THE SUICIDE SQUAD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Following its release in 2016, Suicide Squad received a negative response from critics, with the majority of them saying that, despite its talented cast, they weren’t enough to “save the disappointing end result from a muddled plot, thinly written characters, and choppy directing”. It has since been described as one of the worst films in the DC Extended Universe. When I first watched Suicide Squad, I enjoyed it more than most people, however, following a recent rewatch, its flaws were more noticeable. Five years after Suicide Squad’s release, a sequel has been released, however, is The Suicide Squad an improvement over its predecessor? 

The Suicide Squad sees Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) joining a new team of villains, including Robert DuBois/Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Christopher Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena), Nanaue/King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone), Cleo Cazo/Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) and Abner Krill/Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), who are all sent to the island nation of Corto Maltese to destroy Jotunheim, a Nazi-era prison and laboratory which holds political prisoners and conducted experiments. Gaius Grieves/The Thinker works with the Corto Maltese government as the laboratory's chief scientist, overseeing Project Starfish.

Suicide Squad was written and directed by David Ayer who wrote the script for the 2001 Oscar winning film, Training Day. Because of this, expectations were high for his take on Suicide Squad, unfortunately, it was a disappointment. However, I think the main reason why it didn’t impress was because the studio, Warner Bros., interfered with some of the creative decisions, including forced humour, a PG-13 rating and lack of violence. Following his experience making Suicide Squad, Ayer quit, meaning that its sequel needed a new director to fix some of the original films’ issues and James Gunn was hired. I think that this was a great choice as, because he directed Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel which was released in 2017, Gunn has established as a filmmaker who knows how to make a superhero film that is thoroughly entertaining. Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is an improvement over its predecessor as the visuals are vibrant and imaginative, unapologetically violent, fast-paced and action-packed with hardly a dull moment to be found in its 132 minute runtime and, as a result, is one of the best films in the DCEU.

The Suicide Squad features a star studded cast with Robbie returning as the eccentric Harley Quinn and continues to steal every scene she appears in. Also returning are Viola Davis, who delivers a fierce performance as Amanda Palmer who is in charge of the mission, and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, who leads the team. Of the new additions to the cast, the standouts are Elba as Bloodsport, Cena as Peacemaker and Melchior as Ratcatcher 2. After Will Smith’s departure following his appearance as Deadshot in Suicide Squad, it was rumoured that Elba would replace him, however, Gunn wanted him to portray a new character so that Smith could return to Deadshot. This was a great choice as Elba delivers a fierce portrayal of Bloodsport. Another memorable character is Nanaue/King Shark who is voiced by Stallone. Although he’s a man eating fish-human hybrid, Nanaue’s personality is similar to that of Groot from Guardians and isn’t all that bright. One of the weakest aspects of Suicide Squad was its main villain, however, one of the antagonists in The Suicide Squad is The Thinker. Because he’s best known for recently portraying the Twelfth Doctor in the popular sci-fi series, Doctor Who, Capaldi may seem like an odd choice for the role of the villainous Thinker, however, he delivers a perfectly menacing performance.

Those who are squeamish are best off avoiding watching The Suicide Squad as the violence is more severe and gory, with characters being killed off in gruesome ways. However, like the Guardians films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Suicide Squad never takes itself too seriously and is a lot more fun than its predecessor. 

Although The Suicide Squad is a sequel that is an improvement over its predecessor, it’s not without its flaws. The main narrative, which sees villains teaming up on a mission, is predictable. The first half focuses on the team’s journey to their destination. Most of the humour comes from the rivalry between Bloodsport and Peacemaker. An early scene sees the pair trying to outdo the other as they kill of a group of soldiers they believe are keeping Flag captive. A subplot sees Quinn separated from her team and captured by the army and being taken to the President’s palace where she is proposed to by Silvio Luna (Juan Diego Botto) who is the dictator of Corto Maltese. This is where The Suicide Squad is at its least interesting as it distracts from the main narrative. The Suicide Squad is at its best during the second half as it features exciting action sequences. 

Like most superhero films, especially those in the MCU, The Suicide Squad has a post-credits scene that is worth watching as it links to an upcoming spin-off series that involves one of the main characters.

With The Suicide Squad, director James Gunn has created a sequel that doesn’t disappoint as it’s unapologetically violent, action-packed and the star-studded cast are all on top form. 

8/10

 

ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE (2021) REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Justice League was one of the most highly anticipated films of 2017, unfortunately, following its release, it received a mostly negative response from critics and was one of the biggest disappointments in the DC Extended Universe. One of the main reasons why Justice League failed to meet expectations was because it faced several issues during production. Zack Snyder, who had previously directed Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, was forced to quit filming following the shocking death of his daughter, Autumn. This led to the production company, Warner Brothers, hiring Joss Whedon, who is best known for making Avengers Assemble and its sequel, Age of Ultron, as Snyder’s replacement. While Whedon did a great job with both of the Avengers films, he didn’t find similar success with Justice League. The failure of Justice League led to fans expressing an interest in an alternate cut more faithful to Snyder's vision. Fans and members of the cast and crew petitioned for the release of this, which they nicknamed the Snyder Cut. At the time, industry insiders regarded the release as unlikely. However, Warner Bros. decided to move ahead with it in February 2020; in May, Snyder announced that the original cut would be released as Zack Snyder's Justice League via the streaming service HBO Max in the United States and on Sky Cinema in the United Kingdom. Prior to its release, it was screen in advance to critics who said that it was an improvement over the theatrical version that was released in 2017. However, is Zack Snyder’s Justice League worth sitting through the near four hour runtime?

Determined to ensure Superman's (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), also known as Batman, aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), also known as Wonder Woman, with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman, Wonder Woman, Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), DeSaad (Peter Guinness) and Darkseid (Ray Porter) and their dreadful intentions.

If anything, Zack Snyder’s Justice League proves why production companies and studios need to trust a filmmaker to create something in their own vision. The reason why a lot of films disappoint is because of studio interference. Instead of letting the director make a film their own way, studios reject their ideas, which can lead to the film they make struggling to leave much of a lasting impression. An example of this is Suicide Squad which was directed by David Ayer. Like Justice League, Suicide Squad was a big disappointment following its release in 2016, with many criticising the poor computer generated imagery, and underwritten characters. Ayer soon admitted that he would have made Suicide Squad differently if he wasn’t held back by the studios saying that his “soulful drama was beaten into a comedy”. The changes he would have made included changes to the story and more screen time to Jared Leto’s Joker. Another example of studio interference is Ant-Man which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was directed by Peyton Reed and released in 2015. However, it was originally meant to be directed by Edgar Wright who is best known for creating the comedic Cornetto trilogy which includes the films, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. However, Wright quit because of creative differences. He said that his ideas were turned down by Marvel Studios. This led to Ant-Man being one of the weakest films in the MCU as it followed a typical origins story that didn’t offer anything that hadn’t already been done before. Hopefully, the release of Snyder’s Justice League will show that studios need to trust the filmmaker and let them create a film in their own unique way as the end result could lead to success.

I can’t imagine fans being disappointed with what Snyder has created with Justice League. The hard work and the long wait is definitely worth it. It improves on the theatrical cut in almost every way, including the characters, performances, story, visual effects and tone. However, those who aren’t a fan of superhero films, especially those in the DCEU, won’t have their minds changed by Snyder’s Justice League and will find it tough to sit through the film’s 242 minute runtime. Because of its long runtime, the film is not suitable for a casual watch. Although I watched Justice League in one sitting, some may prefer to watch an hour or two at a time. Justice League was originally planned to be released as a miniseries, however, these plans were scrapped in favour of a four hour film. If I’m being honest, although I really enjoy films, I think that Justice League would have worked as a miniseries, with each part being released weekly. However you watch it, whether sitting through the entire runtime in one go or taking your time, Justice League is worth watching. 

One of the main issues of the original Justice League were the characters, with many of them lacking background and felt underdeveloped and underwritten. In Snyder’s Justice League, the characters feel more fleshed out and are given a backstory. Aside from Cavill’s Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, Batman, The Flash and Cyborg haven’t had a solo film. When watching the original Justice League, little was known about the latter two characters, apart from their superpowers. The Flash had superspeed and was mainly used to provide comic relief and Cyborg was a moody recluse whose father experimented and turned Victor into Cyborg. Fortunately, in Snyder’s Justice League, both of these characters are developed well. We see more of The Flash in action, with one memorable sequence seeing him rescue a young woman from crashing into a truck. Cyborg’s relationship with his father, Silas (Joe Morton), is effectively explored. After Victor and his mother are injured following a car crash, Silas is forced to turn his son into Cyborg in order to save his life. However, Cyborg isn’t appreciative of his father’s actions. Because the main characters are given more screen time, it’s easy to root for them as we understand their motivations better and they feel more dimensional. 

Another aspect that is an improvement in Snyder’s Justice League are the performances delivered by its talented cast. With names including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams, who are three of the most talented actors working today, one would expect strong performances and that’s certainly the case here. Because their characters are given significantly more screen time, they are given more to do. As Batman, Affleck delivers his best portrayal of the character. Inspired by Superman’s selfless and heroic actions in Batman v Superman, Batman begins searching for powerful individuals to help him stop the evil Steppenwolf. More screen time is given to Wonder Woman, with Gadot continues to impress, making her an easy character to like. One of the few highlights of the original Justice League was a scene where Wonder Woman stops a bomb going off in a bank. In Snyder’s Justice League, the length of this sequence is extended by a few minutes and is more exciting. Miller is clearly having a lot of fun as The Flash who is excited to be recruited by Batman. At the time of writing this review, Miller is set to reprise the role in a spin-off film that adapts elements from the Flashpoint storyline which I’m interested in seeing. The standout performance is derived by Fisher who is given more to do with his role as Cyborg. Although his character isn’t the most likeable, Cyborg is one of the most interesting, with the film capturing his strengths and weaknesses. Although nothing has been announced yet, I would like Cyborg in future DCEU films and in his own spin-off.

Snyder’s Justice League is at its most exciting during the action sequences, including the final battle that takes place towards the end. In the original Justice League, this final battle felt rushed and anticlimactic. Fortunately, in Snyder’s Justice League, this battle feels more dramatic and exhilarating. The visuals are also an improvement, especially during this sequence, and are suitably dark to match the tone of the scene.  

The special effects also no longer resemble a video game.

Although I enjoyed watching Snyder’s Justice League at home, I would have much preferred to have seen it at the cinema. However, because they’re currently closed, I can understand why Snyder released it on the streaming services HBO Max and Sky Cinema as fans had been waiting long enough to finally watch his version of Justice League. 

With Justice League, Zack Snyder has created an action-packed film that will certainly satisfy his fans, and is a significant improvement over the theatrical version that was released in 2017.

8/10

WONDER WOMAN 1984 REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Following the release of Wonder Woman in 2017, it received a positive critical reception and was successful at the box office. This lead to a sequel being announced. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, cinemas worldwide were forced to close and led to the majority of films, including Black Widow, A Quiet Place Part II and No Time To Die being postponed to next year. The follow-up to Wonder Woman was originally due for release in 2019 but was delayed to June this year. Like a lot of highly anticipated films, Wonder Woman 1984 was postponed several times. For a while, it seemed like it wasn’t going to be released until next year until last month when Warner Bros. announced that Wonder Woman 1984 would be released in select cinemas and on the streaming service, HBO Max, in the United States from Christmas Day. However, in the United Kingdom, it would be released in cinemas from December 16th. At first, I thought that this was a good idea until the UK government announced that most of England would go into Tier 3, which meant that the majority of cinemas would be forced to remain close until next year. This was disappointing as cinemas have been proven to be safer than most shops due to the new safety measures they’ve put in. I’ve been back to the cinema many times since they reopened in the summer and I’ve really enjoyed my visits. Not once did I feel anxious when I went to the cinema. One of the first films I saw was Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Tenet, and it went on to become my favourite film of this year. Just before the release of Wonder Woman 1984, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to see it due to most of my nearest cinemas being closed. Fortunately, I discovered a local independent cinema that was showing it. Because I really enjoyed its predecessor, my expectations were high for Wonder Woman 1984, however, did the sequel meet them?

Wonder Woman 1984 focuses on Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) as she tries to stop businessman and popular television personality, Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), from taking over the world after he steals a dream stone  that allows him to grant any wish. This leads to Diana having her wish come true in the form of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who died after sacrificing himself in Wonder Woman. Diana’s geeky and and awkward friend, Barbara (Kristen Wiig), is envious of Diana’s confidence and strength and wishes to be more like her, unfortunately, she takes it too far and transforms into the Cheetah. This leads to Diana teaming up with the newly resurrected Steve to stop Max and Barbara: 

Featuring thrilling action sequences and great performances by the cast, Wonder Woman 1984 is a follow up that matches the quality of its predecessor. I can’t imagine anyone, who enjoyed the first film, being disappointed with what returning director Patty Jenkins has created. It is a shame that not everyone will be able to experience Wonder Woman 1984 on the big screen, due to the limit of cinemas being opened in the UK as it’s an exciting film that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. I was very lucky to watch Wonder Woman 1984 at a local independent cinema and, despite my high expectations, it didn’t disappoint.

The opening sequence is a great start to Wonder Woman 1984 as it sees Diana as a child (Lilly Aspell) competing in a multi stage athletic competition on Themyscira against older Amazons. At first, she is winning, however, after falling from her horse and missing a stage, she takes a shortcut and is close to the finish line when she is stopped by her aunt, Antiope (Robin Wright) who tells her that she shouldn’t be allowed to win after cheating. This is an important message that plays out in the rest of Wonder Woman 1984 with Max lying in order to be more successful. Most villains in superhero films are one dimensional and predictable, however, that wasn’t the case with Max, who is portrayed more as a flawed character rather than someone who is simply evil. His actions are understandable as he wants to grant everyone’s wish through the dream stone but loses control of his new round power. Pascal, who is currently known to Disney+ subscribers for portraying the titular character in The Mandalorian, brings charisma to his performance as Max, however, after gaining the powers of the dream stone, he soon becomes a more maniacal and intimidating figure. I also was surprised by how Diana solved the situation as I thought it was going to end with her killing Max, however, I’m glad that it ended with him taking back everyone’s wishes as he’s not an evil villain that needed to be killed off. I was also pleasantly surprised by Wiig who leaves a lasting impression with her portrayal of Barbara. In the beginning, Barbara is awkward, with many of her scenes providing comic relief, however, her new found strength sees her transforming into the Cheetah. While it was refreshing to see Wiig take on a different role after appearing in several comedies, the computer generated imagery used to create the Cheetah looks artificial and, unfortunately, resembles something out of last year’s disastrous musical film, Cats. However, the Cheetah has very little screen time so it was only a minor issue.

In Wonder Woman, Gadot captured Diana’s sweet personality but also her strength, making her a inspiring figure to young girls. Because the sequel is set over six decades after the first film, Diana has settled into her new life and works as a senior anthropologist at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., specialising in the culture of ancient Mediterranean civilisations. She continues to fight crime as Wonder Woman, whilst trying to maintain some anonymity. Gadot continues to impress with her portrayal of Diana and develops her into a true heroine. At first, Diana is delighted to be reunited with her one and only true love, Steve, unfortunately, she knows that he’s too good to be true and must give him up in order to save the world from Max. Pine returns as the charming Steve and shares chemistry with Gadot. Most of the humour comes from Diana showing Steve around a new world he doesn’t recognise. An amusing scene sees Steve trying on clothes that were popular in the 1980s. Overall, Gadot, Pine, Wiig and Pascal are great in their roles, with their performances adding to the enjoyment of Wonder Woman 1984.

Jenkins returns to direct the sequel and, with Wonder Woman 1984, she further establishes herself as a talented filmmaker. She knows how to create an exciting, action packed film that can be enjoyed by anyone. You don’t necessarily need to have seen the previous film or read the comic books in order to enjoy Wonder Woman 1984. While there have been a lot of superhero films released in the last few years, Wonder Woman 1984 reminds viewers why they are so popular as it provides them with over two hours of escapism and entertainment. The plot, while fairly predictable, is easy to follow. Although I really enjoyed Tenet, I can understand why a lot of viewers were left scratching their heads as its plot was very complex. That’s not the case with Wonder Woman 1984 which can be enjoyed by anyone. As well as creating an exciting, action-packed film, Jenkins success in capturing the 1980s through the clothes and technology. It’s clearly a decade she has fond memories of and I can imagine many viewers, who grew up in the 1980s, feeling very nostalgic whilst watching Wonder Woman 1984. Jenkins stated that she chose the 1980s as the setting for the Wonder Woman sequel because she saw it as the “height of Western civilisation and society and so it offers the opportunity to explore how Wonder Woman would deal with the types of villains from that era.” Earlier this month, Disney announced that Jenkins will direct Rogue Squadron, an upcoming Star Wars film which will be released in 2023. I’m really interested in seeing this as Jenkins has proven herself to be a skilful filmmaker who can make an exciting, action packed film. 

Those who read the comic books will be happy to see Wonder Woman in action using her lasso of truth. She also uses her tiara as a boomerang to fight off bad guys and is briefly seen flying in her new Invisible Jet with Steve. 

The action sequences are where Wonder Woman 1984 is at its most exciting. It was great seeing Wonder Woman in action and, although there are several points when she becomes weaker, she never gives up. After losing Steve once more, Diana becomes even more determined to stop Max. One of the best action sequences sees Diana trying to stop Max following a car chase in Egypt. Unfortunately, she is shot in the shoulder and struggles to stop Max. It’s surprising seeing Diana in a weakened state as it’s hard to believe this was the same woman who fought off the evil God of War, Ares, in the first film. Following a fight against Max and Barbara, Diana learns that, the longer Steve exists in the present, the weaker she becomes. This leads to her, once more, saying a heartbreaking goodbye to Steve, the only man she has ever truly loved. This is also another reason why Diana is inspiring as, despite this heartbreaking loss, she becomes stronger and is finally able to take on Max. While many superhero films end following an action packed battle between the hero and villain, Wonder Woman 1984 avoids this cliche and ends with Diana convincing Max and the rest of the world to take back their wish and reversing the chaotic impact their wishes had on the world. Diana’s monologue is surprisingly moving and heartfelt and proves that we all have the power to save the world. I quite liked this ending as it made a change after seeing countless climatic battle sequences, however, I can understand why people will find it anticlimactic. 

While Wonder Woman 1984 is a great sequel, filled with exciting action sequences and a strong performance by Gal Gadot as the heroic Diana, it is a shame it’s not getting the wide release in cinemas in the UK it deserves. I do understand that, because we are still in a deadly pandemic, people aren’t interested in visiting the cinema. Whether you watch it at your local cinema or at home, Wonder Woman 1984 is a fun sequel that can be enjoyed by anyone.

8/10

BIRDS OF PREY: AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Suicide Squad was one of the most anticipated films of 2016, unfortunately, it was disappointment. While I liked it more than most people after my first watch, I can definitely see its flaws following a recent rewatch. While the film isn't that great, I think everyone can agree that Margot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn was the stand-out aspect. Now, she has her own film, Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn, however, is it better than Suicide Squad?

Birds of Prey is a twisted tale told by Harley (Robbie) herself, as only she can tell it. When Gotham's most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor), and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz (Chris Messina), put a target on a young girl named Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco), the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smolett-Bell) and Renee Montoya's (Rosie Perez) paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.

Birds of Prey is a significant improvement over Suicide Squad. Director Cathy Yan fixes some of the issues that people had with the latter and has created a film that is fun, full of energy and thoroughly entertaining. A common criticism with Suicide Squad was its dull visuals and poor cinematography, which meant it was hard to figure what was going on at times. In contrast to the dark and gloomy looking Suicide Squad, the scenes in Birds of Prey are bright, colourful and vibrant. Every scene pops out with eccentric art direction, costume design and effects.The film is like a comic book crossed with graffiti art. The fact that this is Yan's fiirst big-budget production makes Birds of Prey's visual style all the more impressive. I can't imagine fans of the comic books being disappointed with Birds of Prey.

Robbie's portrayal of Quinn was one of the few highlights of Suicide Squad, however, in Birds of Prey, she improves and successfully captures her character's eccentric and quirky personality. Since the release of Suicide Squad in 2016, Robbie has portrayed a wide range of characters and prove she's one of the most talented actors working today. She's received two Academy Award nominations, one for her portrayal of ice skater, Tonya Harding in I, Tonya and she's currently nominated at this year's Oscars for her performance in Bombshell as Mikayla. She has also delivered memorable supporting roles as Queen Elizabeth I in Mary, Queen of Scots and as the late Hollywood actress, Sharon Tate, in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Her portrayal of Quinn in Birds of Prey further proves there's no end to Robbie's talents. Quinn isn't a perfect individual, however, she is a lot of fun to watch. While it is Robbie who stands out as Quinn, the rest of the cast all leave a lasting impression with their performances, including Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance/Black Canary, who is Sionis' driver, however, she teams up with Quinn in order to protect Cassandra; Winstead as Helena Bertinelli/Huntress, who is a vigilante and seeks revenge on the mobsters that murdered her family and Perez as Montoya who is a detective working at the Gotham Police Department and is building a case against Sionis. While I think that these characters would have benefited from more screen time in order to develop their characters, they each deliver a solid performance and I would like to see more of them in a future sequel. Known mainly for his leading roles and for playing the 'hero' type, especially in the Star Wars prequels as Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor plays against type as the main villain, Sionis who is also known as Black Mask. While he's not a scary or menacing villain like the Joker, he still proves to be a threat to Quinn. 

Featuring exciting action and violent fight sequences throughout, there's hardly a dull moment to be found during Birds of Prey's 109 minute runtime. A problem with Suicide Squad was its PG-13 rating which prevented the characters from being too violent and the action scenes were generic and failed to excite. Fortunately, this isn't the case with Birds of Prey. While the violence isn't graphic, it is still quite intense, which makes it unsuitable for the faint-hearted and those who are squeamish. The climatic sequence is where Birds of Prey is at its best as we see Quinn fight alongside the titular Birds of Prey. All four characters show off their fighting skills and prove that they work well as a team. Fans of the comic books will be happy to know that the Birds of Prey's fighting gear make an appearance, with Quinn using her famous baseball bat and mallet and she also uses other insane weaponry, like a grenade launcher that shoots beanbags and confetti. The fighting gear that Black Canary, Huntress and Montoya all use throughout the film are in line with their source materials.

While there's been a lot of praise towards Birds of Prey, prior to watching it, I did notice a lot of people having issues with the story and the frequent flashbacks in order to develop certain characters. While I can understand why many had an issue with this, I liked it as the story is being told from Quinn's point-of-view and she narrates throughout. The narrative structure works for Birds of Prey and, because Quinn's mind is unhinged, it makes sense that her story would jump around. While she isn't the most focused narrator, the plot and motivations are never incoherent. Even when Quinn backtracks to explain someone's back story, she does it in such an entertaining way it's hard to complain.

A problem with Suicide Squad was that it was too dark and its attempts at humour failed as they felt out of place. This isn't the case for Birds of Prey which couldn't be less serious and features several amusing and witty one-liners from Quinn.  The tone is similar to Deadpool so fans of that film will find something to enjoy in Birds of Prey.

While Birds of Prey probably won't appeal to everyone, it's still worth seeing for a lot of films, mainly the all-female ensemble team, both on-screen and off-screen. Unfortunately, it's rare that a film like this, one that features female main characters, a female director and a female writer, is successful at the box office. While there have been female led action films in the past, including the Ghostbusters remake, Ocean's 8 and last year's Charlie's Angels, they failed to impress at the box office. Even if Birds of Prey doesn't look appealing to you, it's worth giving it a watch as you may be pleasantly surprised. You don't necessarily need to have read the comic books in order to enjoy Birds of Prey.
An improvement over its predecessor, Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey is an energetic, lively and fun follow-up that benefits from Margot Robbie and her unforgettable portrayal of Harley Quinn.
7/10

SHAZAM! REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Most of the films that have been released in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) have been negatively received, both from critics and audiences. The only two films in the franchise to receive a positive reception are Wonder Woman and last year’s Aquaman. The latest addition to the DCEU is Shazam!. After watching the trailer, I was skeptical as I found the titular superhero to be a bit irritating. However, the positive reception from critics surprised me.

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero, Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Still a kid at heart, Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child and with help from his superhero-obsessed foster brother, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer). But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).

Without a doubt, Shazam! is DC's most entertaining and funniest feature yet. Most of the humour comes from Levi's portrayal of the titular superhero, he clearly seems to be having a lot of fun with the role and the film is at its best when it focuses on him. Like I mentioned, I was worried that I would find him irritating, fortunately, this wasn't the case and he gives an unforgettable performance. The supporting cast are all great, including Grazer, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen and Grace Fulton who each portray a member of Billy's new foster family. As is the case with every superhero film, there's a villain and, in Shazam!'s case, the villain is portrayed by Strong, in one of his darkest performances yet. Most villains feel underwritten and undeveloped, fortunately, I didn't feel this was the case for Sivana. We learn that, as a child, he was visited by the same wizard as Billy but didn't receive the powers. Now, an adult, he becomes determined to steal Billy's new found powers from him. Mainly because of Strong's serious performance and the writing, Sivana does feel like a genuine threat and he proves to be a difficult villain to defeat, due to his own powers, and help from the Seven Deadly Sins which are a supernatural team of demons, Pride, Envy, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, and Sloth. They are initially trapped in statues guarded by the wizard but align themselves with Sivana. The characters were portrayed by stunt doubles in motion capture suits on-set during filming and depicted as CGI characters.

Shzama!'s story does feel similar to the classic 1988 comedy, Big, which starred Tom Hanks as a child stuck in an adult's body. The writers knew this and there's a funny reference where we briefly see Shazam and Sivana fighting on a floor piano. This reference will go over the heads of younger viewers but will most likely amuse those who recognise the reference. The story successfully balances its tone. Most superhero films, especially those in the DCEU, struggle with deciding whether it wants to be comedy or taken seriously. This isn't the case with Shazam!. While there's a lot of laugh out loud scenes, there's also some touching and heartfelt moments too. These come from Billy looking for his mother who he lost when he was a child at a fair. This is why he struggles to fit in with his new found foster family, at first, despite them caring for him. A heartbreaking scene sees him reuniting with his mother, unfortunately, he doesn't get the reunion he was hoping for. The story effectively includes the theme of family and that those who unconditionally love you are your true family, even if they're not biologically related to you. 

The release of Shazam! comes just a few weeks after the release of Captain Marvel, the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). There is irony here, due to Shazam originally being named Captain Marvel. While DC's Captain Marvel is the original, with comic books featuring the superhero on stands in 1939, they renamed their superhero, Shazam, in 2012, due to Marvel holding the trademark of the name. Shazam's name is an acronym of six "immortal elders" which includes Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. He also gains their powers including Solomon's wisdom, Hercules' superhuman strength, Atlas' stamina, Zeus' powers, including the ability to summon lightning, Achilles' increased courage and Mercury's super speed. At first, Shazam shows off his powers and uses them as a way to gain popularity from the public, who all take immediate interest. However, he soon realises that me use them to stop the villainous Sivana. 

A common trait with superhero films are scenes that appear during the middle and after the end credits. Shazam! features two scenes. The middle scene features an imprisoned Sivana meeting the alien worm Mister Mind, who proposes an alliance. I'm not sure if this scene is hinting at a future sequel where Sivana breaks out at prison and teams up with Mister Mind to stop Shazam. The final scene takes place at the end of the credits and shows Shazam trying to talk to fish and is only worth watching for those who want to see more of Shazam.

While Shazam! is one of the most family-friendly films in the DCEU, it's not without its dark and scary scenes, which is unsurprising considering it's directed by David F. Sandberg who previously directed horror films such as Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation. One scene that may be considered too scary for younger viewers involves Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins monsters killing several people in a business meeting. Although I didn't find this scene too scary, I think it's worth noting that, while Shazam! may appear to be all fun and games, parents hoping to see this film with their children may want to reconsider. 

When it comes final acts in superhero films, which sees the superhero fighting the villain, some of them are predictable and fail to excite. Fortunately, this isn't the case for Shazam!. The final fight between Shazam and Sivana takes place at a fairground and while, at first, Shazam struggles to defeat Sivana, he soon comes up with the idea of transforming his foster family into Shazam-like superheroes, who all help him defeat Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins. This made for final act that is action-packed and exciting to watch.

With a story that is funny and full of heart and a memorable performance from Zachary Levi as the titular superhero, Shazam! can join Wonder Woman as one of the best films that the DCEU has to offer.

8/10

  

AQUAMAN REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

As of late, the majority of the films in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) have been received negatively, both by critics and audiences. So far, only Wonder Woman, which was released last year, has been successful after it received critical praise and impressed at the box office. Because of this, it has been deemed the best film in the DCEU. A few months after the release of Wonder Woman, Justice League proved to be a disappointment after its negative reception. This lead to doubts about the next instalment in the DCEU, Aquaman, a spin-off that focuses on the titular Atlantian, who made a cameo in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and appeared in Justice League. However, is it another disappointment in the franchise?

In Aquaman, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, must step forward to lead his people against his half-brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson), who seeks to unite the seven underwater kingdoms against the surface world.

To a lot of people's surprise, Aquaman is an improvement over Justice League, in terms of acting, special effects and providing over two hours of entertainment. However, it's certainly not the best superhero film we've had recently. Unlike Justice League, Aquaman doesn't take itself seriously and is a lot of fun. It is both an origins story and a follow-up to Justice League as we learn more about his background and who he is as a character. In Justice League, we barely knew much about him, however, his spin-off gives viewers that insight. The beginning shows us how his parents, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) and Thomas (Temuera Morrison), met. Unfortunately, because Atlanna is Queen of Atlantis, she was forced to return to her home, leaving Arthur behind when he was an infant. Because he was born out of wedlock and he's half-human, Arthur isn't welcome at Atlantis, which leads to his half-brother, Orm, taking the throne. By the time the film finishes, we have a stronger understanding of who Aquaman is and we learn more about his strengths and also his weaknesses. 

In Justice League, Momoa's performance as Aquaman wasn't anything special but that wasn't necessarily his fault as his character was undeveloped and he did what he could with a small description. However, in this spin-off, Momoa's performance has improved. He captures the strengths of Aquaman and he impresses in the fight sequences. Also returning after making a small appearance in Justice League, is Amber Heard as Arthur's love interest, Mera, an Atlantian who persuades Arthur to take his rightful place on the throne and stop his brother from declaring war on the surface world. I think that this may be Heard's strongest performance yet as she captures Mera's fierce personality. Wilson makes for a good antagonist and is definitely an improvement over the villain that featured in Justice League. Kidman and Willem Dafoe round out the cast as Atlanna and Aquaman's mentor, Vulko. 

Director James Wan is known for creating violent horrors such as Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring. Because of this, he may seem like an unusual choice to create a superhero film, however, he proves he can make a family-friendly film. After the disappointing reception that Justice League received, I think there was a lot of pressure on Wan to create a successful superhero film, however, he doesn't disappoint. For most of its 143 minute runtime, Aquaman is fun, entertaining and action packed. Unlike the majority of films he's previously directed, Aquaman has a light and breezy tone and is an easy watch, however, because of its long runtime, it does drag. Despite the runtime issue, Wan's Aquaman isn't a bad film and it's not the worst superhero film we've had this year.

While Aquaman has received more praise than Justice League, critics still aren't impressed. With other superhero films, such as Avengers: Infinity War, Incredibles 2 and, most recently, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, being released this year, Aquaman is the weakest of them all. That's not to say it's a terrible film, though, but I can understand why it probably won't leave as much of a lasting impression as the aforementioned films, especially Avengers: Infinity War, which ended on an emotional climax. The trouble with most films in the DCEU is the comparisons people make to the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which, unsurprisingly, leads to disappointment. While a lot of people will probably prefer the MCU films, fans of the DCEU with this latest instalment. Aquaman is far from a perfect film, however, it's entertaining and develops the titular character into a superhero, with Momoa impressing in his performance.

7/10 

JUSTICE LEAGUE REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

I remember, back in late 2015, I was really excited when I discovered there was going to be a Batman v Superman film coming out in March of 2016. I was a little disappointed that Christian Bale wasn't going to be portraying Batman as I thought that he was great in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy. However, I still wanted to see it. Come March and Batman v Superman is critically panned which put me off watching it. I wasn't expecting it to be received so negatively. Despite the criticism of BvS, I watched the following film in the franchise, Suicide Squad. Like BvS, it too received a lot of criticism, however, I think I enjoyed it more than most, purely because of the characters, including Will Smith's Deadshot and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. So far, the DC franchise wasn't doing too well, fortunately, the release of Wonder Woman restored hope and is the only film in the franchise, so far, to receive a 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Because of the success of Wonder Woman, there was potentially a chance that Justice League might actually be good.

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of meta-humans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes - Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) - it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League isn't without its faults, there are a lot of them, including a weak villain and the CGI does need improving as it looks artificial, however, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was expecting to be disappointed but Justice League beat my expectations. Critics have been attacking the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) since the release of the first film, Man of Steel, which was released in 2013. In my opinion, I think that Man of Steel introduced us to Cavill's Superman really well. What I've noticed is that, with critics, if the films in the DCEU aren't as good as the ones in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), they're 'bad'. I'm going to be honest here and say that I'm not a huge fan of the Marvel superhero films. I studied a few of them for my Film Studies GCSEs a few years and ago and they've gotten a bit boring for me now. I remember watching Captain America: The First Avenger and being disappointed. I enjoyed The Avengers on my first watch but, after the release of Age Of Ultron, the sequel to The Avengers, I'm no longer interested. I do understand why everyone loves them. This is majorly controversial I know but I've always been more of a DC fan, especially with Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy. I think that the characters in Justice League are more likable and the chemistry between them is effectively shown. 

With only two of the characters having solo films, Superman and Wonder Woman, they're the only ones with a background. Sure, Affleck's Batman appeared in BvS but that wasn't an origins story. He just turned up and we just had to accept that this was Batman. A Batman solo film has been planned, titled The Batman, but it is unclear when it'll be released. It's because of this, that the writers of Justice League, have to quickly give each of the characters, including Aquaman (who is due to get his solo feature next year), The Flash and Cyborg background. The Flash, also known as Barry Allen, is a young adult whose father, Henry (Billy Crudup), is in prison. Cyborg, also known as Victor Stone, has been hiding away in his apartment after his father used an experiment on him in order to save his life. 

After being persuaded by Batman and Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg all team up to defeat the evil that is Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) who, thousands of years ago, attempted to conquer and remake Earth through the combined energies of the three Mother Boxes before they were foiled by an army of Olympian Gods. After repelling Steppenwolf's army, the Mother Boxes are separated and hidden in locations around the world. After the events of Batman V Superman, Steppenwolf comes back after sensing the humans' fear and becomes even more determined to find the three Mother Boxes and destroy Earth. Like I said earlier, the villain is one of Justice League's weakest aspects, however, I don't think that it ruins the film. Because of his strength, the five members of the Justice League are struggling to defeat him and his army. This leads to them reawakening Superman using one of the Mother Boxes. It's not really a spoiler to say that he comes back to life as it really wouldn't be a Justice League film without him. Unfortunately, the plan doesn't work out as expected with Superman having lost his mind and fights against the other superheros. This leads to his true love, Lois Lane (Amy Adams), reuniting with him and bringing him back to reality. After returning to his home and reuniting with mother, Martha (Diana Lane), Superman becomes his old self, joins the Justice League and helps them defeat Steppenwolf and his army.

Like most superhero-based features, there's a lot of action throughout. A favourite includes a sequence near the beginning when Wonder Woman stops a bomb from going off in a bank. Justice League shows off her fighting skills and strength really well. Gadot further proves why she's the perfect choice to portray Wonder Woman. 

I was expecting to be disappointed by Affleck's performance as Batman, but he wasn't as bad as I thought he was going to be. Both Momoa and Fisher are great as Aquaman and Cyborg, however, Miller stands out as The Flash. He brings comic relief to the role why also proving why he's one of the most diverse actors working today. Since his breakthrough performance in We Need To Talk About Kevin, he has given memorable roles in films such as The Perks Of Being a Wallflower and last year's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Solid supporting roles come from Jeremy Irons as Wayne's trusty butler, Alfred, and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon.

I think that those who have enjoyed the previous installments in the DCEU franchise won't be disappointed with Justice League. Those who didn't enjoy Batman v Superman should give this a miss as it has the same tone and style, due to it being directed by Zack Snyder, who is known for his darker tones in his films. Justice League is far from perfect but it's definitely a highly entertaining feature that is full of action and interesting characters, all of whom I can't wait to see more of in future installments.

7/10

WONDER WOMAN REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

It's hard to believe that it's taken this long to create a feature film adaptation of Wonder Woman who is, arguably, the most famous female superhero from a comic book. The titular superhero made her first appearance in 'All Star Supercomics #8' in 1941 and first cover-dated on Sensation Comics #1, January 1942. The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986. Because of her popularity, a TV series was adapted from the comic books with Lynda Carter portraying Wonder Woman. It was successful and ran from 1975 until 1979. Unfortunately, it wasn't until 2016 when Wonder Woman resurfaced in the critically-panned Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. As portrayed by Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman had a cameo role and we watched as she used her fighting skills and strength. It was probably the only good thing about the film as it hyped audiences up for her origins film which has finally been released and is certainly worth the wait.
An Amazon princess, Diana (Gadot), finds her idyllic life on an island occupied only by female warriors interrupted when a pilot, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), crash-lands nearby. After rescuing him, she learns that World War I is engulfing the planet, and vows to use her superpowers to restore peace. 
It's hard to believe this is only the second film Patty Jenkins has directed since her debut, Monster, was released in 2003. It was that film that gained her recognition and won Charlize Theron her first Academy Award for her unfiltered performance as the convicted serial killer, Aileen Wuornos. However, despite Monster's success, Jenkins has directed episodes of various TV series including Entourage and The Killing. Finally, 14 years later, Jenkins returns with her second film and it certainly disappoint. There must have been a lot of pressure to create, not only an cinematic adaptation of Wonder Woman, but one that will please fans of the superhero. I doubt they'll be disappointed as Jenkins successfully captures Wonder Woman's origins and her determination and strength. It's full of action and it also doesn't shy away from showing the true horrors of the First World War which is when this film takes place. The sight of the war has an impact on Diana and this is what leads to her determination to find and kill Ares, the God of War. What's refreshing about Diana, as a character, is that, despite many people, including her mother who is the Queen of the Amazons (Connie Nielsen), telling her she can't do something, she goes and does it anyway. Diana isn't afraid to do what's right for not only her people but for the whole world. In a world filled with misogynists, Wonder Woman is the film we need right now. Because of its leading character, this film proves that women can be just as strong and as brave as men. The film doesn't depict women are better than men, it states that both women and men are equals and that's how it should be.
Simply put, Gadot is perfect as Wonder Woman. I haven't seen Carter's performance in the 1975 TV series so I'm not going to compare the two. Gadot brings Wonder Woman to life and the film is at its best when she's using her fighting skills to defeat enemies. Special effects were used to show how much of a skilled fighter Diana is and why she's one of the most definitive superheroes. I saw Wonder Woman in 3D and they were put to good use, instead of being a gimmick to make more money. If you can, I recommend seeing the 3D version as it has a better impact on the viewer and brings the film to life. 
In the beginning of the film, we see Diana's home and it looks beautiful. The skies are blue and the women who live there live in peace, however, they are trained to fight in case intruders attack. Once Diana leaves, we see the contrast of her home to London which is a dark, grey and miserable place because of the war. The First World War serves as a backdrop for Diana and, after Steve explains the reality of the war, it has an effect on her and she develops into the famous superhero she is known as today. 
As far as superhero-based films go, Wonder Woman is one of the best we've had this year, with Logan and the Guardians Of The Galaxy sequel falling not far behind. 
Because of the disappointments of both Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad, I understand why a lot of people were skeptical about Wonder Woman's first film. However, I highly doubt that people will be disappointed. Diana is given enough background and, because of Gadot's strong performance, it's not hard to root for her.
Pine gives a solid supporting role as Steve and what I liked about his character is that, apart from a kiss with Diana halfway through the film, the relationship the two share is mainly platonic. Jenkins knows that a romantic relationship isn't necessary and it's refreshing to see a woman and man act as friends rather than forcing in a relationship that doesn't work. That's not to say Gadot and Pine don't share a lot of chemistry as they certainly do. Steve is a good character in his own right and is always willing to do the right thing. His actions make him a likeable character and both him and Gadot work well together.
At the time of writing this, a sequel has been announced, however, Wonder Woman's next appearance will be in the much-anticipated Justice League film which is due to be released in November this year. Hopefully the quality of the film will be more like Wonder Woman and won't be a disappointment like Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad.
As one of the most anticipated films, Wonder Woman exceeded my expectations and succeeds because of Gal Gadot's strong leading performance as the titular superhero and Patty Jenkins' confident directing.
8/10

SUICIDE SQUAD REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Trailers can be very deceiving as they're used to make a film look good by showing the highlights and getting its audience hyped. However, this leads to people having high expectations and being disappointed when they watch the film. This might be the case with Suicide Squad.

In my opinion, Suicide Squad isn't a bad film. I think it's worth watching for the performances and the action/fight sequences. Yes, the plot is a little muddled but the main characters made this a compelling watch because of their unique and over-the-top personalities. 

A secret government agency, led by the ruthless, high-ranking official Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), recruits some of the most dangerous, incarcerated villains on the planet to execute dangerous black ops missions and save the world from a potentially apocalyptic threat from a mysterious, supernatural entity. If anything goes wrong on this mission, the government will not be liable but rather can place the blame on the villains, who are inherently evil people. A small bomb is implanted in each member of the squad's neck with the capability of detonating any time one of the members tries to rebel or escape. It will be up to this assembled team of villains to prevail over the seemingly impossible events that will unfold before them, in what many deem to be a "suicide mission".

This film links to the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. I think one of the reasons I found this a little confusing is because I didn't watch that film due to all of the negative reviews it got. I do regret this now as I think, by watching BvS, I would have probably understood the film better. This film, like BvS, received a lot of bad reviews which made me hesitant to watch it. Should I bother? But I saw the trailer several times at the cinema and I thought it looked really good. While Suicide Squad isn't as good as the trailer made it out to be, it's still worth a watch, especially if you enjoyed BvS and are a fan of the comic books.

If there's something to praise about this film, it's the performances. There's not a bad act to be found. Will Smith has portrayed a lot of likable characters in the past. He is great as Deadshot, who has two sides to him: the bad-ass assassin and the father. We see how much he cares about his daughter who is his motivation to get out of prison. Like most of Smith's past characters, he has a lot of witty one liners to make him a more likable protagonist.
Margot Robbie brings Harley Quinn to life, I don't think anyone can criticise her performance. Like Deadshot, Harley says most of the one liners and brings comic relief to this action-fuelled film. She has come a long way since her role as Leonardo DiCaprio's love interest in the Oscar-nominated film 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'. She has since then worked alongside Smith in the comedy/thriller 'Focus' and as Jane in the adventurous 'The Legend Of Tarzan'. 
Jared Leto doesn't just play the Joker, he becomes the Joker. He is only in a handful of scenes but hopefully we'll see more of him in an potential sequel. The Joker and Harley are in a relationship and it's not hard to see their chemistry. Harley is just as crazy as the Joker which is why they work so well together. 

Each character is given a background, which is important in a film like this as we understand them more. We learn about each character in the beginning of the film and we learn that Batman is the reason they're in prison. We also get a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance from the Flash who caught Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), another member of the squad.

Making an adaptation of one of comic book's most iconic group of characters was always going to be a difficult challenge but director David Ayer gives it a worthy shot. It may not be as great as everyone was hoping but that doesn't make it a terrible film. Hopefully, there'll be some improvements in a sequel, if there is one.

7/10