-human-half-reptile Killer Croc; Slipknot, who can supposedly “climb anything”; a random ninja named Katana, who wields a mystic sword that traps the souls of those she’s killed; as well as scientist June Moon, who has been possessed by an almost-7000-year-old ancient demi-god Enchantress.
The best member of the bunch is, hands down, Harley Quinn. Thanks in part to Margot Robbie’s memorable performance, she brings this demented sweetie-pie to life in big, bright colours. From her aerial acrobatics performance in her cell, to her threatening the lives of her armed guards, or gleefully skipping into battle armed with a bat and a broad grin, “Suicide Squad” is at its best when Harley is the focal point.
Harley’s relationship with the Joker is what makes her so deranged and unstable. Don’t let her babydoll mannerisms fool you, she won’t bat an eyelash when it comes to inflicting pain on her nemesis. The love affair between DC’s powerhouse criminal couple was palpable, but there just weren’t any meaty Joker scenes for us to bite into. Despite the potential, Joker was never properly integrated into the storyline and came across like a special guest star. Pity.
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Of course, Deadshot is no slouch either. Although it’s Will Smith practically playing himself, the character has a strong backstory, especially one involving his daughter, plus we enjoyed watching his protective friendship with the impulsive Harley.
Despite the limited screen time and not much of a story arc (aside from his fetish for pink unicorns), Boomerang also manages to inject a dose of goofy lunacy in the film.
While there are plenty of background stories and character setups to cram in, the first part of “Suicide Squad” was actually promising. Sadly, once the all-star supervillains were assembled to begin their mission, that’s where the movie started to falter. There’s a reason why the ultimate villain has been hidden in most of the promo. It’s because this supposedly terrifying evil is the worst thing about the film!
Don’t worry, we won’t spoil anything for you. But to echo Kristy Puchko’s sentiments, the plot of the antagonist’s quest for world domination ranges from silly to downright dumb.
On the plus side, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller was a pleasant surprise. For all the bravado these bad guys bring to “Suicide Squad”, Davis proves that she doesn’t need crazy costumes or superpowers to be intimidating. The Oscar-nominated actress exudes power and menace. Davis’ character is another personal favourite after Robbie’s Harley.
The storytelling may be messy, with the general consensus that the pacing is evidently uneven, in addition to the inorganic plot development, however, the chemistry between the cast is believable and worth rooting for. “Suicide Squad” raises its middle finger to the typical superhero movies. These bad guys are super cray and they know it. They just don’t care. In fact, they relish it.
Psst, in case you didn’t already know, there will be a bonus scene that hints at “Justice League” after the mid-credits, so remember to stay put in your seats ;)
While you wait for “Suicide Squad” to open in cinemas on 4th August 2016, here are 10 interesting fun facts about your favourite villains to dive into.
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