The Suicide Squad (2021)

 

If you put James Gunn in the director's chair, be ready for anything. 

Amanda Waller brings Task Force X back in action with the live action sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad in The Suicide Squad. (Yeah, that's not confusing...)

This time, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and Rick Flagg are paired with an even more rag-tag group of super villains in order to restore democracy to a tiny island nation. A small junta that just happens to have it's hands on a super weapon capable of global destruction.

Once more, Margot Robbie is perfect as Harley Quinn. It's just a rotten shame that after 3 live action films now, they still can't find the right vehicle for her! 

The Suicide Squad was a total gore fest. Heads explode! Bodies get ripped to shreds. And limbs go flying- literally. Add to it an Elizabeth Warren level of liberal amount of F-bombs and a bunch of dick jokes, and the occasional trip to the toilet and you've get a glimpse what Guardians of the Galaxy might have been like if it wasn't a Disney venture. 

There's so many twists and red herrings that to go too much further into the plot would result in massive spoilers. So let's just focus on the tone of the film. It's R-rated. So, parents- don't take your kids to this expecting a family friendly film. 

And let's talk about DC Movies in general. When it comes to the comic books, DC is more lighthearted compared to Marvel. And I love that! I think DC having so many fictitious American cities like Gotham and Metropolis; instead of occurring in gritty Manhattan or L.A., gives DC Comics stories a tone of fantasy even when things are it's most darkest. When it comes to TV shows and cartoons, Warner Bros. captures that whimsy perfectly. But for some reason, when it comes to the big screen, Warner just insists in exploring the heart of darkness!

Could it be that since Warner Bros. doesn't cow-tow it's fan base like Disney does, that DC movies will keep pushing an envelope that nobody asked for? Think about Deadpool. It's probably the most dark toned Disney film in both sense of humor and seriousness. Yet for a character without any boundaries, the Merc with a Mouth was pretty much put in a box. It's a large box. But a container none-the-less!

With The Suicide Squad, maybe there was a box. But it was ripped to shreds. And then crapped on. A lot. Yes- there were some funny moments. Like when Task Force X interrogates mad-scientist, The Thinker, played by former Time Lord, Peter Capaldi. But for the most part, it doesn't feel like a DC Comics venture. This film is definitely a James Gunn venture and it reflects his time at Troma Films. 

Wait! That's it!!! This movie was like if  Lloyd Kaufman was able to secure the rights to a Task Force X movie and then made it like it was set in the Toxic Avenger universe! Maybe if they threw Toxie and Sgt. Kabukiman into the cells of Belle Reve along with King Shark and Polka Dot Man, I would have liked this film more. Instead, I'm left shaking my head. 

And putting all your chips behind John Cena's Peacemaker for the next HBOMax DC project?! Yuck! The character is completely unlikable. Which is weird, since I like John Cena. 

I also like DC Comics. No- I LOVE DC Comics! But when it comes to live-action super hero projects that I am most looking forward to in the next 12 months or so- most of my top-10 list is Marvel stuff. Warner Bros. went back to the drawing board with this movie. I wonder what projects were left on the blackboard, considered B-level stuff...

God Help Us All.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Countdown to New Who: Advent 2016: Day 9

    We're at Day 9 in my Advent and today, the BBC released a new trailer for the Doctor Who Christmas Special : The Return of Doctor Mysterio. Now remember, this is a trailer for England's BBC One premiere, so don't think I've been all excited for something that won't be seen in the States. It will be on BBC America on Christmas. So just sit back and relax and then enjoy a cute little cartoon with the 11th Doctor, Rory, and Amy (see below...)

    Enjoy...

Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Family Comic Friday)

This week's Family Comic Friday focuses on the classic British sci-fi series, Doctor Who. Now, you might be saying 'Wait a minute Madman, Doctor Who isn't for kids!" And you'd be wrong! When the show first aired in November 1963, not only was the show aimed at kids- it was an educational series to boot. One week, the Doctor would fight crazy aliens, the next he'd take his little blue box, the TARDIS, somewhere back in time and meet cavemen or Marco Polo. Eventually, the aliens and monsters episodes would prove to be more popular and the time travelling adventures would be phased out completely, unless the Doctor went back in time to meet someone like Shakespeare and battle some aliens posing as the three witches from Macbeth.

    Though Doctor Who is a little scary and a little violent, at it's very heart, this is a kids show. I started watching about 1981-82. This was when the first Peter Davison (The Fifth Doctor- My Doctor!) episodes as the Doctor were airing on PBS in America. I was 4 or 5 and I'd come home from Kindergarten and plop myself right in front on the tube and watch me some Doctor Who. I loved it!

   The series went away from American airwaves about 1986 and stopped being made altogether in 1988-89 in Britain. Years of waiting and rumors of the Doctor's return meant having to get your Who fixes by either watching old episodes on VHS or finding a novelization of his new adventures. We got a small glimmer of hope with a 1996 TV movie on FOX, no less. But it was another 9 years before the TARDIS would rematerialize on the airwaves. 

   From when Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor advised his future companion Rose and us to "Run!" in 2005, three other actors have assumed the role. David Tennant's Tenth Doctor is by some considered the best Doctor of all-time. I would have to agree (though I am very fond of the Fifth Doctor.) Tennant's successor, Matt Smith is my wife's favorite and really the incarnation that helped make the series become more mainstream and more universally kid friendly. Currently, we are at Doctor #12, played by elder statesman, Peter Capaldi. His Doctor is a little more obtuse, grouchy, and very original series Doctor Who, but the kids and established fans love him anyway!

    If you want to catch up on any of the new Doctors in comics, Titan Comics is where it's at. Concurrently, they run 3 different Doctor Who series containing all-new adventures of the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelveth Doctor. At this year's Free Comic Book Day, Titan offered a book that featured 3 short stories starring the Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi Doctors. Let's take a look at them individually:

   The first story starred the Capaldi Timelord as he and his companion Clara travel to a planet that's seen some odd storms brewing. When the Doctor discovers that the lightning in the storms is alive, he must rescue the creature before it overloads the power core of the planet's research station. The art was very good with great renderings of the Doctor and Clara. But, the story jumps around a little as if the script was deemed too long and edited for time. Only, those cuts removed vital information to making this a very coherent tale.

   Next up is Matt Smith's Doctor as he and his companions travel to London, 2015, where all of the residents are going ga-ga for Free Comic Book Day. The Doctor uncovers an alien plot in which the menace is using his comic to control the London populace. This was a very funny story. The only issue here was that the Doctor travels with 3 all-new companions and this short tale doesn't give very much time for the reader to adequately become familiar with them all.

    Lastly, we have the Tenth Doctor and his new companion Gabby. It's laundry day in the TARDIS and when the Doctor accidently leaves his handy sonic screwdriver in his coat pocket, it turns the dirt on his clothes into a rampaging gunk monster. The best story of the book- it had fun, adventure, and most of all hearts (as Timelords have 2 of them compared to humans who only have the one.)

    This Free Comic Book Day offering has me excited to start diving into these series; especially the Smith and Tennant books. One very awesome teaser at the end of the book was that Titan is to start publishing miniseries based on the 10 other versions of the Doctor with Eccleston's incarnation being first up.

    Another cool announcement (and the reason I choose this book for today's Family Comic Friday selection) is on August 15th (2 weeks from tomorrow), Titan will be hosting the second annual Doctor Who Comics Day at various comic book shops and libraries around the globe in celebration of the release of the first Titan Doctor Who Crossover event. Be sure to check the Doctor Who Comics Day page for more details. And then check with your local comics retailer or library to see if they are participating in this event. Hopefully, they are and you can pick up some free goodies, meet some fellow Whovians (fans of Doctor Who- DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU IT'S CALLED 'DWEEKS' AS THAT'S COMPLETELY FALSE!), and have to some fun!

   So, what are you waiting for- check out these fantastic comics today and become the newest companion to the Doctor!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating:  12th Doctor tale: 8 out of 10 stars.
               11th Doctor adventure: 9 out of 10 stars.
               10th Doctor story: 10 out of 10 stars.
    AVG Rating: 9 out 10 stars.

Madman with a BBC America (a review of the Season 8 premiere of Doctor Who)

with tonight's  premiere episode, I dressed the part (and yes, I kept the Batman theme going...)

So I've just finished the Season 8 premiere of Doctor Who and I must say, I was impressed. The show has seemed to shift back to it's original roots and I think that's the right move for this Doctor. Peter Capaldi is in some ways like yours truly. He's a life-long fan of Doctor Who whose been through the series ups, downs, and hiatuses and with it, he brings a lot of his fanboy memories of the show with his version of the Doctor.
   There's a lot of potential with Peter Capaldi. Sadly, there's also not a lot of him in this opening episode. But that's okay as regeneration episodes typically focus on the companions and their attempts to cope with a new Doctor. Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax try to help companion Clara see that this new man saying he's the Doctor is still the dashing young man she hopped aboard the TARDIS with. He's just different.
   Vastra, Jenny, and Strax steal the show as usual and I think this episode was the first leap to something big with them. The trio is rumored to be in at least 2 more episodes this season and there's been talk of a spin-off with these guys for a while. I think if fans approve like I have, then that fantasy is about to become a reality on BBC America very soon.
   I don't want to give away too much more as many have either not seen it or are waiting to go to the special showing in select theatres this Monday. But I will say that I think the 12th Doctor realizes that he looks a lot like a certain marble salesman from Mount Vesuvius and that I suspect it's going to play with the overall theme of season 8. Maybe there will be a return of Donna Noble??? Lastly, there's a mystery player in this episode and I have a theory about them. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I will explain it but until then.... SPOILERS...


Worth Consuming


Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Who- New Title Sequence- Thanks to Whovians Like You...

Next Saturday, we get another season of Doctor Who and with that, the Peter Capaldi era begins. Just a few weeks after Matt Smith's departure of the title role was announced, a fan of the show created what he though the Capaldi era opening sequence for the long running British TV show should look like.

  Well, it was announced via Twitter today, that that idea is going to be used for the new season of Who.

You're welcome.

 See, when this concept came out, I instantly fell in love with it. The intro was created by  Billy Hanshaw, a freelance graphic designer from Leeds. It took him about a month to finish this concept and according to Inquisitr- the video went viral thanks to fans on social media. I think it harkens back to the original series while being fresh and interesting.

   Naturally, I shared it and I praised it, challenging fans to get the idea a go and to voice their approval. Thanks to Whovians like my wife and I, I think we were able to make this video so big that it actually got the attention of the producers of Doctor Who over at the BBC. When showrunner Steven Moffat saw it he exclaimed "It was the only new title idea I’d seen since 1963. We got in touch with him, and said, okay, we’re going to do that one.”

  I'm sure the intro we see next week will look a little different when it airs on August 23. The pic used of Capaldi is at least 2 years old and doesn't have the Doctor's hairdo. The BBC is pretty good on keeping a tight drum on spoilers, so I can't show you the actual intro to the new season of Doctor Who.

  So until then, whet your appetite with the original concept by Hanshaw above