‘Black Adam’ has already been released, the last great attempt by DC to try to disrupt the idea of a shared universe with different types of superheroes and tones. Dwayne Johnson’s blockbuster tries, to a certain extent, to disrupt the idea by putting in front of the action a villain with a complex history in his history in the comics, trying to capture this complexity in his portrait.
Whether he is more or less successful in the task is another story, although it should be noted that he is not the first to have a supervillain as the main protagonist. Here we have three examples that tried to take their characters to the frontiers of antiheroism and that can be seen on different streaming platforms.
‘Glass (Crystal)’ (‘Glass’, 2019)
Address: M. Night Shyamalan. Distribution: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy.
The most suggestive of all, mainly because it plays with ambiguity almost until the last moment, is the great conclusion of M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero trilogy. Samuel L. Jackson’s character maintains the intrigue by controlling the strings in a misunderstood gem from one of the best minds in fantasy cinema.
Because many expected the great crossover for a saga that always kept its feet on the ground and dissected the superhero myths with measure and passion. Shyamalan, instead of his Endgame, delivered an origin story that brimming with love for story codeswhich shows the power of fiction and warns of dangerous forces trying to erase fantasy from the world.
Watch on Disney+ | Criticism in Espinof
‘The Suicide Squad’ (‘The Suicide Squad’, 2021)
Address: James Gunn. Distribution: Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Daniela Melchior, John Cena.
There is passion in this appreciative digression from James Gunn. In his case, passion for the marginalized, for the marginal characters in the canons of comics and for those denied a second chance. Not only did he seek (and find) a way to repair the Suicide Squad’s reputation after David Ayer’s failed film, he an absolutely personal marvelous rampage.
His eventful (temporary) departure from Marvel due to a shitty controversy was used by DC to give him a carte blanche that has resulted in the best movie in his superhero universe. With the spectacular ambition of his recent blockbusters and the same grotesque savagery of his earlier ones, Gunn creates a total movie, as funny as it is unexpectedly biting against the foreign policy of US government agencies.
Watch on HBO Max | Criticism in Espinof
‘Venom: There will be slaughter’ (‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’, 2021)
Address: Andy Serkis. Distribution: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris, Stephen Graham.
Probably some will miss even more savagery in the adaptation without plot ties (beyond a post-credits scene not especially lucid) of one of Spider-Man’s most recognizable villains. However, and given that the first film was somewhat confusing and chaotic in its intentions, I was one of the first surprised with how well ‘Venom: There will be slaughter’ worked for me.
The key is to have clearer ideas of what works in this interpretation of the character, for which Tom Hardy is the main person in front of and practically also behind the cameras.
With Andy Serkis as director they make an irreverent film, without fear of launching into silly, physical and even romantic comedy (all the plots have an important romantic comedy factor). He throws himself into it all, stepping on the accelerator and manages not only not to have an accident, but to be devilishly comical fun.
See in Movistar+ | Criticism in Espinof
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