A lot of people are going to connect with these characters!

Rating: 8/10 (4 August 2016)

Suicide Squad is a story about redemption. The anti-hero formula is becoming a popular trend lately in literature and cinema, and even though it didn't work for Superman, it really works for these guys because they didn't start out good. The reason why you root for the Suicide Squad is because they feel guilt; and they really seem to want to atone for their sins.
Will Smith absolutely stole this movie as Deadshot both for his dramatic scenes and action ones. I was surprisingly brought to tears on several occasions because of his performance and story arc. Even is action scenes were the best. One of the disappointments I had while watching this film was in the action department because there weren't any jaw dropping scenes like you got in Civil War or even BVS for that matter. However, Deadshot kicked ass!
My next favorite thing;--Margot Robbie. Oh baby, she was a maniac in this movie, and I was surprised at the passion she brought to this role. There were many instances however, when she was used for comic relief and it I found that it really offset the otherwise serious tone of this film. Her best scenes were when she got serious and rallied the crew. Loved her, absolutely looked, sounded and acted like the Harley Quinn from the cartoons. Brooklyn accent was SPOT ON!
The 3rd standout was Jay Hernandez as El Diablo. I found myself rooting for this guy, despite his degree of villainy and his dark past. There's a lesson to be learned from him in that we can all grow from past mistakes. Each of the members of Task Force X AKA Suicide Squad will leave you rooting them for one reason or another, as we are given glimpses of their dark pasts in many flashback scenes throughout the film. But all in all, great chemistry between the characters, especially between Deadshot and Rick Flag.
Enchantress, the villain in this film, without giving away too much, is kind of a representation of each character's own inner torment, one they have to overcome in order to redeem themselves and grow as people. I know a lot of people have been complaining about the main villain in this movie, and many would've preferred the main villain to be Joker, but I didn't mind. I thought the villain and villains added a spiritual aspect to the plot. In a sense, the main villain represented each member of the Suicide Squad's dark past.
Now, the cameos. DC fans...be ready! I know you're expecting Batman, and his scenes were pretty bad-ass. But be ready for more Justice League members to kick some ass. That's all I'll say! And if anyone thinks Jared Leto is rehashing Heath Ledger, be ready to be proved wrong. Leto really made this Joker his own. He was hip, sexual, burnt out, and just sick! And I do admit with a shame face, that I was rooting for him in the end.
If I had to nitpick though, it would be in the editing department. This film is another example of a director's art being mutilated by the studio for the sake of greed. There were some really choppy editing issues in the middle of the film, and I heard that a lot of film was cut. I am starting to think that studios force directors to cut their films so that a director's cut may be released, increasing the amount of rentals, Blu-ray and digital purchases. A lot of people, including myself, felt that the Joker felt out of place in this film. He had nothing to do with the plot at all, but yet, he was so brilliantly played by Jared Leto, that many longed for more of his screen time nonetheless.
I hope a director's cut will be released. Perhaps the Joker might matter a bit more because of it. All props to David Ayer though, for creating an eerie atmosphere in this film, that was clearly inspired by the Arkham Video games. The entire 2nd half of the film took place during the course of one night, in parts of the city were evacuated so that the Suicide Squad could deal with the threat in secret. It really felt like I was watching a live-action Arkham City video game. DC fans will eat this movie up. And judging by the cheers at my theater, non-comic fans will too. 9/10. Not a classic piece of film making by far, but a gem of a comic book film!