"Suicide Squad" has been one of the most divisive movies of the summer. Critics cannot stand it, audiences either love or hate it, and it's breaking box office records. And personally, I have some pretty strong opinions, as well.
This film has been on everyone's radar for months. As one of the most hyped and best-marketed movies of the year, it's really no surprise that this film had a great turnout. And with all those filled seats comes quite a lot of chatter. Audience members and critics have been abuzz with talk about the film, it's plot, the actors and the overall feel of the movie itself.
And it's more than just the after-effects that have left an impression with viewers. One of the biggest components of this film that really drew out DC fans, was the newest interpretation of The Joker and his butt-kicking partner in crime, Harley Quinn. Quinn was an overwhelming success with audiences, who loved her for her crazy. But some, including Robbie herself, took issue with her appearance, namely her costume. During shooting for the film, Robbie explains that she felt the costume was rather revealing and made her feel self-conscious, although she went on to say that while she felt that way, she knew it was important to represent the character accurately.
But this brings up another debate within the context of the film: hyper-sexualizing female superheroes or villains is nothing new, from skintight bodysuits, to heels, short shorts and skirts. And naturally this raises eyebrows and questions about whether it's really OK to represent the female characters in our films this way. But on the other hand, the character of Quinn that we saw in the film was an out-there, fun-loving, wacky woman who had chosen this ensemble for herself. But the question still remains: is it better to stay true to character, or to resist the trend in media to hyper-sexualize female characters?
And with Harley, comes her Puddin.' In "Suicide Squad," we got to see a deluxe preview of the new interpretation of the Joker that will be starring in upcoming "Batman" solo movie. Mr. J was played this time around by actor Jared Leto, who gave us a very different performance of the character than we had seen in past with Health Ledger. Many have been arguing over which one is better, but personally, I think the two Joker interpretations are simply too different. Ledger's Joker is scary, with the kind of villainous intent that makes an audience understand that he is a madman, but a brilliant one. Leto's, on the other hand, is completely different. This Joker is the trickster, one whose wacky and unpredictable nature, along with the scope of his power, allow him to rule over Gotham like a mob boss. Fans and critics may have their favorites, but both performances were unique and well delivered nonetheless.
Personally, I can say I wasn't a huge fan of "Suicide Squad," but I came in with quite high hopes. But, as we've seen from viewers, there are so many ways to interpret this film. Love it or hate it, DC and Warner Bros. have done something different here. They've changed the storyline, turned the tables, and let the villains save the day for once.