Suicide Squad

I was expecting something brisk and cheeky, and I got a hilarious mash-up of elements that work in Marvel movies, but not in DC. Their new multiverse is confusing and disjointed pulp that gives the impression of something born in the heads of suits at table and not in the head of a person who really has an overview and a clear vision of what the whole should look like. Someone like Kevin Feige is missing here (DC Sandbox guardian Snyder is not even able to look after his films, let alone the whole universe). Ayer is desperately groping in terms of directing and the screenplay (the only twist in the zero plot is the scene the viewer saw shot after shot an hour before, wtf?), the types of sociopaths are rather good at first and often unused (Leto's over the top Joker as a romantic filler?). The soundtrack is so puffy and eclectic that it fades out into nothing. Scenes with Deadshot mainly kick ass, which Will Smith made into a pure pleasure (because ***) and a few scenes with sexy Margot Robbie. Otherwise, this wannabe radical slap to the competition is just a sweaty affirmation of the superhero status quo which, unfortunately, is not even half as amusing as in the case of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The attempts to create a dark picture of the world, which is ruled by the brutal bitch Amanda Waller instead of Nick Fury... sorry, it feels so convulsive that it can't be taken very seriously. DC is groping (and it’s still not fun). (2016-08-03)

The universe is being built again, and this time where it is completely unnecessary. The intended original team is undermined from the first minutes because someone from the Justice League is inserted into all the major origin stories that no one wants to see at that moment. It distracts from the new characters, and the uniqueness that was so proclaimed in the trailers is suddenly gone. Even the song soundtrack doesn't really pull me in because with every other old-school hit, I can't shake off the impression that the Guardians of the Galaxy, who are so closely related in terms of genre, are being shamelessly plagiarized. At least Steven Price's orchestral accompaniment supports the action to dizzying levels and makes us forget that it's dark, raining, or dark and rainy in every shootout. Unfortunately, the most significant battle saved for the finale feels forced, with villain motivations that are laughable and, surprisingly, poorly executed in terms of special effects. It's with this battle it becomes most apparent how the second half of Suicide Squad has become weak, both in terms of its lines and its actions, which makes no sense given the supposedly psychopathic roots of the characters. However, the film does have one big positive surprise, and that is Harley Quinn, who is exactly as good as I thought she could never be in Margot Robbie's portrayal. She steals every scene, delivers the most self-assured dialogue, and, along with the charismatic Deadshot, they are the only ones who deserve to return in future adaptations. The biggest casting disappointment remains Jared Leto. Not that he didn't try, but while someone like Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight was able to frighten just by appearing on the screen, Leto has to rely on empty performances, makeup, or various props – and because of that, he is just a noisy attraction, leaving an aftertaste of wasted opportunity. Just like in the entire Suicide Squad, which sometimes offers up something good, but without exception, it is always followed by ay least two things that are bad. (2016-08-04)

It would like to be a comic book version of the Dirty Dozen, but it's more like the Devil's Brigade. I mean the unconcealed copy-cat of a more famous and better original, which is worse in everything (from motivations to action), worse but not so bad that it would force you to grab the remote and change the channel, even if you already know that you won't remember anything from this movie as soon as the final credential start. You will remember it only when you come across it in the TV program again. And that's exactly what the Suicide Squad is, characterization is one-dimensional at best (great cast did amazing job in saving the movie), there is no story line (and if there is one, it's full of lapses and illogicality), motivation and goals are barely implied, action is as intense as interchangeable and the style is so hectic as aerobatic flying. But it's not bad (especially thanks to the first half, pace and acting). Only incomplete in terms of that dirty antihero concept and, moreover, significantly shortened in a way that strikes even the layman. However, what is the worse part about it (apart from the poor final scene), is the existence of the animated movie Assault on Arkham, which did the same but much better with grace. (2016-08-04)

They put together a plethora of people dumb enough to be characters in their own stories, which means that not a single character was fleshed out enough for you to know more about them beyond what they like (their kid, the other nutcase, the unicorn, etc.). In truth, I wasn't entertained by the film, it just became a backdrop to keep the room from being quiet – it fulfilled this function perfectly, as it was well voiced. But that's the only great thing about this movie; otherwise it's pretty average, below average. Many heroes and anti-heroes were created, but it just doesn't reach any dizzying heights. It had a great advertisement that lit up the work and drove it to the heights of heaven, but the truth is otherwise... (2016-11-15)

The DC Universe hasn't even had time to be born and it's already dead. The dramaturgically-incompatible group at Warner Brothers craves a more discerning audience, but with their results, they're looking at a target audience of 13-17, who (given the earnings) probably won't care that the plot makes no sense at all, that the team doesn't work as a team even once, and that the ass-kicking isn't a highlight for which to praise a character. I want to go to the alternate universe where Ayer made it in his own way, and it’s one hour longer and does away with the moronic humor. In many of its details (the clear action, a decent portion of darkness and suspense) it looks like a prelude to a major comic book film, but someone in the editing room screwed it up in an absolutely monstrous way. The most interesting character in the finale is Killer Croc. I want him to have a solo movie. (2016-11-07)