Morbius reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews Morbius. Dr. Michael Morbius, looking for a cure to his rare blood disease, accidentally turns himself into a superpowered vampire.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
If you like this video, why not subscribe to our podcast for more reviews, interviews and general wittering of the highest order:
BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/...
Apple: podcasts.apple...
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Twitter: @Wittertainment
www.bbc.co.uk/5...
Fridays at 2:30pm on BBC 5 live.

[@NihilTruth]

"I forget which universe this is from now, I really do." God, I feel this

[@Fed804]

Absolutely. These movies have really just become 2 hr/ feature length Trailers for other movies.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

It’s almost deliberately confusing. Same company making the Venom movies…. but Venom never heard of Spider-Man. Morbius…. Spider-Man’s everywhere.

[@jimbob8992]

It's from the fat suite, super Mario universe, I think.

[@samtrotter7177]

Even Sony don't know at this point: they're trying to ride on the wave of the MCU's popularity without having a clue what they're doing themselves, whilst (I imagine) trying desperately to get Andrew Garfield back behind the scenes to helm this mess of a "universe:" an absolute mess.

[@mrt445]

I don't think anyone cares anymore

[@lapislazuli5035]

"He[Leto] did a brilliant Super Mario in House Of Gucci." Mark is going out on a bang, I see.

[@connorblake7487]

"Jared Leto does his thing, which is being a charisma vacuum." -goddamn that's spicy as hell, haha. Brutal truth.

[@craigpatterson5010]

Which burns extra hot with the added spice of "he only has two modes of acting: overacting or nothing at all!" 😂

[@TheMadAfrican1]

He's one of the only critics I've seen that feels the same as I do about Leto. He's cast in so many huge movies, and I can never figure out why. I find him to be an insufferable person and an awful wannabe of an actor, that just sort of walks around being morose all the time.

[@thefoxcritic1]

Even if this is the last episode of this show these guys are doing, at least we got to hear Kermode rant about Morbius. That's all I wanted!

[@nancykerrigan]

And Jared Leh-toe

[@Elwaves2925]

It's only the last show at the BBC. They're moving to a podcast, so you'll still get to hear them but in a new way.

[@kemp10]

Wait is it really??

[@thefoxcritic1]

@@kemp10 yes they discussed it all throughout the show

[@kemp10]

@@thefoxcritic1 I usually only watch them through KZbin clips. Thank you friend.

[@Ben_Mdws]

“Course he did a brilliant Super Mario in House of Gucci” lol

[@mikeb3018]

😂😂

[@James_Lo]

1:37, it's probably not the best idea to rip off the Dark Knight trilogy sound track as your character has bats swirling around him.

[@faz-io]

i was like… is that the same cue

[@PauLtus_B]

I haven't heard any copy so blatant until now.

[@samtrotter7177]

Hans Zimmer should definitely sue for that

[@rickyslaws]

I couldn't believe how similar it was

[@nunatak123]

Wait…is Jared Leto being a “charisma vacuum” a deliberate part of his method acting? Vacuums suck air….vampires suck blood…OH MY GOD IT ALL ADDS UP!!!

[@RossAllaire]

You just put more thought into the performance than he did.

[@baldr2510]

Powerful rhymes

[@tonyabrookes9931]

Lol

[@peacorptv6502]

@@RossAllaire he puts a ridiculous amount of effort into his performances. That doesn't mean they'll be any good. On this particular film he insisted on being on crutches for a large chunk of the shoot and caused some scheduling issues every time he went to the bathroom

[@timpriest593]

you've cracked this thing wide open!

[@nova_kane]

One of the last reviews they do before moving their podcast over to Sony and they completely trash Sony's latest attempt at establishing a multi-billion dollar tentpole franchise. I love you guys.

[@cindytartt4048]

This shocked me -that they were stopping the show. But a podcast …is better than going Dark.

[@Richard_Jones]

Simon nailed it! As soon as I heard the first word out of Mark's mouth, I had 95% of the review right there.

[@yezen6889]

“Suicide league” these movies are breaking mark’s brain 💀

[@robertspencer2516]

Will really miss Mark and Simon . Have been with them all the way through even before Radio Five Live. Don’t think I’ve missed a show. Though somehow I didn’t know it was coming to an end. Such a shock.

[@josephl5128]

WHAT?! Say it ain’t so!

[@jimbob8992]

The location of the show is coming to an end.

[@Dylanpro648]

Omg whaaaaaaaat??

[@MrFawkesGuy]

They're just leaving BBC - they have a new podcast with Sony

[@isaac.farrell]

They are moving to a podcast format in May so it's just their last BBC episode

[@LectroBer]

The worst thing about being a film critic is having to consume trash like this film. Thanks Mark!

[@jwtrailers5317]

Did they just straight up lift the theme from Batman Begins in that clip??

[@JohnSpawn1]

Yeah, most likely temp music which resulted in pretty much identical music.

[@dannofbarri]

@@JohnSpawn1 I reckon Hans Zimmer has a strong case cause it was so just blatant.

[@mariod5467]

Even had the bats just like BB when Bruce faces his fear. It's so blatant they should be sued.

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

They even stole a bit of the score from Batman Begins for when the bats are flying around him

[@danielwoods3563]

The way Mark has got that quiff defying the bald patch at the back is spectacular and deserves a practical effects award.

[@RichardBatchelorComposer]

Had to double back on myself as he got into that chamber with the bats, I thought, no….. surely not, but yes. Literally a note for note, tempo the exact same, clone of the Batman score from Hans Zimmer. Wooooow that is an impressive level of laziness…….

[@stam7250]

Lmao the best thing of the movie probably is a copy

[@hevykevy316]

You beat me to it. Ridiculous.

[@redlightmax]

1:41 Batman Begins was from 2005 - we're at the stage where a movie from less than 20 years ago is being copied. Welcome to the 2020s.

[@KillahMate]

Also the actual shots are the same - same staging, same camera angles. It's a complete copy.

[@SeanScottColony]

Came here to say this. Glad you got here first. What a joke!

[@huzistiglitz5122]

Sad to hear that this is their last show. I'm gonna miss this two blokes.

[@MrFawkesGuy]

They're starting a new podcast with Sony

[@ChrisBarrett1]

New podcast coming from them in May

[@ChrisBarrett1]

@@MrFawkesGuy Technically it's for Somethin' Else, who already produced Kermode and Mayo's Film Review. Somethin' Else is now a subsidiary of Sony though, so you're kind of right.

[@ahdvd]

@@MrFawkesGuy And Marc just slated a Sony movie... wonder if it will still be happening...?

[@professorpyg505]

@@ahdvd Movie & podcast/radio are very different industries

[@macwholivesonmars4911]

Even on their last show, Jared Leto has to show up and ruin Mark's day

[@Luvie1980]

Better than Julian sands and Danny dyer . 😂

[@philcorrigan5641]

I was hoping Michael Bay was going to quickly cobble together a Transformers movie especially for the occasion (because he obviously usually takes so much care with them… 👀)

[@trevorbrown6654]

At least Mark wasn't deliberately banging his head on the microphone like he did when he reviewed that transformers movie

[@lapislazuli5035]

The post credits scene is the most incoherent piece of superhero cinema perhaps ever, which at least is something of an accomplishment in this otherwise instantly forgettable film.

[@BareBandSubscription]

It’s legitimately impressive how completely nonsensical those scenes are. There is not one thing that happens that makes any sense whatsoever. It’s amazing.

[@nixonagnewreviews7206]

The 2nd one seemed to cut off halfway through his sentence lmao. Wtf

[@nubianfx]

Wait what? This show is coming to an end? Im genuinely gutted...and blindsided. its been an utter joy gents..thank you so much. Youll be deeply missed.

[@vvvictoriav5958]

theyre starting a podcast instead. presumably sony has deeper pockets than the ailing auntie beeb

[@audiodead7302]

Jared Leto is one of those actors who is just wrong for most roles, but is occasionally cast in something that fits. He can't do leading roles (coz he just isn't interesting enough). But he can be convincing when playing a side character who isn't quite human (e.g. in BR 2049).

[@joebloggs6922]

Definitely. He has some really good roles, but generally he tries way too hard to be brooding and dramatic and it just comes across as overacting for no reason

[@Freemouse159]

Was great in 2049, meh in other things cough *joka*

[@arbiter5100]

If you watch Requiem For A Dream, you will see he is more than capable of excelling in a leading role.

[@monksally]

I thought he was the worst part of BR 2049. I remember reading somewhere that David Bowie was initially considered for that character, and I think that would have been perfect casting. That somehow makes seeing Jared Leto in the role even worse, on top of his managing to be one-note and overact at the same time.

[@jayr7965]

Considering most movies he's in he ruins the scenes by being a total cartoon character I thought maybe being in a comic book movie he might actually work. Sounds like that isn't the case sadly. I think the problem is he's an over-actor who takes himself far too seriously to ever be fun.

[@bhotaling1]

With a shot and soundtrack straight from Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS

[@jr97reviews50]

Disappointed when Paolo Gucci didn’t show up in the post-credit scene.

[@renatop1238]

"Suicide League Suicide Squad Justice League Suicide Squad League Justice, you know"

[@thedevilhimself1728]

FINALLY! THE REVIEW WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR hahahahaha!

[@michaelantonyaustin]

Leaving this brilliant show on a high - Mark’s mauling of Morbius 😂👍 I’m gonna miss you guys!

[@channel019]

So the problem with Morbius is without Spider-Man as the protagonist, they've basically had to split Morbius into two characters: Dr Michael Morbius as the protagonist and the second vampire who gets to do all the wild vampire stuff, largely eliminating the internal tension that makes the character interesting.

[@HA-ot6uf]

That's what they chose to do, but they didn't have to. It could have been all about Morbius slowly turning into a genuine monster. Just devoting the whole movie to that and going super in depth with the consequences of that, without a forced good guy vs bad guy dynamic. It probably wouldn't be enough to save the movie, but it'd at least be something unique in the Superhero space.

[@PauLtus_B]

I do agree with H A here to a degree. It is a big problem that these are essentially villain movies without committing to it at all. I do think there's an inherent problem that, even though these characters have been expanded on by now, they have been originally created, and been successful as, a character who's purpose was to create conflict for a character who, in this story, is absent.

[@jayr7965]

@@PauLtus_B Honestly the story is the last thing the producers are thinking about when making these movies. Sony are clutching the last vestiges of Marvel IP they have hoping to ring out any money they can from whatever IP awareness they have left. Also getting in Tom Holland is probably impossible due to Disney contracts and crap like that. Needless to say the creatives have to make these movies with one hand tied behind their back.

[@pamelaatkinsonscats2873]

Saw it today. It was a relatively short superhero film as these things go, but there seemed to be big chunks of the plot missing.

[@tonyabrookes9931]

Yes! It felt like they literally left parts out

[@tobynewman6405]

Which means there's probably going to be a sequel 😴😴😴

[@philiphunn194]

It was clearly butchered in editing after the success of No Way Home (which is why Sony inexplicably brought Michael Keaton's Vulture into their weeping sore of a universe, thanks to a fundamental misunderstanding/wilful disregard of Doctor Strange's spell), so it's no wonder it makes no sense.

[@RallyPointGamers]

That's actually true Sony made the director cut a bunch of scenes from the trailer and out of the movie and even the director didn't like it being cut but despite the hate I enjoyed the movie

[@FabianEllis]

THEY’RE LITERALLY SO BLATANTLY RIPPING OFF HANS ZIMMER’S BATMAN BEGINS SCORE IN THE CLIP HELP 💀 Mark Kermode is having such a pained experience grappling with the existence of this film 😂

[@kinghashbrown7998]

This is actually an April fools joke, he was meant to say "morbius is the best movie ever made"

[@badmoviestudios8099]

Mark is truly one of the movie critics of all time.

[@murryrourke2225]

I was looking forward to this for so long! What a classic rant, unfortunately probably one of his Last.

[@Ben_Mdws]

You know they’re doing a new show elsewhere, right?

[@jimbob8992]

@@Ben_Mdws Do we know where they are going?

[@Ben_Mdws]

@@jimbob8992 seems mentions of it get deleted, so I’ll try again: check Twitter

[@jimbob8992]

@@Ben_Mdws after listening to last week's podcast it was pretty obvious they were taking the show elsewhere.

[@jimbob8992]

@Ben M oddly enough, it's just popped onto my phones news feed. That Japanese electronics company, that Mark has trouble pronouncing properly . Oh sonny boy...

[@MrGlenbw]

I didn't know Kermode and Simon are ending their show this year! I'm definitely gonna miss their sarcastic wits and humor, especially when it comes to bad movies. Sniff!

[@sockatume]

I wonder if they hired the wrong Jared as the lead by accident, and gave Harris a small role as an apology.

[@chrissiem3958]

I love that you can tell just how annoyed Kermode is by a film by how quickly and incoherently he speaks about it 😂

[@elqord.1118]

We needed the last review to be such a classic rant

[@YouHaveBeenWatchingFilms]

bless the kino Gods for allowing us to hear, before the show ended, Mark's thoughts on Morbius

[@ClownScreams]

That’s literally the dark knight soundtrack.

[@charliebrouun6510]

Did the use Batman Begins' score? lmaooooo

[@Dohsoda]

First Venom and now Morbius. Keep them coming Sony Pictures, keep making solo Spider-Man villain movies without Spider-Man. Clearly that's what the general audiences and fans want to see. I see Kraven the Hunter is next...great, just terrific.

[@amac203]

You do not realise that both Venom movies have made a lot of money? They'll keep making em as long as they make money champ

[@frank_sands]

"Jared plays the best Super Mario in House of Gucci". Mark, I love you

[@primate924]

Mark: *deep sigh* *slouches in chair*

[@trevorbrown6654]

Mark and Simon are just so entertaining and Mark is the only critic I listen to. It's such a shame this show is no more as I think they make a great double act. I really hope another radio station picks up this show as it has a cult following. Shame to hear Morbius isn't much cop either but the market has become oversaturated with comic book adaptations so it was inevitable there would be some duff ones.

[@jhwalsh93]

"Jared Leto who has two modes of acting, overacting or nothing at all" Fantastically brutal assessment there but he's not wrong. I think Leto takes himself just a little bit too seriously

[@vincenzoberetta1085]

It is clear that Mark would have preferred more to watch "Moonfall" again.

[@pdzombie1906]

That sigh after the clip said it all... 😅

[@TheSt1092]

Jared Leto and comic book films are just not a recipe for success . Morbius is basically a throwback to comic book movies from the mid to late 90s/early 2000s pre-dating the Marvel Cinematic Universe . Matt Smith was great I wish he had played Morbius instead of Leto. The cast really gave their all with very limited material . The movie to me was inoffensive but largely just okay by the numbers for a comic book film where the story lacked structure and as for mid-credits scenes they were just incomprehensible and made no sense.

[@_all_around_us]

Leto slander is always welcomed.

[@PainCausingSamurai]

Sad that of all the comic book movies being made, Matt Smith had to be wasted in this one.

[@emoney6692]

Yup. Second flopped franchise for Matt Smith, first being Terminator Genisys. Feel bad for the guy, he deserves to be in better movies.

[@quntface1518]

1:38 That music swell... oh, come on. Hans Zimmer would like a word.

[@BestBackingTracks]

Jared Leto is to acting what a deep fried Mars bar is to French cuisine.

[@andyc6542]

Except for, you know…he’s an adequate actor? Dude has won a best supporting actor Oscar, so to sit there thinking he can’t act is completely misplaced. For the record; Leto did fine with the material given here. He played it straight, but he made Michael Morbius believable. Matt Smith on the other hand stood out like a sore thumb, and HE was the weak link of the movie. I get the feeling that Kermode has an odd anti Leto, pro Smith bias going on here but based on its own merit as an individual picture, Smith was incredibly weak here.

[@joebloggs6922]

@@andyc6542 He was very good in BR 2048. Just a lot of the roles he takes on aren't suited for him and here, the writing and directing was just atrocious. Not really much he could do, although I have to admit he still wasn't great.

[@andyc6542]

@@joebloggs6922 absolutely - completely forgot about Bladerunner 2048 as well. The guy is a decent actor, in the right role. The people who tend to base their judgement of him based on Zack Snyders Suicide Squad are the kind of people who don’t watch movies and jump on the ‘let’s bash Leto because of his take on the Joker’ bandwagon.

[@mojotheaverage]

Did anyone need an origin story for a comic book character that's just a vampire?

[@philcorrigan5641]

In a Spider-Man movie it might have made a bit of sense, in that they’re both misfits of science-type characters. But without Spider-Man it’s just half a movie (and in practice, much less than half, by all accounts)

[@philiphunn194]

Thing is, Morbius is a science-vampire, not an undead-vampire. At the time he was originally created, supernatural stuff was frowned on in the comics industry so they had to get creative with his origin.

[@redlightmax]

2:09 That should've been the thumbnail.

[@guyvizard549]

That deep sigh after showing the clip says it all.

[@mroctober3657]

How did they get the rights to use the Batman Begins music?

[@coolshah1662]

That Mario and Jared Harris comments. Ahahaha. The crusade against Leto is still ongoing, and I'm glad for it. I was never going to watch this, but this reaffirmed my suspicions. Oh, I didn't know that this was the last show. I'm truly saddened. Where can I find you guys after this? Any reply on this would be appreciated. Good luck on your future projects. I'd miss you here on youtube.

[@darthmig1328]

Thank you gentlemen for the memories

[@SpencerMoleda]

I love that the same day they announce their move to Sony, Mark and Simon end their show by shitting on Morbius, a Sony-produced film. 😂

[@kitano0]

"Bitey rampage" LMAO!

[@JasperChalks]

Genuinely started cackling at the Mario line

[@ClichéGuevara-2814]

...he mentions Near Dark, I fear it will fall victim to the endless rebootage machine... I mean, it's miraculous that it hasn't already happened.

[@melvert33]

Near Dark is a great film, very dark and grim. Although it's now a cult film it was never a financial success and unlikely to be remade, a Lost Boys remake, released in 1987 also would be more likely to be rebooted I reckon since it was a big earner at the box office.

[@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044]

"Near Dark" is incredible.

[@rhysroberts515]

Going to miss you guys so much!! Have fun lads♥️

[@syncopaint_minis3016]

Leto is amazing in requiem for a dream though

[@DJTXD123]

I'm glad i watched Morbius without watching any reviews and i'm now very confused, i thought the film was awesome, loved the CGI effects, action was great, I'd definitely watch it again

[@nixonagnewreviews7206]

You must have real low standards and be easily pleased lol

[@nicoladavies1848]

I love Mayos Laugh after the move clip! it reminds me of Greedo's laugh before he gets shot by Han Solo!

[@rayliu7762]

Thank Mark for closing 21 years with a rant. Perfect timing!

[@ryiin]

This was the standard for movie review shows. I'm going to miss it.

[@nabooster]

Last rant for the road. Thanks for all the brilliant banter chaps.

[@danieldoherty8101]

A cave full of bats, and he's not batman?

[@The007monty]

Have loved listening to this show for years, all the great art house and foreign language films reviewed that otherwise are overlooked has been a treat.

[@FitzyCify]

So, did Mark have an urge to watch that one scene from Fight Club after this?

[@maxresdefault_]

"He was great as Super Mario in House of Gucci" Well said

[@geoafe66]

I really hope you will still be using this YT channel with the new podcast.

[@Graphicxtras1]

Oh dear, I suspect I won't be seeing this one even on my limitless card for the Odeon, it sounds dire, it looked dire from the trailers (other than Jared Harris and Matt Smith) Great review as ever

[@andyc6542]

Saw it last night - save your time. I disagree with Marks review in as far as Jared actually played his part well, and put in a passable performance. Matt Smiths character however was laughably bad, and I think HE was the weak link of the film. I don’t watch Doctor Who so this is the first exposure to his acting I had, but he was absolutely dire in it in my opinion. The biggest issue was that the producer was intent on creating a tonally dark film, but Smiths character was cringeworthy with how silly and camp he was. There’s a scene in the movie after he’s infected with the same vampire tonic that Leto has and therefore has superhuman strength (compared to earlier in the film where he is crippled), and he’s getting ready to go out to a club. For no unknown reason, the director insisted on creating a scene were Smith is strutting around and dancing at home whilst he’s getting ready and it was that out of place and odd, I was embarrassed to watch it..

[@Graphicxtras1]

@@andyc6542 thank you. Yes, Matt Smith can be quite good but he can have some pretty cringeworthy scenes as well. He was excellent in Last Night In Soho. Jared Harris is generally good though (enjoyed him in Mad Men and many other things I have seen him in). Morbius was the least interesting of the Marvel characters, never liked him from the first appearance in Spider-man back in the 70s. Thank you for making my mind up on that one, there is always of course, Moon Knight to watch on Disney+

[@heeeeeresrossy]

Jared Leto's recent over-the-top performances haven't served him well. In fact, the only time his eccentricities DID work was in 'Dallas Buyers Club' He was also pretty decent in 'American Psycho' He seems like the type of actor we expect to be superb in every role. Unfortunately, he dials his performances up to 11, which just comes across as phoney. The only decent thing that ever turned up to 11, was Spinal Tap's amp!

[@j10ant]

Who put the Batman begins music on the clip.

[@LlorDrei]

There is one thing I am curious about... I think it was after the Nobel scene... You see Morbius being told to stand for his award, and see a close-up of his crutches having the arm wraps... when back in the lab, he is shown treating a girl in bed, before moving for the computer. What I am curious about... Was this supposed to be a cameo of Silhouette from the New Warriors? She used crutches similar to those used by Morbius in the comics.

[@mansnotbot4160]

Okay, I've not seen this yet, but the scene shown: that's Batman Begins, that's Nolan's Batman Begins. Surely. Am I going mad?

[@mrbille9535]

"I forget which origin story it is now. Spider Adjacent....." 🤣🤣🤣

[@KGBgringo]

Buckle up, it's a Jared Leto film again.

[@hellokintu]

As soon as the first trailer for this movie I needed this review.

[@KeithFraser82]

Poster quote: "LIKE TWILIGHT WITHOUT THE CHARM" - MARK KERMODE

[@richardgallon6528]

“Like they did in the Twilight films except without any of the class or charm”…… Never thought I’d see the day '.'

[@ericjohnson9623]

1:38 When your director doesn't want you to change the Hans Zimmer Dark Knight temp track that much...

[@ImNotGregGraffin]

Why is there a phallic shadow cast behind Mark?

[@Prototype-357]

Never watched this movie and now I know I never will because it doesn't even seem to be fun bad despite what everyone is saying. That clip you guys showed hurt me so much, I don't think I've seen so much "Tell, Don't show" in such a short clip before.

[@weirdcritter]

Ah Sony, please give the character rights to Marvel Studios

[@michaelcoy311]

So are we not supposed to notice that this is the theme from The Dark Knight?

[@niahays1042]

Don't stop, you chaps are brilliant!!

[@GarethPreston]

I'm calling it the "Spider adjacent universe" from now on.

[@bioarv111]

"Morbius..umm..the..." that's all you needed to say Mark!!

[@willshaw1389]

It’s Morbin’ Time

[@virginiathornton]

Had there really been "loads and loads" of Jokers? Romero, Nicholson, Ledger, Leto. Phoenix's film wasnt out yet. Any others? Mark Hamill voiced him. By my count there were three live action Joker actors before Leto.

[@sj_harris]

Another torturous 120 minutes I’ve just been saved from enduring

[@andrewfiorini8169]

Why did the music sound like the dark knight.

[@ajburlap2601]

Hoping Morbius wins the fan cheer moment award at the 2023 Oscars

[@StrachanFilms]

I love how much Mark hates Leto

[@WhiteWolf496]

Glad we got to hear a morbius rant.

[@jimsmagnificentminiaturemo3235]

Love the review; I couldn't stop laughing. I imagine it's more entertaining than Morbius is.

[@printeredlasered]

I saw someone else describe this movie as 2/3s an 80s gay panic film and 1/3 a found footage film. Can confirm the description is 100% accurate