A Suicide Squad Review

So Suicide Squad recently came out, and of course, as a comic book fan, I went to watch it. I haven't been enjoying DC stuff recently, such as Batman V Superman, although the trailer for Wonderwoman does look pretty awesome. The trailer for Justice League simply looks like, well, Batman going around recruiting the Justice League. Aquaman is a drunk ruffian, so that might be interesting. It won't be directed by Zack Snyder, so it might be good.

Now, back to Suicide Squad. The movie starts out well. We get a brief and enjoyable intro to our individual villains as they eventually get forced together to fight against suicidal odds to most likely die, but, perhaps, survive and save mankind in the process. If they refuse, or run, they get killed. The idea behind what the Suicide Squad is in the comics comes across very accurately in the movie.

Now, people have said that the team of villains don't really come across very well as villains, and well, that's very true. In the comics of 2011 we had Sharkman eating people, and although Killer Croc is teased as having eaten people, it doesn't actually happen. We don't really get the opportunity to get the idea reinforced in our head that these guys are all  villains. Harley Quinn steals a bag from a store, that feels like a very forced scene that doesn't sit well as being really that villainous compared to mass murder.

The main character of this film is undoubtedly Deadshot, and he is a very cool character in this movie, and even relatable. He is nowhere near as coldhearted as he is in the comics. We have a scene where he has a chance to kill Harley, and if he does he'll be freed and have full custody of his daughter. Realistically, even from what we'd seen from him in the movie so far, he would and should have done it. But a moment of kindness takes hold over him and he misses his shot. This should leave us going "Aw, he's not such a bad guy after all." Instead it leaves us wondering "Why?" Apparently he doesn't kill women or children. Even so, from what we know about his character, he still should have done it.

Speaking of Harley, one big part of this movie is Harley and Joker's relationship. Unlike the comics, and perhaps this is a good thing, while Harley and Joker are still, undeniably, insane, and murderers, and while it is obvious that Harley loves Joker, it seems that in actuality Joker actually loves Harley too. In the movieverse anyway. I've always viewed the Joker as not caring in the least about Harley. Not now, not ever. It's a horrible relationship, and it's meant to be. However, for good or for bad, in the movieverse it actually seems Joker cares a lot about Harley. Rather than her being his pawn, it seems like he sees her as someone who shares in his insanity. The only person in the world. The film leaves me very much hoping for a batman movie with Joker and Harley.

There is of course Rick Flag, and the Enchantress, and some others like Croc, Boomerang, Katana. However the film very much seems set up to set up Deadshot and Harley for future movies, and although I don't like to say it, the other characters aren't really worth talking about. 

Overall I enjoyed this movie. I thought it was pretty good, or good enough anyway. It wasn't amazing. Leto's Joker wasn't amazing. Harley wasn't amazing. Deadshot wasn't amazing, although he was very cool. It wasn't all that dark for a film based on murderous villains. It was kind of like a very very lighter version of the comic book version of Suicide Squad, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It was enjoyable, and it left me looking forward to a Suicide Squad 2. There's even a brief appearance by the Flash that leaves me wanting to see him soon.

Suicide Squad managed to stay the movie it was meant to be, while also setting up future DC movie-verse films, without becoming a mangled mess like Batman V Superman. In the list of DC Movie-verse movies so far, Suicide Squad, for me, is the best so far. But, unfortunately, there really isn't much competition. I didn't exactly enjoy it or get as invested in it as... say... Guardians of the Galaxy. But for a DC film is wasn't so bad. Would I watch it again? Yes. Would I watch it three times? No. Here's hoping Wonder Woman will be great, and that Justice League won't be terrible.