THE SUICIDE SQUAD (SPOILER FREE REVIEW)
By: RogueSymbiote
DON'T WORRY - NO SPOILERS AHEAD!
James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is a much needed breath of fresh air to the DCEU. The Suicide Squad is a brilliant blend of action and humor, with a surprising amount of heart. Much like it's predecessor, this film revolves around a group of incarcerated "super-villains" who agree to participate in life threatening missions in exchange for 10 years off of their prison sentence. Despite their rough exteriors, the Suicide Squad aka Task Force X, demonstrate even the hardest of criminals are capable of heroism.
The Suicide Squad is visually brilliant. The set pieces, costuming and cinematography are mesmerizing. The variety of cinematography throughout the film maintains audience attention in stellar fashion. The CGI for King Shark and Starro are some of the best DC has offered to date. This is one of the most "comic book" films ever made and it works beautifully. No need to suspend your sense of reality as the tone introduced upon the inception of the film prepares you for the insanity to come.
The creative use of action is some of the best in any comic film to date. At one point, two characters are competing for the most innovative kill which is both shocking and hilarious. Character power sets are uniquely diverse and exciting to witness. The cast chemistry is palpable. Where the first Suicide Squad film sense of family felt forced and rushed, the family dynamic in The Suicide Squad feels earned, believable and develops naturally. Despite having a moderately large cast, each character is given sufficient development.
Margot Robbie once again shines as Harley Quinn. In a comic film universe riddled with inconsistency, Margot remains a constant beacon of brilliance. Idris Elba's portrayal of Bloodsport is absolutely phenomenal. Bloodsport navigates the largest amount of character development while demonstrating some of the coolest use of weaponry I have ever seen. John Cena IS Peacemaker. His quality performance is both surprising and exciting as an HBO series for Peacemaker has already been announced. Sylvester Stallone as King Shark is inspired and hilariously entertaining. Additional standouts include Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag.
Overall, The Suicide Squad is a theatrical triumph. It is thoroughly enjoyable and exactly what a comic book film should be. Gunn once again demonstrates his mastery of the comic book film medium. The Suicide Squad is a must see for any fan of film, DC or comics in general. I can't wait to return for a second viewing.
