The Suicide Squad | Empathizing With The Villains (Video Essay)

If you liked this video watch my video on Anime Horse Girls 👀 https://youtu.be/qB61nj3ymxw Make sure to check out Interstellar Ranger Commence! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvKDV8GXdMw&list=PL9DcNxTVwGuy-EeELh7kQtaqI_POexm_a&t=0s

"this movie has a lot of heart" Shows Rick Flagg Oh oh, you sneaky bastard.

The best part of Starro isn't just that line. It's that we SAW how Starro was much smaller when found, abused by the American astronauts, and then tormented and experimented on for DECADES. Even the possessed bodies took the opportunity to say how awful Grieves is. Then the line finally comes in as a final nail in the feels-coffin: "I was happy, floating, staring at the stars..."

I love how Ratcatcher 2 keeps asking Bloodshot why he hates rats, she doesn’t want him to think of them as less :(

Fun fact: Idris Elba was initially hired to replace Will Smith as Floyd Lawton/Deadshot, but it was later decided that Elba would play a new character (Bloodsport) to allow Smith to return in the future.

To be fair, IMO Ratcatcher 2 is a hero. She’s genuinely a good person. She sees the best in her squad especially King Shark, Bloodsport and Polka Dot Man. Although I consider the final five all heroic for doing what they did.

I’m still pretty sad Boomer didn’t last longer in this movie. He was one of my fave parts of the first one and seeing how James Gunn improved Rick Flag’s character, and even Harley to some extent, Boomer could’ve received the same treatment instead of being an early fodder

"Peacemaker...What a joke"- Rick flag My favourite line and scene in the entire movie. The transition of peacemaker from a crazy comedy character to a full on mentally deranged psychopath during his fight with Rick was fantastic. The visual of blood all over his mouth was amazing. Not to mention the fight scene with Flag that was filmed using the helmet. This movie made me really excited for the peacemaker show. Hopefully Idris Elba makes an appearance

This was honestly one of the freshest and unique comic book movies i've ever watched. James Gunn really knows how to take D to E List characters and make them memorable in one film. The absolute balls to the wall insanity of the film left me smiling all the time. And of course, King Shark reads book. So smart he.

On the rewatch, you can see a lot of regret and hesitation in Peacemaker leading up to and following Flag's death. Shockingly subtle acting from Cena and for such an outlandish character

The man found a way to make Polkadot Man a deeper and more compelling character on the silver screen than several of the Big DC Mainstays. Someone named Polkadot Man. God damn that’s some good writing.

We need a movie with Milton vs Slipknot. The man who can drive anywhere vs the man who can climb anything!!

I would argue that it isn’t just flaws but flaws from abuse. They’re all victims of some sort of domestic abuse and some even are repeating the cycle. Starro is a victim of abuse who is perpetrating that abuse on innoncents, just like bloodsport is starting to do with his daughter bc that’s what his dad did to him. RC2 teaches him not only how to be a leader but how to be a better dad.

Ratcatcher's story is one of my favourites, if rats have a purpose then everyone has one.

My favorite character has to be king shark just because of how he says “i no friends” genuinely almost brought a tear to my eye. Another scene that made me emotional was the one with taika and ratcatcher on top of the tower. The best dceu movie for sure.

Another great example of why we care about these characters is when Polka Dot Man used his powers in the fight with Starro. Throughout the movie we learn how he and his siblings were abused and experimented on by his mother and how that affected him throughout his life. Then when he takes out one of Starro's legs you immediately see a spark in his eyes as he realizes that he can use his powers for good and overcome his mother's influence on himself. For one shining moment he felt like a superhero, only to be crushed a second later. That death was a rollercoaster for me!

I was invested into this team more than 90% of today’s superheroes

Peacemaker is so nuanced. They all are, but it stood out with him. John Cena is great here. That line about how keeping the peace is “even worth the life of a hero like yours, sir, so please don’t make me do this” was excellent. And even when he does kill Flag, he looks sad about it. He somewhat gently lowers his body. He does believe in people. He just believes in his ideals more. A truly unique and bizarre character who I am excited to see more of.

The thing that is not talked about enough is the cinematography, man the color grading and the camerawork is something I have never seen in a blockbuster since mad max fury road, as someone who love DC but just doesn't like comic book movies, this one is my favorite, over the top, goofy, bloody and surprisingly emotional.

That's the quality of Gunn's writing. He makes you care about these characters. In the 2016 Suicide Squad, you can tell who was going to die and who was going to live and it didn't add anything to the movie. You have the bar scene but it doesn't add much to the characters other than some background. This one, however, you love these characters! With The Suicide Squad and Doom Patrol, the misfits and outcasts are cooler than the Justice League and Titans.