James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad looks to be better than the original from David Ayer.
Not that that’s a difficult accomplishment. After finding it mildly entertaining on my first viewing, it gets worse and worse with each subsequent view. We’ll just say that it doesn’t age well.
But I don’t think the reboot will be better simply by comparison. Based on the trailer, it actually looks legitimately good. Among the myriad of problems with the original, the biggest was tone. It was dark and gloomy when the property should be light and funny. That’s right up Gunn’s alley, which is why he was the perfect choice to revive the team. The trailer certainly gives off the right vibe. In addition, it offers a more accurate portrayal of the characters from the comics.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, one holdover from the first film, has been transformed from straight villain to antihero. This is in line with her transformation in the relaunch of DC’s New 52, when she ditched the Joker and became a vigilante.
The first film lacked heart and was devoid of any character depth whatsoever. That can be a problem with larger ensemble films, but it’s an area Gunn excels at. King Shark is one of DC’s most brutal villains, and it looks like that may be his portrayal in this film, judging by the scene where he appears to eat a man head first. Weasel also stands out in the trailer. A visually disgusting villain with little moral credibility, he was killed by Rick Flag on a mission in the comics because he wouldn’t stop killing people.
Yet there’s no doubt that Gunn will find a way to humanize these creatures, as well as the others joining the team. After all, he succeeded in extracting humanity out of a cranky raccoon and walking tree.
The Suicide Squad debuts on August 6th, 2021.
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Brian has a lifelong obsession with comics and superheroes. Combining that with his passion for writing, he is thrilled to work alongside the great team at GVN in delivering quality content to proud geeks everywhere.
