Monday, April 11, 2016

"Suicide Squad" Trailer 3 Review


Just a few months before its release, we get another trailer for Suicide Squad. I really liked the first trailer, which humbly introduced us to the premise of the film as well as the cast of characters. The second trailer managed to top it, showing us a bit more of the crazier side. The second trailer also featured "Bohemian Rhapsody," a most chaotic song for what seems to be a chaotic movie. What does the third trailer offer?


The trailer unexpectedly opens by referring to Superman. A government official asks what would happen if Superman took the roof off of the White House and kidnapped the president. With the universe that has been set up, this is a valid question, and gives a little insight as to why the Suicide Squad was created. Though how any or all of these characters can take on Superman is beyond me. We then get the Joker's laugh with the studio logos twisting with each "ha!". This is very clever as it hints at the "twisted" nature of the film.


We then see some members of the team being injected with something. I believe this is either something to knock them out or the explosives that will kill them if they choose to disobey orders. All of the villains are brought together and given new clothes and weapons. Rick Flag then proceeds to tell all of them of his rules. Essentially, if they do something they are not supposed to, they die. This is pretty good set up for audiences who are not familiar with this comic book property. This crazy crew then boards a helicopter to take them to their mission, which is then shot down. But now is where the trailer really begins to shine.


The rest of the trailer can be equated to a roller coaster ride; it is thrilling, it is exciting, and it absolutely sells this film as a fun experience. First of all, I did not think anything could top "Bohemian Rhapsody" as a more fitting song for the picture. I was proven wrong the second "Ballroom Blitz" kicked in. Coupling that song with some quick action scenes was a very good move as it imbues the darker tone with plenty of excitement. My favorite moment occurs right here. The lyrics from the song drop, the guitar and clapping rise in volume, and the Joker's laugh is echoed. Harley Quinn then says "uh-oh," followed by Deadshot saying "not good," and then we see a shot of the Joker looking very menacing. Something about the mixing of the Jared Leto's laugh and the song hit all the right chords for me. I absolutely love this moment.


Moving on, we get my least favorite part of the trailer; when Deadshot says, "Don't forget, we're the bad guys." I hate how these trailers have to constantly remind us that these are the bad guys. We had a similar line come from Harley Quinn in the last trailer. The thing that bugs me is that these lines are going to be in the movie as well. Also, villains do not always see themselves as the bad guy; it is all a matter of perspective. Anyway, we get a few more action shots and some dialogue from the Joker. I cannot wait to see what Jared Leto does with this character. Every on-screen incarnation of the Joker so far has been played very differently, and Leto's looks like it will be the most different. From what I can tell, we will get a memorable performance from him.


Amongst the next few shots, we see something very interesting; more of Batman. I presume this has to do with the massive praise Ben Affleck's portrayal of the caped crusader has received from Batman v Superman. Harley falls off a ledge and it appears that Batman is attempting to rescue her. I feel the context of the situation will play a big role in how this turns out. We see Deadshot in his iconic costume and it looks magnificent, but then we see something pretty strange. It looks like Katana just attacked Killer Croc, quite fatally too. I am aware that Killer Croc can regenerate, but again, this comes down to context, which we simply do not have.


This is also a good time to bring up how much I appreciate the way the Suicide Squad trailers have been edited. The either cut the scenes with each beat of the song being played, or match the beats of the song with the blows being delivered by the characters. It might sound menial, but it goes a long way and makes these trailers infinitely more re-watchable. Also, this time around, they matched the lyrics to the action. The line "raises his hands to the sky" is matched with Batman gliding with his hands forward and the line "and the girl in the corner" is matched with Enchantress backing into a corner.


I am not a huge fan of Jai Courtney as an actor, and even though we do not see too much of him in the trailers, I have a feeling that this will be the role that puts him on a good career path. He has not had a good track record so far, but I have a great feeling about him as Captain Boomerang. We are then treated to the Joker blowing up......a guy with an eyeball for a head? It could be a helmet, but I am still confused regarding his appearance.


Something I have been looking forward to in this film is seeing the interactions between the members of the squad. We have seen them exchange playful banter, but it is unrealistic that these villains would just get along so quickly. That is why I appreciate the scene where Deadshot provokes El Diablo. I know he kind of makes up with him shortly after, but it shows that the potential is there. We also got a bit of this earlier when Katana pushed Captain Boomerang against a wall, but she is technically not part of the squad so that does not really count.


After catching a quick glimpse of the Batmobile, we are given our final scene, which is played for laughs. The squad takes a breather inside a bar where Harley is serving the drinks. They each ask for something different, and El Diablo appropriately chooses water. While that may be the takeaway joke of the moment, I would also like to point out that Harley fixed her drink with two umbrellas. It is completely in-character and is a small touch that goes a long way.


Those are my thoughts and insights on the newest Suicide Squad trailer. I enjoyed the previous two, but this one has become my new favorite. I am still floored by how well-used "Ballroom Blitz" was and how the trailer was edited to fuse wonderfully with the song. There are plenty of action scenes, jokes, and character moments that make this trailer a success. This trailer expanded each of the characters just a bit more and I feel the film does not need another trailer. This was my least anticipated comic book film of the year and it still is. But that does not mean I am not looking forward to it. I cannot wait for August, but until then, there are a couple of other comic book films that deserve attention.


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