So, Suicide Squad is out tomorrow and, well, it's fair to say that there seems to be a theme with the DCEU films early critical receptions (i.e. they aren't what Warner Bros. want). Like Batman vs. Superman, early reviews are criticising the film for having a poor plot and not knowing what to do with all of the characters they've assembled.
However, this seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the production of the movie was fraught with problems, an overly tight production period, the script having to be finished within 6 weeks and conflict over the tone of the film in the edit between the director and the studio which led to two different versions of the film being pre-screened, neither version apparently being much like what the marketing campaign would have you believe. Added on to that is a rotating cast of editors trying to balance between the studio and the directors demands, a director unused to making large effects driven blockbusters and the huge pressure the studio has been under after BvS's underperformance (in terms of studio expectations that is), you get the feeling that this film a) wasn't all that fun to make if you were in a high up position in the production and b) could really put a dent into the DCEU if it doesn't live up to the studios expectations. Two high profile "flops" (I say flops, because Warner Bros. was/is expecting $1 billion from both of these films and BvS didn't achieve that) in a row will be hugely embarrassing for WB and DC, especially considering how consistently Marvel is hitting their targets. Obviously Justice League will make shed loads of money, so that may remedy the situation a bit, but things may look bleak otherwise for the DCEU. But we'll just have to wait and see on that front.
On a related note, if anyone would like to do a review of Suicide Squad upon its release for the blog (like Worf did for BvS back in April) then feel free to do so and email it to me at jr19759@hotmail.co.uk. I want to see if we can get movie reviews going for as many of the new releases in the DCEU, MCU, Star Wars and Star Trek franchises as possible and I probably won't be able to go and see as many of those films on release as I'd like, so if anybody wants to help out on that front, it would be very much appreciated.
I could try to do one for Star Trek as soon as it comes out here. I can’t promise an unbiased one as I’m … AHEM.. “somewhat” of a fan. 😉
I will see it today.
If I can and think aout it, I’ll write you something. No promises, though.
Just from the previews on TV, it just looks all mish-mashed. Like it’s trying to be Tim Burton’s Batman with day-glo colors. Fans were probably expecting the poppy and giggly Harley Quinn from Batman: TAS. The Suicide Squad Harley Quinn comes across as an angry kleptomaniac ex-girlfriend with a baseball bat.
They brought in Will Smith as Deadshot to give it star attraction. When it looks like Will Smith is just being Will Smith. And I don’t care for Will Smith. Jared Leto’s Joker looks like he’s supposed to be a 21st Century Cesar Romero. Not seeing that past the tattoos. And why did they give the Joker tatts?
The critics could just be hating. The fans might squee. However, unless 1,000 people come running out of the premiere screaming: “BEST FREAKING MOVIE EVER!” in unison, I’ll wait for it on DVD or when it comes out on Netflix. I don’t know, it’s not grabbing me.
It seems that DC’s problem is they are competing with Marvel when they should be doing their own thing. Since they are trying to raise the bar over Marvel, they are not making movies that are up to their own standard of The Dark Knight Trilogy.
@Atomic Punk- I agree, DC are trying too hard to compete with Marvel. However, I think there are other problems as well. I think WB are getting too involved in the films, rather than letting DC do the thing, like Disney are with Marvel. I also don’t think Warner Bros. have much faith in any of the characters they’re trying to sell, other than Batman. Superman is a prime example of this, but that’s a topic for another day.
Corporate faith and corporate policy, corporate thinking in general is Kryptonite for truth and justice, but not the American way. Anyone who’s noticed this knows how little you can trust in corporate spins known as marketing and practices relating to who’s employed and how well paid they are.
Put all that together, more movies make fans mad than break new ground.
@JR: WB definitely does not allow DC to have creative freedom with their own product when it comes to the big screen. I mean, what doe$ DC know, right, fellow member$ of the $tudio production board?
@Worf- I’d never have guess you were a Star Trek fan…. I mean, nothing about you screams Star Trek fan at all, it’s not like you’re named after a character from the show, because that’d just be silly.
@Atomic Punk- And you know what’s stupid about that situation, Disney have found the perfect way of just printing billions and billions of dollars. Let a comic book company make comic book films, without interfering. It’s surprising how easy that sounds isn’t it. But the Bros. knows best.