Movie Review: THE Suicide Squad

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

Back in 2016, i've talked about a DC film called "Suicide Squad", which is about the group of villains are working together by the authority to teach them to be a hero or must die. Its an ok film that i called, but it has full of problems like recycling the songs that has been barrowed from radios, some characters had a good development but could've gone better, the use of Joker is a waste of space as a main focus, making the main villain Enchantress being worthless. But i will give a credit that the actions are great and the casts are decent like Will Smith as Deadshot and also Margot Robbie's memorable role of Harley Quinn, and somehow after this and Birds of Prey, i feel like she's still looking after me for another group with the same name.

"The Suicide Squad" is a 2021 DC superhero (or supervillains) film that was written/directed by James Gunn and produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran

After the success of Suicide Squad, they were planning to make another one involving with he same group with Harley Quinn, but the plans has been changed, including the director role, David Ayer was originally coming back to direct the sequel but decided to moving away make his own take of Gotham City Sirens (with Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman), that is until in 2018, James Gunn came in after got fired from Disney and Marvel (though temporary when he's planning to make a third volume of Guardians of the Galaxy), though some say it was going to be a remake, but Gunn proclaimed its rebooted Suicide Squad, but more as a sequel with some returning characters and having a new villains in the group (including some that was originally planed from the first one, but got cut), which many people are hoping that when James Gunn worked as a writer and director, its gonna be good. But aside that im excited for this movie, but one thing that pinches me is gotta be the title. This movie's title has an excuse to put the name "THE" in the title that we thought its a remake, but its a standalone sequel but with an excuse to put "THE" in it like Final Destination and THE Final Destination, but im getting ahead of myself...!

So, with all that said, will the new group is better than before, or is this group deserve to die with the bomb in their body?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

At first, im assuming that this is gonna be like a same plot from the first one, but with new characters, right? Well, it is, but the mission is different, but its surprisingly pretty well-executed, in a craziest way.

It kinda picking up after the first Suicide Squad, where we have more baddies in the prison house known as "Belle Reve", Amanda Waller, the director of A.R.G.U.S, decides to make another Suicide Squad (or "Task Force X" as she calls and after putting the bombs on bad guys neck for deadly punishment like before), but split into two, where the teams are ordered to going into the island of Corto Maltese in order to order to destroy a secret evidence located on Jötunheim. But after Harley Quinn and Rick Flag lost their members (Savant, Captain Boomerang (Sorry guys), Blackguard, T.D.K and The Weasel, ugh...) and both of them got captured separately, we jump shift to the second group with Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Ratcatcher 2, King Shark and Polka-Dot Man, which not only they're on the mission to destroy the evidence, but also find out whatever happened to Flag and Harley.

Even though the plot is much like the first one, but with a different mission and honestly, it feels likes the writing is much more improved over the first one, mainly for the execution and some humors (I mean, what do you think that this is done with the same director with "Guardians of the Galaxy", but even more insane). Plus, aside from same main plot, but also brought back some plot elements that may not as necessary, such us the father and kid relationship with Bloodsport, only this time, it definitely showed with the most neglectful conversation visit i've ever seen. I love this movie's writing that it works nicely done, based on some plot development of main villain The Thinker for some involvement plan after WWII, a chemistry with the second team (mainly a feud between Bloodsport and Peacemaker, and a relationship with King Shark and Ratcatcher that not only humans are food, even though Polka-Dot Man is pretty much in friend-zone) and of course, the humor. Speaking of which the humor is are pretty mature for sunshine and sparkle languages and gruesome moment, and they're pretty funny that it made me laughing nearly hard.

While the plot is the same thing, but its the well-executed writing based on developments, a chemistry and a sense of nasty humor.

The Presentation

Ohh, unlike the first one, this one is gonna be interesting graphical film since i watched Deadpool, but if you guys don't like the mature contents of violence, i suggested not worth of watching since this is an R-Rated film with about $185 million of budget.

For starter, the filming location isn't what i expected, which i thought we're gonna have an action taking play on either Metropolis, Gotham City or other town/city out there, but main focus is the South American island named "Corto Maltese", which i was easily to believing they filmed around in South America, but it wasn't, instead, the filming is all done in the set on Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Altanta Georgia an they took about 2 years to film before wrapped up in February 2020 before the massive spread of Covid in post-production, because 2020, that's why.

Anyway, their sets that they made and film are pretty cool looking, which some locations in Corto Maltese are based on Panama and Havana, speaking of Panama, the town is an inspiration of Colón, Panama, its mainly they want to make it look colorful in the island village, its pretty cool and colorful they did. In fact, aside from the town, they did a one helluva job on the sets to building three football-sized fields in the final battle of Jotunheim (though im not gonna spoiling it btw) and even a warehouse sized jungle, no wonder why James Gunn said that its the most biggest sets in WB's film ever.

As for the effects and the costumes, well its a mixed-bag, sometimes they look nice, but other times look awkward.

For the special effects, they went to R-Rated film for violence like "Birds of Prey", but unlike before, they went all in for the overdose of blood and gore with some headshots, bleeding and several other gruesome moments for an R-Rated film, like i always said, im a sick man who loves gory contents from either movies or video games.

As for the effects, they're pretty nice the abilities and even a text in the background in a similar style of the comic books. Which it looks impressive, but the execution is poor, due to the fact the quality appears to be more like a video game graphic than a big bduget film. But as far as i know, its because of, again, the pandemic.

As for the costumes and appearances, they look ranging from cool to enjoyable, such a mercenary wearing for Bloodsport (though Deadshot's outfit looks pretty cool), a colorful vigilante appearance for Peacemaker, a very unique wardrobe option for Harley Quinn (from regular clothing to her beautiful red dress, a colorful polka-dot appearance for... Well, Polka-Dot Man (Yeah, its pretty obvious and pretty stupid for DC comics), Ratcatcher's outfit looks not bad and of course, its noce to see King Shark in the movie (which is a lot better and what should've been unlike Killer Croc), along with his big appearance with Daddy bod in it (which his appearance is based on Harley Quinn's show, but in shirtless and being kinda dumb without the laptop, all well, but still fun). While the rest are looking good, but one hdaracter is probably freaking me out is The Weasel, i mean i get this is the idea based on Bill the cat he's may or may not be the first DC supervillain who came from the movie than the comics, while body are fine, but his face really creeping me out.

As for the action, its gritty, its colorful, its bloody and its fun. The action with weapons, colorful languages and gore are like the hamburgers, fries and soda drink all combine of fun action, some moments that i was entertain like the camp invasion in the jungle to fun one like a rivalry between Bloodsport and Peacemaker. And not to mention, seeing King Shark's moment from cute ones to Beast Mode to eating human's flesh, like any sharks. Not to mention, another fun part is Harley Quinn's action, as she's about to break free, she goes into sunshine and sparkling freedom while killing the guardians (or as James Gunn called "Harley-vision"), which its actually an inspiration from Suda51's called "Lollipop Chainsaw" (also distribute by Warner Bros), pretty cute, gory and nice fitting idea of her break out action scene.

While the quality and some design just made an awkward execution, the presentation is shockingly outstanding.

The Characters

Although we do have some returns (except for some who either died or left on their own), what about the new characters? Well, they're pretty unique and probably likable what they developed and their portrait.

I guess il start with Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie), as we all know about her, she's a crazed crime who used to date with Joker before got broke up to leaving her in misadventure, in this movie though its a welcome return of her in the movie, but sadly, she has less appearance in the film when she was kidnapped, its pretty shame since some fans (including me) loves her in DCEU (for the most parts) for her colorful and unique actions and personality and Robbie's delivery. So in this movie, she's more like a comedic sidekick of our new heroes, but then again, her partnership with Task Force X 2 wouldn't happen until the third act. Pretty shame for her lacking appearance, but Robbie is always did a fun role.

After that, we have Rick Flag (played by Joel Kinnaman), as we all know, he's a colonel of the first group and telling them to not screwing around in order to work as a hero. While he's started the same in the beginning, not before after got kidnapped, he went from serious boss to an idiot and probably being a Dick at anybody, my guess is when he got kidnapped, he nearly lost his memory to becoming a naïve member of the group. Joel did a nice work of his role to make me entertained and laugh, but his changing role is also mixed in my opinion, almost like they make Rick Flag into a parody.

And the last return is Amanda Waller (played by Viola Davis), as i said before, she's the director of A.R.G.U.S. who forms the villains into the group of heroes as "Task Force X" (aka Suicide Squad". Honestly, why can't the movie called "Task Force X" instead of "THE Suicide Squad"?), thankfully unlike previous film that she's just "ruthless boss" that my call didn't aged well, this time, she's tries again for a new group, but she could be very salty if the group doesn't go like threatens some of them that if he/she refuses to follow, she'll activating the bomb that planted on their necks. Viola did a pretty good work as always, but she's not messing with as a creator of Task Force X, i guess its no wonder they want to make a "love to hate" character.

Don't expect about Captain Boomerang (played by Jai Courtney), because like i said, he didn't last long, sorry.

So what about the new members of the second group? Well, they're surprisingly a pretty good newcomers.

First is Robert DuBois, aka Bloodsport (played by... Wait?? Idris Elba?! Seriously?! I can't escape this man!), a powerful mercenary with his unique technical weapons and gadgets (including gadget merging into a super-weapon or even shot Superman with a bullet made of Kryptonite. Take that, Lex Luthor and Deadshot!) and also a neglectful father based on his crime (again, it definitely shows how neglectful he and his daughter (played by Storm Reid) are as i said), but when he's forced to form into second group by Amanda, which he doesn't like to be the leader of the group, but prefer to be an anti-hero, understandable for Bloodsport, but rules are rules from Amanda. Even though i still give a credit that Idris Elba did a pretty good job on his role, but i swear, this is the 4th time i watched a film that Elba is in the movie outta nowhere, first Disney's Zootopia, the 2016's The Jungle Book, Star Trek Beyond and now this, i swear, i feel he can popping out whenever i pick the movie.

The second member is Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker (played by the former Dr. of Thuganomics in WWE himself, John Cena), he's a very... Interesting and colorful vigilante, he's a ruthless jingoistic man who likes to kill people for his justice. This guy is probably the most memorable one in the movie and... He's probably my favorite vigilante in DC for his colorful appearance and his is own justice of killing people. And of course, Cena did a pretty good work on his role i can say, either that or maybe i'd rather see his early film from WWE, The Marine, but that's my review plan for another time.

The third member is Nanaue, better known as King Shark (voiced by Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone and mocap performed by Steve Agee), a demigod humanoid shark with his friendly to childlike nature who doesn't know the different good human or bad humans for his hunger of fleshes, basically a combination between Groot from "Guardians of the Galaxy" and Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian what James Gunn cam up with. With all combines like this along with his presence as i said before, he's also a memorable one in the film, based on his silly misunderstood (in a good execution) and some cute moments that we can invest him in the movie, but at least he deserves to be in the movie unlike Killer Croc (due to their poor excuse of "impossible to model him). But of course, Sly Stallone did a pretty fun role of a hungry humanoid shark.

The fourth member is Cleo Caza, aka Ratcatcher 2 (played by Daniela Melchior), named after her father as a next gen, she has tool to calling upon the swarm of rats and she even has main ret pet with a jacket named Sebastian. Unlike any members, she's more a sympathetic figure in the movie, based on her heart personality in the movie, despite she's convicted for bank robbery (Welp, like father like daughter) with a bubbly personality. I gotta say, she's also likable in the movie, because instead having a group of full of A-Holes, we one young girl in the mix to have a heart in the movie and Daniela did a pretty good job for her role that we can also invest her for a sympathy.

And the last member (which i save for last) is Abner Krill, better known ... *sigh* Polka-Dot Man (played by David Dastmalchian), a scientist invented his experiment but ended up gone wrong that he has the power of... Polka-dots, along with his body condition of have polka-dots all over him for... Reasons... Uhhh yeah, im sure some of you will probably agree that despite he has an interesting development about his backstory of his experiment gone wrong and even murdering his mother in order to invest him, that fine, but when you have a villain who has the ability to shoot a colorful polka-dots at the bad guys, you have one of the stupidest villain we've ever seen. He may look cool, but not for his questionable powers.

As for the villains, we have The Thinker (played by the 12th Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi), the lead and genius scientist of the secret evidence about his experiment called "Project Starfish" after discovered Starro in order to using this alien starfish to taking over the world. Pretty fascinating villain, but unfortunately, we expecting to know of his development for his action or why he has plugs on his head. A pretty cool villain that left us unknown through out the film.

And lastly is Starro the Conqueror, an alien starfish who's discovered by The Thinker in order to using Starro for taking over the Earth, personally, aside that it's just a alien starfish that it'll grew bigger to Kaiju size, but he's also known being a puppet master, thanks to his ability to summons his baby starfishes to strapping on people's faces to turning into a puppet to attack does the speech from Starro's control. Pretty cool and kinda scary for his rampage threat with his manipulation towards anybody.

As for the rest of the characters, they're pretty cool but briefly like Captain Boomerang, Blackguard (played by Pete Davidson) who knows how to be a mercenary (or being an idiot), Cory Pitzner aka T.D.K (played by Nathan Filion), his full villain's name is "The Detachable Kid" who happens to be a long-lost cousin of Arms-Fall-Off Boy, why? Its because he has the ability to detaching his arms! Good freakin lord, DC... Anyway, Weasel (played by Sean Gunn) who's a crazed anthro... Uhh thing... Javelin (played by Flula Borg) a former athlete who uses... Well, javelin to kill people, Savant (played by Michael Rooker, aka Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy) who's a nothing character who only has a set of skills of fighting and weapons, Mongal (played by Mayling Ng) a ruthless alien girl, Silvio Luna (played by Juan Diego Botto) who's a rich dictator of Corto Maltese who tries to having affair with Harley Quinn and a couple of employees with Amanda Waller played by Steve Agee (again), Jennifer Holland and Tinashe Kajese.

These character, even though some of them are flawed, but they're pretty good ones and i can definitely believing they're having fun for their roles.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, THE Suicide Squad is surprisingly a pretty good film that i was expected when James Gunn jumped in, The story is the same as the first one, but a vast improvement with better writing, the presentation is crazy, gory and fun action and the character, while have some flaws, but they're lovable to invest for the humor and the heart.

Sure, it may not be as perfect with some problems like some of the quality had some problem to be low as video game graphic, some character either left unknown or died too early and some of the elements isn't as necessary.

This is definitely a recommended film if anyone want to see a better Suicide Squad movie than the first one in 2016, go watch on digital download and i bet some of you won't be disappointed.

For my rating, though its not a perfect film, but im having fun with it, so il giving it a 9/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on https://ko-fi.com/blackevil.

Also, i wanna make a huge thanks to some of you for voting on my poll for picking this movie, i was interesting to looking back since i watched this film since i went into a cinema when i was young. So once again, thank you so much for a support.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.