The Brutal Love of THE SUICIDE SQUAD (2021) | Explained

The Suicide Squad is available now in theaters and on HBO Max. Streaming for a limited time on the ad free plan. Head on over to hbom.ax/amandathejedi to sign up for HBO Max today!
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00:00 - Intro spoiler free thoughts
05:44 - Trailer related setup
09:36 - SPOILERS
They obviously didn't pay me to be nice to the movie otherwise I'd have no criticism of things that didn't land for me - I genuinely had an overall great time with this movie and I love the empathy James Gunn always brings to his projects no matter how brutal they get.
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[@aestheticallydispleased1097]

King Shark being sad and curling up in a ball after his new dumb “friends” betrayed him made me cry ngl

[@buffcups]

Bruh I was in denial about that scene but now you’ve confirmed for me and I am very sad now

[@TwoWholeWorms]

He was missing Constantine. *nods*

[@badratymj9255]

@@TwoWholeWorms king shark is a shark . 😉

[@daphnia9664]

it was so sad but i weirdly think it was part of his character arc about not eating friends

[@luvvvv124]

YO I was watching with my cousin and literally was blinking back tears in embarrassment

[@monaeckle]

"No one likes a show-off." -Unless what they're showing off is dope as fuuuck.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

Unless what they're showing off is Rick Flagg's murder. 🙃

[@badwolfmovies69]

Fuck. That’s true.

[@milktea6676]

@@badwolfmovies69 lol 😂

[@EdmundSkye]

love that scene

[@sonorasgirl]

I loved how much Bloodsport’s reply sounded like a 6-year-old boy 😂. A swear-y 6 year old…but still.

[@monaeckle]

Harley about to relapse into her old pattern of falling for psychopathic and abusive men but then snapping out of it and killing him instead was so great. Her speech about toxic relationships was also so dark and profound. Sidenote, her red dress was just gorgeous and I NEED it in my closet RIGHT NOW.

[@TheCosmicFailure]

Yeah. When she instantly fell head over heels for him in the beginning. I was like oh no, not again. I was happy she kills that fucker.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

I was so proud of her, as well as pleased to know this took place post-BOP (her growth film) because up until that point I wasn't sure. Plus I love how she ultimately decided to keep the dress on for the finale; not that she had any other changes of clothes available I know, but whatever she looked amazing in it. 🌹😊

[@monaeckle]

@@paulopacheco7768 So did the Joker... at first.

[@sleepinggorilla]

I haven’t been big on Robbies portrayal of Harley, but she nailed it this time. Harley is supposed to be a smart woman with tragic taste in men. The movie showed how dangerous she is, and why it’s good to have her on your side.

[@taelib1425]

@@paulopacheco7768 That's exactly how they get 'ya

[@BlueStag22]

it's such a small "blink and you'll miss it" detail, but I love that they had Harley try to stop Polka Dot Man moments before he accidentally set off the explosives. I'm a sucker for recognition of the fact that Harley has a PhD and is REALLY smart, and in my opinion, having her notice that felt like a nod to her intellect.

[@Laramaria2]

To me, this movie is the one that shows the best how smart Harley is! She's not just a pretty and funny girl, she's really smart and strong!

[@mcpherson1222]

I loved in Birds of Prey how she used her psych degree.

[@ghost245353]

Yeah. I asked myself why until the zoom in shot of the polka dots going over the explosives

[@tutorialslave]

@@mcpherson1222 She barely did.

[@grzegorzbaranowski7148]

While talking about "blink and you'll miss it" - I love the split second shot, right before Jotunheim collapses that shows Bloodsport and Harley trying to get the weird toothy fish off King Shark.

[@mettatonex7221]

I don't know why, but Idris Elba's scream when he sees Sebastian offering him leaf fills me with so much Serotonin.

[@ambriaashley3383]

Idris Elba is hilarious in this 😂

[@MandoWraith]

The villain being "too big" works for me because that isn't the mission they're sent on. The mission is to destroy the data, not to fight Starro. They take it upon themselves to be better than Waller, who's the real villain in the end.

[@samaelmalkira9420]

Legit. Wasn't their job to fight Starro, they chose to. Waller looked at Starro and said: "Damn that sucks. Y'all got that covered tho"

[@MaiiOrduna]

That's exactly what happens in the first movie. Their goal was to rescue Waller, not fight Enchantress. But in this movie they're not all portrayed as complete heartless monsters that suddenly decide to care about people for some reason (and they kill off the ones that are before this part). And they feel more like a team than the first one.

[@MandoWraith]

@@MaiiOrduna The goal was to rescue Waller, which ended up meaning they had to defeat Enchantress. Plus the whole idea Waller puts forward is to assemble a team that could "stop Superman", which seems ridiculous given the people they've got.

[@MaiiOrduna]

@@MandoWraith Oh yeah? I don't remember any of that 😂 Nvmd then

[@MandoWraith]

@@MaiiOrduna No worries, my roommates and I rewatched the original the night before the new one, so it's all fresh in the brain. 😆

[@toganium4175]

I'm so glad that King Shark has friends now.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

He deserves all the new dumb friends in the world. 🥰

[@LeoDBW]

I love that we all took one look at Nanaue, a giant half shark monster who eat humans, and we all collectively went "awww baby 🥰🥰🥰"

[@Mordeairayne]

He deserves it ❤

[@minesguy]

This movie is great. In older DC films we are told that Amanda Waller will do despicable things to get her way. In this movie we are shown Amanda Waller doing despicable things. Show don’t tell.

[@pixiestxNyomouf]

One thing I loved about this movie! I wished they would've beat her to death tho. Sorry I'm in a Harley Quinn headspace rn

[@ultrabigfella]

@@pixiestxNyomouf James is probably saving her death for a sequel.

[@samanthanorton4538]

I agree that this movie was better at show, don't tell, but Amanda Wallace murdered her entire government team in the first one because they didn't have clearance.

[@sonycrom1]

@@samanthanorton4538 exactly, and no one talks about that. She literally murdered her own team just to not look bad….

[@caiolucas8257]

I actually hated the way she got depicted, she got sidelined again and wasn't portrayed as competent. ARGUS should fear her not bash her in the head with a golf club.

[@KoiPuff]

The "Even Rats have a purpose" scene with Ratcatcher 2 protecting Bloodsport and holding him through his panic attack made me tear up. The first Suicide Squad movie they were always calling each other "friends" or "family" but it never felt that way. It felt that way in this one, by the end Bloodsport and Ratcatcher 2 were family. And the Found Family trope (Especally gruff/grumpy Old man adopts daughter) is my weakness.

[@samanthascarcella526]

Yeah! Her arm on him during that scene was such a good detail.

[@rexappleby4731]

That made me tear up too.

[@stefanfilipovits21]

That’s a really good point that I’m pissed I didn’t recognize. You’re absolutely right. The bar scene from 2016 in particular was supposed to be the big “we’re a family” scene but it never feels real or organic. By the end of THE Suicide Squad I feel like they do care about each other. They’re devastated at Flag’s death, they decide to try to honor his sacrifice, RC2 holds Bloodsport as her rats swarm him and we later see her mourning polka- dot man, and it all really works.

[@karlyg.e.m.21]

That hit me right in the feels. And right after that, the scene with Harley and the rats destroying Starro was glorious

[@underscore_5450]

Exactly. I can't believe James Gunn made me fall in love with all these characters after just a couple of hours. He some how managed to give almost every character a complete arc.

[@Allonsy305]

Never thought I'd feel bad for a giant starfish, but here we are.

[@shanedaley6236]

I would say the Batman beyond episode where they deal with him in a small scale is nice too

[@Persequimur_Umbras]

“…a giant starfish…” *from space.*

[@mettatonex7221]

His last words were pretty heartbreaking. Normally bad guys curse the good guys with their last words or silently resign to their fate, but Starro? "I was happy... floating... staring at the stars."

[@Lunadish]

Humans plucking other beings from their natural habitat 🥺 the line I "was" happy, said with such wistful sadness...I felt so bad for Starro, especially after what Thinker did to him/her😡

[@ColorsOfOrion]

I mean, absolutely. But if it hadn't decided to conquer and enslave the town (and possibly, the world) and instead just showed intentions of going back to space, things could have gotten into a nice e.t. moment. Buuuuut... That wouldn't have been as fun as a fight with a kaiju starfish

[@somerandolad]

Can't we all agree that King Shark was the most adorable killing machine?

[@randaranatunga7259]

Yes he is lol

[@atinyevil1383]

He’s such a good boy.

[@AmandaTheJedi]

Nom Nom's all around

[@asiabrew81]

I was obsessed with him from the first trailer and I am happy to say nothing has changed since watching the movie....6+ times.

[@UnboxingAlyss]

He really is. He's horrifying when eating people, but whn they zoom in on those eyes and that snoot, he's like an adorable baby shark that I want to hug (and then be eaten by).

[@ticomat]

Something that I really like in the movie is a few of Waller's implied plans. Like, she probably sent the squad to kill the freedom fighters on purpose, since she *didn't* want Corto Maltese to get a stable government. And also how Harley and Flag's team ended up being used as a distraction because she wanted to specifically get rid of them and Captain Boomerang after their defiance in the last movie (I think she allowed Pete Davidson's character to sell the team out).

[@coletrainhetrick]

That's a good theory, especially since Pete Davidson got shot out of nowhere, you could argue they tricked him into thinking he contacted them.

[@mr.manguy3692]

I remember watching it and thinking that Waller wanted Flag dead

[@moonbay1992]

Funnily enough, there was a cut scene where Flag insults Waller's blouse, calling it clown vomit or something. Waller responds with Flag being placed on Team 1... I am very worried for the office team now

[@Spamhard]

@@moonbay1992 I'm honestly surprised the office team were still alive at the end of the movie, consider in the first movie she shoots her entire team without a second thought.

[@kenzij]

@@moonbay1992 While my sister and I were watching it we were coming up with things the office team could say so that they wouldn't be immediately murdered.

[@monaeckle]

Taika Waititi playing Ratcatcher with a drug addiction is something I never knew I desperately wanted until seeing this movie

[@BubblegumSocialClub]

Same! I loved the flashback, it was a nice break from everything being so intense in terms of visuals to a sad but softer story about a loving parent -- and it definitely made her caring for everyone else feel more genuine when everyone else was so cynical

[@ethanpurcell7007]

My favorite part about the scene was just the way it was shot. It was so oddly beautiful to see it shot through the windows of the bus and I don't know why but it made that scene hit so much harder for me.

[@Virgo117]

I loved the moment when Harley tears up when she finds out that the squad was planning a rescue operation for her.

[@sonorasgirl]

I do too, and it was a comedic moment on its face buuuut…Harley’s whole ark this movie is learning to expect others to treat her as valuable. She’s starting to see she IS, but still thinks most people won’t recognize that - it was hilarious and sweet but also kinda sad :/.

[@AmandaTheJedi]

I JUST WANTED TO BE LOVED BY YOU... And Sebastian

[@milktea6676]

It’s so hard to choose sometimes

[@randaranatunga7259]

@@milktea6676 lmao

[@yiklongtay6029]

The rat has it's own IMDB page. Thought you would like to know. 1 of the two rat actors names is Jaws.

[@ThePonderer]

Damn song has been stuck in my head all week

[@veronicapomar6010]

Oh my god I hate rats but I actually loved Sebastian he was so cute.

[@clintgahm1495]

Harley's sequence breaking herself out of prison alone was worth the price of admission. In my mind that scene set an unachievable bar for anyone else hoping to take a shot at playing the character. Margot Robbie is Harley, end of story.

[@Laramaria2]

Margot Robbie was born to be Harley! Every time she appeared, I felt like it was Christmas morning and I got the present I wanted for AGES!!! 😍

[@pistachiopanda]

The script for Suicide Squad 2016 made me hate Harley Quinn. I loved that character for so many years, but it was so cringey. Margot Robbie in that whole prison breakout sequence just restored something deep inside me. It was such an amazing display of cinematography and choreography. I love Margot Robbie SO much for it.

[@DariusFrench6273]

I was almost pissed that they killed off Polka Dot Man. POLKA DOT MAN. Arguably one of the dumbest characters in DC, they got me to care for him and they killed him off 😂 I mean the poster literally says “Don’t get too attached” so I guess I failed that bit.

[@Echoingdolphin]

I was okay with him dying, I just think the way he died sucked

[@Luna-ln7qh]

If it helps, it's what he wanted ♥️

[@toomanyoldsports]

I legit cried when he was killed. Not my proudest moment

[@DariusFrench6273]

@@toomanyoldsports I was in-between laughing and nearly pulling my hair out. You made one of the dumbest villains ever such a lovable awkward chump and just-Argh. But I’m over it. Am I really?

[@chaossmith3864]

@@Echoingdolphin Honestly somehow the way that went down was oddly relatable. Obviously not the literally dying by being crushed but something giant and kind of unfathomable, more in a metaphorical way of yep as soon as I think hey I'm not garbage and I got this here comes life to crush tf out of me. I'm not sure how I feel about finding the character relatable in some ways though. Feels... Kinda bad ngl.

[@ninasimpson6639]

"We're here to save you" "Well I can go back inside and you can still do it" Awww how sweet

[@himanshusinha8245]

it was a really good plan too

[@android19willpwn]

@@himanshusinha8245 probably for the best, though. Peacemaker was about to ice a random secretary who was probably the only person still alive in the building.

[@salmaschaheed]

💔

[@robynsriot]

"Please give me Poison Ivy and Harley" when I tell you that I felt that comment on a SPIRITUAL level

[@sakulaeyr9819]

Harley's animated series will tick those boxes. Its an amazing show.

[@ezduzit4906]

I want a Harley and Ivy movie and have it be called that. Imagine the title reveal, Harleys name and then vines creep through it to form, "Harley & Ivy."

[@jonasholzer4422]

I'd love that 🤩

[@ezduzit4906]

Evan Rachel Wood as Ivy please!

[@catelynh1020]

The animated harley quinn show is what i want live action with margo. With some changes, of course, but i'd love love *love* to see harley and ivy cohabitating and helping each other through things as friends with an obvious connection, as harley comes to terms with deciding who she needs to be. As someone incapable of "love at first sight", that's the romance stories that get to me. Seeing characters learn about each other and want to be together without necessarily thinking about getting into each other's pants in the first 10 minutes of shared screen time.

[@cristalat101]

To make it better: Margot wants Harley and Ivy together! PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN UGH 😭😭

[@sonorasgirl]

This is EXCELLENT. Fits their characters too, since Harley is loud and showy and Ivy is more…subtle, like poison 😉

[@Anynom]

To me, the big shock was Boomerang killed off so early. In the comics, he's the cockroach who survives almost anything when he shouldn't. And Courtney was fun so bumping him of in the first ten minutes was a great way to sell "no one is safe." And after he got cool glowing boomerangs too!

[@xparapluiex5744]

I feel like it also was a dig at the other suicide movie about how you don’t just survive multiple helicopter crashes that he and that lady died how they did

[@samgreenblatt7074]

Didn't he get shot to death by a non-powered hero's dad

[@ColorsOfOrion]

Man I love how he's portrayed in this version In both movies he dies the first, but here at least he shows he's a real threat, slicing the head of two soldiers in a dencently gore shot. In the first movie he barely does anything before getting killed for no good reason

[@jakubrejak1114]

@@ColorsOfOrion He survived 2016's Suicide Squad tho.

[@tycepickett1238]

@@samgreenblatt7074 yeah he eventually went after Tim drakes dad and the two killed each other before Tim or bats could get there and stop it. But in most of the suicide squad missions he was part of he really was like the bottom feeding, sneaky as fuck cockroach that just won't die.

[@bessieburnet9816]

Margot Robbie as Harley is just too good. She's amazing. And once again, she was so cool in this movie. Her freaking out over why she needs to carry the javelin, her speech after killing Luna and her whole escape sequence. The fact Margot unlocked her restraints with her feet herself! So cool!! Harley and Ratcatcher 2 were absolutely the best characters, King Shark close second. Love them. And what they did with Peacemaker was great, who knew John Cena had it in him?

[@piracychic]

She did it in one take too

[@bessieburnet9816]

@@piracychic She's so cool!! 😆

[@KaishaLouise]

I have an alternate candidate for best character... now hear me out here, it's Sebastian the good boi rat friend with the cute little jacket(?). I don't think I need to justify my reasoning lmao. But beside that slight addition I totally agree!

[@bessieburnet9816]

@@KaishaLouise Sebastian is a part of Ratcatcher 2, they are symbiots as one.

[@Kris-wo4pj]

@@piracychic theres an article james said he wanted to redo it cuz they were filming it in a bad angle since he was transfixed on margo doing the stunt in one take perfectly. Margo was tired from hanging there for awhile and it was at the end of day. So instead of redoing it he said fuck it i'll fix it in post cuz that was awesome and he couldnt wait for everyone to see it and they would know it soon as they saw it. Which i fucking did.

[@txt5220]

I loved Rick Flag's character and how much more personality he has this time around. My only nitpick is that he didn't say "THIS IS KATANA" this time around.

[@silashurd3597]

His death honestly made me do something I feared would happen watching this movie: tear up🥺

[@purplecoffinman8510]

unfortunately she didn't have his back this time. Though I'm sure he would still advise not being killed by her, her sword traps the souls of its victims.

[@kiratheburd]

the cuts to everyone looking like polka dot man's mother had me absolutely dying. So well done and so freaking funny

[@sakulaeyr9819]

and the club scene as well! God I loved every scene with him in it!

[@Cheetahgirl_Studios]

And of course lest we not forget the iconic line from Bloodsport... “IT’S YOUR MUM!” Followed by a massive replica of Ebner’s mom smashing into the building, roaring. If I wasn’t in the cinema, I would’ve been on the floor laughing. That moment absolutely KILLED me.

[@sakulaeyr9819]

@@Cheetahgirl_Studios I STILL shudder and laugh at EVERY scene with 'the mother' in it - especially seeing her as King Shark. >0

[@thegentlemanwiththemustach1087]

Even Sebastian looked like his mum. If you zoom in kind of, he's got glasses like her

[@luisjesus8668]

I remember seeing a Letterbox review that said "This movie could've easily went from 5 stars to 0 if anything happened to Sebastian" and I couldn't agree more.

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

Whether or not you like the climax, "Suicide Squad vs. Starro the Conqueror" was definitely the kind of balls to the wall moment I appreciate.

[@Missjunebugfreak]

It was one of my favourite moments in the film. I like how Gunn managed to make Starro terrifying.

[@pandas4evr123197]

As someone with the attention span of a toddler when it comes to movies, the fact that I was able to sit and watch this movie in one sitting not ONCE but TWICE is evidence that this movie is fantastic. I love the violence, it reminds me of The Boys, which I also love, and I genuinely hate gore in other contexts lol Overall, big fan, and also I need a Harley/ Ivy movie asap

[@sunsetskye483]

Harley/ivy movie absolutely yes please

[@171QA]

I prefer a giant monster attacking in the climax as opposed to another generic beam pointing to the sky.

[@UnboxingAlyss]

Pitch Meeting made fun of this very thing. :-)

[@bubblegum1366]

My favorite thing in this movie which it is an absolute crime you didn't cover was Polka Dot Man's mother. Specifically the actress playing her who was clearly having so much fun in the role lol. I'm in the minority that really liked the first movie and I enjoyed this one a lot too. A couple of the deaths legitimately caught me by surprise, though I remember thinking the entire time that Harley was safe since Margot Robbie is singlehandedly carrying the entire DCEU on her shoulders. Side note, the Milton thing actually had a bigger pay off for us because when they were walking through the smoke at Jotunheim I turned to my roommate and said "Look, Milton came with them!"

[@reggie1025]

Milton is a reward for paying attention. From the point where he's introduced he is doing something in nearly every scene with the group, but I could see how people could totally miss him. Paying attention and noticing him definitely makes the joke 100x better 😆

[@UnboxingAlyss]

@@reggie1025 I cannot agree more. I did notice him going into Jotenhim with them and I immediately thought "WTF is he doing? Should he be waiting ion the van?" I then cracked up laughing later when Bloodsport asked that very same question (after crying because he died). Poka Dot's anger at them not knowing that he came (or even who he was) was very touching to me.

[@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155]

I wasn’t expecting this to be a film to make me emotional

[@GenerationWest]

I get not really liking the idea of it going big with a world ending type threat... But... But it's Starro, Starro the freakin' conquerer! The ever present Justice League villain, done well, you already had me James Gunn, but you made him glorious!

[@DillonExner]

This movie did what JL refused to.

[@AlphaAceEX]

@@DillonExner i think its bcoz its snyder, ultra serious slo mo guy, dont want any giant alien starfish messing with his artsy movie. Besides, it fits more with Suicide Squad goofy tone

[@remigyfgrin8830]

Starro's last line hit me surprisingly hard

[@pterodactylpie8825]

@@remigyfgrin8830 it was a brutal cherry on top of a sundae I didn’t know I needed

[@Madrigal025]

@@remigyfgrin8830 TBH I felt really bad for Starro since well, I didn't think that he was malicious really. I mean he let the Suicide Squad go acknowledging they had no part in his captivity and torture and just wanted the city which I assumed was more for revenge for what their government did to him. Then he said the last line and I was like, damn...

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

My favorite part of the film would have to be the subversion of who it was that ultimately defeated Starro. Ordinarily, you'd expect one of the more main characters to handle it (Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Harley Quinn), but I love how it was given to Cleo/Ratcatcher 2. I honestly wasn't sure what to make of her when she first appeared, but by the end I was rooting for her survival and thus adored her moment of heroism, complete with epic music, an epic one-liner, and her epic shot of being surrounded by the onslaught of rats while comforting Bloodsport. 🥰

[@sonorasgirl]

YEEEES - and the whole movie’s theme about corrupt power tied in EXCELLENTLY with her being an overlooked/seemingly underpowered character who’s arguably the least corrupt, and who ends up saving the day, just DID IT for me.

[@Cheetahgirl_Studios]

Cleo was just hands down my favourite character. Unlike the first movie, it was so refreshing to have someone who had some empathy for others, and wasn’t corrupt or jaded. And I love how that tied in to her powers: with her father teaching her compassion through rats, lowly creatures who still have a purpose in this world. I was literally sobbing when Peacemaker was about to kill her, because she didn’t deserve to die. I know that she was in prison for armed robbery, but I would definitely say that out of all the new Suicide Squad, she was one of the more innocent ones. Along with King Shark.

[@bessieburnet9816]

Exactly, aside from the obvious returning character, Ratcatcher was my fave, I was so rooting for her survival all movie!

[@KaishaLouise]

@@Cheetahgirl_Studios Even then it's only armed robbery in the sense that her good boy rat friends were considered a weapon. Compared to the rest of the squad she was practically a saint as far as crime goes!

[@DBEO23]

It rly did make me emotional when that flashback of her with her dad came. You could legit tell she felt like she did something good with her powers that would make her father proud of her and honestly, he would be.

[@katiesnudden829]

I made the mistake of taking my grandma to this (didn't realize it was an R rating) She wasn't a fan of the gore but she did absolutely love Harely and Rat Catcher

[@atticstattic]

Love it!

[@RenoValentine89]

I did the same with my mom.XD She doesn’t like gore or cursing but thankfully loved this movie.

[@myettechase]

Your grandma sounds cool

[@sonorasgirl]

This is ABSOLUTELY adorable. I want your grandma to be in the next Harley movie lol

[@loki1456]

I took my nana to see this. She had a blast with the gore and her favorites were Ratcatcher 2 and Polka Dot Man.

[@taylorstump7283]

Bloodsports daughter getting up and being proud of her dad actually made me breakdown, they really hit tj with all audiences

[@RB-vo4gi]

Spoilers. Yes! I felt so bad for the starfish and then when he said “I was just happy floating among the stars” right before he died it broke my heart.

[@adammurray2043]

Such an incredible way to humanize every villain. Loved it!

[@UnboxingAlyss]

When they were introduced to the victims in the lab, they were also talking about how long and how much they had been tortured. I forgot to make the connection at the end that Starro was saying this, not the actual humans.

[@rachelranderson]

I just really loved the moment where Harley admits she's sad because Boomer and Rick were her friends. The was actually the most emotional part of the movie for me; arguably because we've had multiple movies that show where Harley has come from, and the fact that she had these connections that weren't romantic but made her sad to lose was nice.

[@mikeconlin7450]

*********SPOILERS*************** I agree somewhat about the scale of the big bad, but it worked for me because unlike the overpowered heroes in most comic book movies, these guys were severely out-matched, and I was genuinely afraid for them when they turned around to go fight him despite also cheering them on for doing so.

[@ango8466]

And still shark and John Cena are undead

[@asdfghjk1576]

Honestly the villain in this one, plus the movie tag line “no one is safe” and tone is really what got me invested and created a tension that pretty much last until the very end of the movie

[@derekconnors4128]

I love that Harley gets a badass fight scene in every movie now. Sort of the DC equivalent to X-Men Quicksilver scenes. Imagine one where Harley and Ivy have to take down an army together.

[@francislachapelle123]

I disagree with you, this task wasn't too big compared to the God-like threat that was Cara Delevingne's character in the previous Suicide Squad

[@tto198]

I'm of the same opinion. I was relieved Starro was a relatively non-apocalyptic threat in that it could've been brought down by conventional military means before it posed a threat beyond the island. Watching this team choose to save the people of a small nation was a 1000x more satisfying and believable than watching the first team be forced to save the world.

[@rashotcake6945]

Unlike Delevingne’s character, Starro isn’t unintentionally ridiculous and visually, makes for some pretty great action, comedy, and cinematography. I mean i’d agree that Starro isn’t the best written villain ever but way better than what we got in the 2016 movie. Also, we had some good supporting villains like Peacemaker and Waller to fill in the gaps

[@francislachapelle123]

@@tto198 Yes exactly! The mission scope is way smaller

[@francislachapelle123]

​@@rashotcake6945 I wasn't too sure about Starro, but man the colors and animations were beautiful

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

I actually liked the moment Ratcatcher 2 gave her backstory and think it was the balance to the group that was missing in the first where they literally claim, "we're bad guys." I also like Starro and how it's sort of like a kaiju xenomorph, but I also like giant creature features, so...

[@BlazingOwnager]

Starro was amazing. I don't get the complaint. They weren't even sent to fight Starro. That battle was entirely off the rails.

[@user-fn8tq2wg2e]

It's interesting (and in character) how Harley claims to be paying attention to red flags now, but only notices the really huge one. I mean, that dude took her captive, dictated what she should wear, met her in his underwear and proposed to her after they'd spent couple hours together, there was nothing but red flags there.

[@TheHanyuuuuu]

But she DID notice experiments on people one! baby steps

[@asiabrew81]

6:30 Yeah, Waller merc'd her own staff in the first film to hide her egregious fuck up in that movie. Her characterization remains consistent in The Suicide Squad.

[@The_KlaVra]

For me, everybody worked so much but for me the best character is King Shark aka Nanaue.. SO MANY QUOTES! - Fake moustache. - Fake Moustache? - Si. - Uh hes learning spanish. FUCKING DIED LAUGHING With Nanaue.

[@galatheadiabhal]

Btw, the "f*** you" part between Bloodsport and his daughter was really funny. This movie was really funny, the type of fun you lack in the first (?) one. They did justice to Harley in this one and even Rick Flag is awesome in this one. Really well done.

[@MrChava54]

"The second Polka-Dot Man was happy, he needed to be grounded...." ....Straight into the dirt.

[@MrChava54]

@•T[A]P Me!! To Have [S]EX With Me I wouldn't put it against her. But I like how they kept it ambiguous. They didn't straight up tell you that's the reason she did those things.

[@misspenguinsupreme9923]

Poor Sebastian, he just wants to make a friend

[@rashotcake6945]

he’s friendly :0)

[@loki1456]

He's friend shaped. He deserves friends.

[@sarcasticeggs8998]

Highlights of the Movie:- King shark. Harleys red dress. The father daughter parallels with Idris Elba and ratcatcher. Poopy parts:- Weasel. Rick flagg dying. Bit slow sometimes. Surprising parts:- john cena and polka dot man acting. Sebastian the rat.

[@BlazingOwnager]

Weasel was hilarious. Flag was a bummer though.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

Mark my words, Sebastian the Rat will be for The Suicide Squad what Milo the Goat is for the Grishaverse (Shadow & Bone). 😊😉 And Harley's dress was pure magic. 🌹

[@indicaink]

Weasel was amazing. It could have easily gotten annoying, but Gunn used him the perfect amount.

[@WondersOfWonder]

I think Starro was goofy enough to be the perfect “final boss” for the movie no matter the size. When I say goofy I don’t mean backstory (cause that shit was actually sad). I mean that if someone told me a kaiju was attacking a small country, I would not expect a big starfish with one googly eye when I looked at the TV. He had a good juxtaposition about him.

[@timhibbard4226]

I also was terrified for Sebastian in the Starro fight! I decided as soon as I noticed him leading the pack that he had to survive. Everyone Else was expendable, but he HAD to live. Also, did anyone notice that one of the rats credited with his portrayal was named, Crisp Rat? 😆♥️

[@UnboxingAlyss]

I assumed Sebstian was going to die. The final scene with him and Bloodsport was too touching. I want rats now. :-/

[@sonorasgirl]

@@UnboxingAlyss they apparently make excellent pets! I had a friend who kept them. But they only live like, 2-5 years…so be prepared

[@CutieDee093]

I love that the rats did the damn thing. Do we all remember the Reddit question of you get 3 to fight all the rest and one option was like a million rats. I was like they are totally showing this in action.

[@K1RTB]

Polkadot-man needs a standalone movie. Every scene with his mother was hilarious.

[@Snappedsky]

This movie literally checks all the boxes for me. I love giant monsters, I love over the top action, I love character interactions and banter, and I love Harley. So yeah I love this movie.

[@lashier13]

James Gunn, bringing Starro to the big screen: "Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong."

[@Aisha_Luv]

Ngl the, "So do we all" made me tear up. Idk, recognizing the good in everyone always touches me

[@melaustin3305]

My friends call me squirrel girl because I rehab wildlife- but mostly squirrels (there's one running across my kitchen table now)- and much like rats, people think squirrels are pests or insignificant but I know they all have purpose, and basically what I'm saying is, Rat Catcher and I would make the world's greatest lesbian couple and this movie was awesome. Edit: yes, the average person does need a reason to hate rats (but I know I'm biased...)

[@TheMeanMongoose]

I loved how a huge amount of rats swarming in the movie is supposed to be disturbing, but I was like :"Aaaaw look at all them whiskery bois"

[@hopekeeley2122]

Squirrel girl is my favorite marvel character

[@mrandrews3616]

I just hate the fact that grey squirrels are ruining things for red squirrels.

[@DavyHulme]

@@mrandrews3616 that's pretty UK specific thanks to the Victorians for introducing grey squirrels. Also despite red squirrel - grey squirrel population dynamics & ecology questions being one of the most frequently investigated PhD topics no one has conclusively figured out exactly what's going on yet, like if grey squirrels had that much of an advantage and inhabited exactly the same ecological niche there'd be no reds left anywhere in the UK by now but there are.

[@mrandrews3616]

@@DavyHulme I was mostly being sarcastic but I do red squirrels. They are cute.

[@imhere304]

I just loved Rick Flag as a character. He saw the good in almost everyone and he really was the lynch pin in the group. 😭😭😭

[@monaeckle]

We NEED to see Harlivy happen in a Gotham City Sirens movie!

[@missingnia]

I think Margot Robbie was given a choice between the two (Birds of Prey or Sirens) when she was brought which I take to mean a choice of which to do first 🤩 cannot WAIT for Harley and Ivy 🎪💕🌿

[@gregoriomassa8529]

I don't understand how people are angry with some deaths. it's finally a suicide squad where the members are not safe even in the comics the members dont die and are protected by a plot armor.

[@32fps]

Well I don't know about "angry," but maybe it comes from the fact that this is a franchise? Like, if I'm watching a standalone movie and characters die, that's fine. But if you want me to be committed to a series of movies, what audiences fall in love with are characters. And with movies you don't have a lot of time to set up character, so if you're asking me to love a character just for you to kill them, and then do this repeatedly, why watch the series? Take GOT for example. Sure, a lot of fan favorites died, but most of them you got to spend time with since it's a series, and there were still others to root for. Also, maybe consider the fact that they're selling this movie to more than just those who read/know about the comics, so they're more likely to get mad when a character they liked died? I dunno, I'm just guessing. Personally the only deaths that irritated me were Flag (thanks for making his character actually good then killing him), and the first set of deaths. I didn't care that those particular characters died, only HOW they died. It genuinely felt like Gunn wanted to just kill off people to be like 'haha see I can!' but there was no real reason beyond that (also makes me roll my eyes because yeah Gunn, see if WB let's you kill Harley, then I'll take you seriously). I didn't even know what most of them could DO; it might as well have been a group of people picked off the street.

[@gregoriomassa8529]

@@32fps It will be a good franchise if the characters can die, I will feel more tension than ever if the group returns in a second. James Gunn is given more creative freedom and that means making decisions that not everyone likes. (sorry for my English I'm learning)

[@32fps]

@@gregoriomassa8529 Not sure you read my comment correctly. I'm not saying that no characters can die, but I'm just saying that killing them off so quickly does little for audience engagement. For example, how would you feel if Black Widow died 5 minutes after being introduced in Iron Man 2? Sure, you'd be like 'oh, so characters can die' but you'd sort of shrug your shoulders and move on because you didn't have time to care (or, alternatively, you'd be mad because you love the character and hardly got to see her on screen). Compare that to her death (and Iron Man's) in Endgame, where you've come to actually care about them, and their deaths not only mean something, they actually affect the audience's emotions; i.e. more engagement. Also, I'm not sure what your point about Gunn having more creative freedom has to do with anything... a whole committee of people could make choices you hate (I mean look at Suicide Squad, that was a bunch of people making choices that pretty much everyone hated), so he's not special there. Hell, you could hire Scorsese and he'd make choices some people would hate. Movies are subjective, you can never please everyone.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

The only real complaint I have for this movie is the excess bird violence (couldn't even watch the aviary torch scene), but other than that it was a fantastic watch. 👍😅

[@asiabrew81]

WHY THE BIRDS!!!?? (I know why, but STILL)

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

@@asiabrew81 My thoughts exactly. 🙃

[@LyraAurora]

As a birb owner myself, yeah, that part STUNG.

[@ango8466]

@@asiabrew81 maybe because 'birds of prey'?

[@asiabrew81]

@@ango8466 Off to Pun Jail with you!

[@katienichole6905]

Ratchatcher was honestly the emotional heart of this movie

[@owndamnhero3414]

Too 3 characters: 1. Sebastian 2. Nanaue 3. polka dot man’s loyalty to Milton Worts characters: 1. Weasel, still having nightmares 2. The US government coming it and shooting everything like the freedom fighter said 3. The general shooting the birds

[@UnboxingAlyss]

Can't really disagree. Sebastian makes me want pet rats. Nanaue was adorable, even when eating people, When they zoom in on his eyes and snout, I almost forget the row upon rows of needle-like teeth. :-P I was shocked when Minton went into the building with them. I was thinking "What's he going to do?". I did appreciate his loyalty and willingness to put his life on the line for this mission. I was not surprised when Bloodsport asked aloud of he had been with them and he had expected him to wait in the van. So did I!

[@owndamnhero3414]

@@UnboxingAlyss lol, yeah, i think its funny how the most loved characters were CGI and non human. I did also find it weird that Milton just up and joined the team but it did make for a hilarious scene. Plus the recall after the fight was great too

[@melanierechnitzer2812]

@@owndamnhero3414 Sebastian was not always cgi, he was played by two real rats

[@adammurray2043]

The freaking cinematography in this thing, man!!! Using the environment for title cards! The camera flawlessly switching focus between peacemaker and bloodsport during their scene! Ratcatcher giving her backstory while the flashback IS REFLECTING IN THE WINDOW BEHIND HER! The whiteout background during the raining fight sequence! Harleys escape finally pulled off a hallway fight scene to the caliber of Netflix daredevil(which every studio has tried to recreate to no avail)! Just... every scene was a whole moment!! Chef's kiss!!!!

[@kgamzz26]

Sylvester Stallone yelling “Num Num!” It’s beautiful. Someone actually wrote that down.

[@Hollyclown]

I feel its better for them to fight a giant space starfish rather than a witch god.

[@kaybaumann4989]

Doubly so since she’s a member of the squad getting the better of Waller super easy, made Waller look so stupid. Waller in this is way better written, she was an idiot in the first one.

[@ThylekofEarth]

"Bird" - probably the best one word line I've heard since the "smash" steve rogers says to hulk in the Avengers

[@maggge89]

In Norse cosmology, Jötunheimr is a location associated with the Jötnar, entities in Norse mythology, which are often translated as "giants".

[@Metalheadyup]

Yup, "home of the giants" pretty much. And a mountain range in Norway :D

[@OppositeofHATE7]

Isn't it also where Loki is from because he's a frost giant? I kept thinking I had heard that word before somewhere in marvel stuff

[@badratymj9255]

@@OppositeofHATE7 it is. Loki hes a frost giant. And technically the prince /king of it

[@CriticalFangirl]

I have said it before and will say it again.. King Shark is my son now.

[@kimbrown5436]

I'm so happy you mentioned Batista's ability to do serious roles. His small role in Bladerunner 2049 is stellar. Can't wait to see him in Dune.

[@rottensquid]

I kinda feel like his natural gravitas, even in goofy roles like Drax, would have not worked in this film. Had Peacemaker been played by Bautista, as was the original plan, we would have believed Peacemaker when he said he believed in peace, and thought he was "complicated." John Cena in the role just came off as a liar, excusing his serial-killer bloodlust with this pathetically insincere fiction of a higher good. Which I though made a far better metaphor.

[@rickardkaufman3988]

Don't forget the short film; Blade Runner 2048: Nowhere to Run. Also, a great one to watch.

[@LizzBowlen]

"I don't really like the idea of a floating space parasite." Immediately thought of certain billionaires...

[@movieblocks9164]

TDK was actually super nerfed in this. Usually he can detach his arm and make them explode, but they also regrow so he doesn’t feel anything that happens to his arm.

[@SallyB_23]

The only thing that really pissed me off about this movie was that they didn't give Rick Flag and Harley any time to really develop their friendship on-screen (like obviously they were friends off-screen, but it would have made it much more impactful when Harley says "he was my friend" at the end). I also just don't like that they killed Flag, but that's my thing.

[@Maddest404]

I love that this movie had Ratcatcher2 as the emotional center. Her shining moment in the end, her flashback, with that original score was all so beautiful.

[@Blazingstoke]

I didn't mind the giant starfish - I thought they did a great job establishing Waller as the Big Bad while Starro is about as much a victim of circumstance as the Squad - but I did mind the bit at the beginning with Savant and the goldfinches. Savant killing the first bird on screen was needlessly cruel, while the second bird...well...let's just say that goldfinches eat seeds, not carrion.

[@lovelysan]

That bird's family wanted revenge and made an exception JUST for that purpose. ....but then more birds died randomly later so...

[@ginger_panapple]

Honestly would've loved the whole twist and the beginning where we'll actually be seeing a totally different team than the one we get introduced to if the marketing didn't ruin it. Can you imagine if we thought the whole movie was going to be the first team and then they're all killed 10 mins in!

[@ginger_panapple]

@🥂T[A]P Me!! to Have [𝐒]𝐄𝐗 With Me I was really mad about all the "haha man has mommy issues" jokes (even though he has a legitimately tragic backstory. I think they could've done some tasteful jokes about this if Peacemaker was like, "oh yeah, I totally get bitchy mothers, mine once missed a ball game" or something, that contrast being the joke, but no) being most of his characterization and then they killed him.

[@Gabreya]

This film is surprisingly multilayered and deep. The director has an amazing ability to balance different tones in one film which is extremely difficult to do. I honestly didn’t expect to laugh AND cry while watching this film.

[@cruelsummer3021]

amanda getting a partnership with hbomax?? go get the bag queen

[@greglong7170]

King Shark crying in the bus because he's lonely broke me.

[@austinberry5696]

Me and my girlfriend found it torture that we couldnt reach into the screen and hug him. Now my girlfriend understands why I find sharks adorable, with the lil eyes and funny looking mouth

[@abbiepierson7921]

I was so sad when Rick died. I've never read the comics but I thought it would be so cute if Rick and Harley dated.

[@milktea6676]

Out of all the character from suicide squad king shark is the most wholesome Besides that fact that he eats human flesh

[@PinedaPhoenix]

5:20 “Pete Davidson fans are in for a real treat” I see what you did there.

[@kamisamakuma6110]

I love that you say "It has a pretty obvious bait and switch if you paid attention to the trailers" because I _didn't_ pay attention to the trailers and saw the bait and switch coming, but my dad, who allegedly _did_ pay attention to the trailers didn't see it coming at all. It's glorious. The sheer willpower you must have for being able to avoid laughing while saying "And weasel can't swim". The laugh is very evident in your voice, but you committed to continuing which makes it even funnier and I love it.

[@pandapendragon3335]

Listen, when rats are as cute and precious as they are...We gonna need a real as to why someone don't like them. It's legally required. Gunn apparently has issues with birds, but he has proper respect for the rats.

[@adammurray2043]

Every single person involved in this project was VERY passionate about what they were making. And it freaking shows!

[@edgydreamy681]

“Seriously Tighty Whites?!” “Now that’s racist.” “Where’s your mom now?” “Everywhere.” If I was in this movie I would’ve been like “Is that Patrick Star?” Polka Dot Man, Ratcatcher are my fav and Nanaue

[@freetoplay1073]

Tbh every role David Dastmalchian takes, his character has some sort of mental illness or just ends up dying

[@austinberry5696]

The only character I can think doesnt fall into this categories is in Ant-Man, but it's been a while since I've watched it and I cant remember what happens to him lol

[@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155]

August is the month of Tiko Watiti. He has this and Free Guy

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

I was so surprised when I realized during his appearance in Free Guy but also really happy for him, he deserves it. ✨

[@ilisafonua2798]

Taika Waititi

[@umikomidaradzuki7985]

I actually watched both of this films in cinema in one day))))

[@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155]

@@umikomidaradzuki7985 that’s a fun double feature

[@asiabrew81]

And its his birthday month!

[@talic-os5899]

16:45 Stakes in super hero movies don't need to be "the end of the world", or "the end of a country", Birds of Prey made me feel dread for Harley Quinm's sandwich. Birds of Prey has a small sized villain, that works super well, because he puts our main characters in danger. I did worry for Black Canary in that movie.

[@Acebender]

I L O V E D this movie. It provoked the exact opposite emotions the first one provoked me (anger). I watched it twice on the theater, one in English and the other in Spanish and I had a blast both times.

[@MadGrubble]

I just saw The Suicide Squad today. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it! I feel like the stakes in this movie weren't the monster. To me the stake was losing characters we cared about. I loved Polka Dot Man and Flag. What happened to them literally almost made me cry. I think in a lot of super hero movies we all know that in the end everything will be ok and everyone will be alright. In The Suicide Squad I wasn't sure who would be ok, or if anyone would be ok at all. I didn't know if there would be a happy ending and the not knowing made made me way more invested in the movie. (I don't watch trailers. EVER. They give too much away.)

[@spooksboh6251]

i actually love starro as a baddie... he feels menacing in a way i've never seen before... like c'mon it's a big colorful eyeball starfish and yet it's actually SO CREEPY with the whole facehugger telepathic zombie army

[@username975312468]

I've been waiting a while to see Starro, and I couldn't be happier with the director that was given the opportunity to bring it to life. I'm also a fan of giant monster movies though, so I can understand how someone might think it's a bit over the top. It was a wonderful movie, and I can't really think of much that I'd change other than giving the B team a little more time to shine.

[@kikitinkerbell]

Freakin loved this movie! harley Quinn has been my fave batman villain since I was a kid and seeing her live action has been a dream come true! and despite the fact that I am terrified of Sharks, King Shark was my second fave character! big loveable danger sushi just wanted friends and nom noms!!!!

[@rynthorn1551]

DOOM PATROL IS SO GOOD. It really needs more eyes on it.

[@Persequimur_Umbras]

King Shark was the best, he even had real character growth; Such as when he was crying alone in the van, because he was not allowed to hang out in the bar with his new friends. 😅 🌒🌕🌘

[@otterlyemusing6688]

I’m upset that no one else was as upset as me about Rick flagg’s death🥲 I actually really liked that his character came back despite the trauma that he had to go through in the last movie, and then in this movie he was able to let loose because his gf wasn’t possessed, but then peacemaker killed him. I know that there has the be some stakes otherwise there’s not any sort of suspense, but I thought they could’ve done quite a bit with his character. Built his friendship with Harley, and he could’ve made his own team to battle the corruption within the government and Waller and such.

[@sonorasgirl]

I really liked him too! Yes he’s bland nice guy, but you need ONE straight man (in the comedy duo sense, NOT the sexual orientation sense) in every group

[@otterlyemusing6688]

@@sonorasgirl yess… and honestly I thought in this movie he was that character that could in some moments provide a little comedic relief, but is still the level headed “let’s get it done” guy.

[@megsmacgregs320]

I was very upset. Mostly cause I’m a Joel Kinnaman fan and he was able to kind of let a bit of his natural humour come out in this movie better than the last, but I really wanted Rick to make it through and to be able to have another drink with Bloodsport.

[@thefoxesmind]

THANK YOU! I was searching the comments to see if anyone else was as upset as me about his death! In my opinion, you don't always have to kill off characters to try to set stakes or realism in media. A lot of the time it just does the opposite for me and adds on a bonus of irritating me.

[@otterlyemusing6688]

@@thefoxesmind that’s true too… honestly during the end credit scene when one of the doctors or whatever was saying “we were surprised his heart was still beating” when they were going to see peacemaker on the hospital bed, I was really hoping it would’ve been Rick Flagg. Not just because peacemaker really pissed me off but also because the movie made a point to show flagg’s heart being damaged during his death scene, and then also made a point to say this character recovering’s “heart was still beating” rather than saying he was “still alive” or “still breathing” if that makes sense. Although, then again, there is the issue of whether Rick would even be saved depending on whether Waller knew what his intentions were with the information or not. Idk sorry for ranting, bottom line is I wish he didn’t die, especially at the hands of John cena 😂

[@Gon_Din]

I just know that "I'm gonna get *you* out of here alive!" is my new "no, you're breathtaking"

[@pixiestxNyomouf]

I just watched it today and this movie took me to such a dark place and I WASN'T READY! It sent my humanity into overdrive and for once, i didn't want them to complete the mission. The ending was so bitter sweet and leaned WAY more towards bitter. I will most definitely be rewatching the first movie on repeat because this one hurt me in a psychological way that only Infinity War and Endgame could so for that I give them credit.

[@grapeshot]

I remember Lord Staro from the animated Superman cartoon of the 1990s. I first saw him in the excellent two-parter The Main Man AKA Lobo. Then I remember seeing him in an episode of Batman Beyond when he attaches himself to a much older Superman and controls him.

[@wagnus1923]

The entire freedom fighter scene is one of my favorite scenes in recent movie history 😂