So we've all seen the trailers. I'm pretty ambivalent on it. Maybe if it wasn't for the fact that Suicide Squad was such a barely average movie that tried to cram in fifty storylines I'd be more interested in this, but it does seem a lot like that film with a multitude of characters, several who aren't really even in the core of the Birds of Prey lineup (and missing other ones) as well as adding Harley Quinn as the main star (she was popular and still well received it seems even in the Suicide Squad film). But honestly, just like with that Will Smith action movie that came out a while ago, the only reason I might wanna see this movie is to see Mary Elizabeth Winstead in an action role.
Not that it was enough to convince me to see the other movie in theaters because of her, but still...
I mean looking at the cast of characters...
If you laid that picture in front of me and said.... these are comic book characters... but didn't tell me the movie... I would have no idea who ANY of these ladies should be. Well except maybe Harley Quinn.
When I saw the trailer... I actually had to go in slow motion when they laid out all of the names because I had no idea which character was supposed to be which. The only one who I think was well cast (and will do a fine job in the role besides Margot Robbie) is Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress... at least that character design seems to be in the same ballpark.
And just FYI... from left to right... it's Renee Montoya, Huntress, Harley Quinn, Cassandra Cain and Black Canary.
And for reference... the most famous Birds of Prey comic book cover probably.
It's weird seeing Renee Montoya going to brawl wearing a tied off button up shirt showing off her (very nice I'm sure) midriff. I hope there's an explanation for why she brought brass knuckles to an anything fight as we main weapon. But now I'm just nitpicking, I actually have nothing against Montoya's actress, Rosie Perez. Same with the others... even though I have no idea who the two actresses on the left are actually.
Like... what is even going on with Cassandra Cain. Maybe it'll be explained in the story but AFAIK most comic incarnations of Cassandra Cain are of a pretty slender Asian teenager. Also one who, due to her very special upbringing as a living weapon, had several personality problems and quirks... like being unable to speak, using violence and martial arts as her main way of communication and showing a general martial stoicism and detachment/lack of emotional development that was contrasted sharply with actual bursts of emotion during particularly stressful times. She was also an extremely driven and narrowly focused individual. Kind of like the complete opposite of.. Harley Quinn. Plus I don't even know what she is wearing.
But whatever.
Then there's Black Canary.
Yeah I don't even know where to begin. The nose ring. The baseball bat. Her entire costume. It's all like overbearingly urban and gaudy. Black Canary is someone who... sure... you can cast a person of whatever racial background I suppose. But they decided to just throw out everything else about the character as well at least in the design.
Also no sight of Oracle/Batgirl/Barbara Gordon who was... kind of a third of the team. Not sure if Cheshire or Catwoman or Lady Shiva will show up.
So in character design I give this a two out of five from the picture... or is it one out of three since only two of the comics Birds of Prey are actually in this film?
I do like that Harley Quinn actually drops in a bit of her psychiatric background in the trailer though.
Probably won't give it a watch unless the word of mouth/reviews is exceptionally good or high. I feel like they decided to look at Suicide Squad, see that one of the few things that worked was Harley Quinn's character and just go crazy with that idea.
Not that it was enough to convince me to see the other movie in theaters because of her, but still...
I mean looking at the cast of characters...
If you laid that picture in front of me and said.... these are comic book characters... but didn't tell me the movie... I would have no idea who ANY of these ladies should be. Well except maybe Harley Quinn.
When I saw the trailer... I actually had to go in slow motion when they laid out all of the names because I had no idea which character was supposed to be which. The only one who I think was well cast (and will do a fine job in the role besides Margot Robbie) is Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress... at least that character design seems to be in the same ballpark.
And just FYI... from left to right... it's Renee Montoya, Huntress, Harley Quinn, Cassandra Cain and Black Canary.
And for reference... the most famous Birds of Prey comic book cover probably.
It's weird seeing Renee Montoya going to brawl wearing a tied off button up shirt showing off her (very nice I'm sure) midriff. I hope there's an explanation for why she brought brass knuckles to an anything fight as we main weapon. But now I'm just nitpicking, I actually have nothing against Montoya's actress, Rosie Perez. Same with the others... even though I have no idea who the two actresses on the left are actually.
Like... what is even going on with Cassandra Cain. Maybe it'll be explained in the story but AFAIK most comic incarnations of Cassandra Cain are of a pretty slender Asian teenager. Also one who, due to her very special upbringing as a living weapon, had several personality problems and quirks... like being unable to speak, using violence and martial arts as her main way of communication and showing a general martial stoicism and detachment/lack of emotional development that was contrasted sharply with actual bursts of emotion during particularly stressful times. She was also an extremely driven and narrowly focused individual. Kind of like the complete opposite of.. Harley Quinn. Plus I don't even know what she is wearing.
But whatever.
Then there's Black Canary.
Yeah I don't even know where to begin. The nose ring. The baseball bat. Her entire costume. It's all like overbearingly urban and gaudy. Black Canary is someone who... sure... you can cast a person of whatever racial background I suppose. But they decided to just throw out everything else about the character as well at least in the design.
Also no sight of Oracle/Batgirl/Barbara Gordon who was... kind of a third of the team. Not sure if Cheshire or Catwoman or Lady Shiva will show up.
So in character design I give this a two out of five from the picture... or is it one out of three since only two of the comics Birds of Prey are actually in this film?
I do like that Harley Quinn actually drops in a bit of her psychiatric background in the trailer though.
Probably won't give it a watch unless the word of mouth/reviews is exceptionally good or high. I feel like they decided to look at Suicide Squad, see that one of the few things that worked was Harley Quinn's character and just go crazy with that idea.