'Bloodshot' Review
PG-13: Intense sequences of violence, some suggestive material, and language Runtime: 1 Hr and 49 MinutesProduction Companies: Bona Film Group, Cross Creek Pictures, Annabell Pictures, The Hideaway Entertainment, Original Film, Valiant EntertainmentDistributor: Columbia PicturesDirector: David S. F. WilsonWriters: Jeff Wadlow, Eric HeissererCast: Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, Guy Pearce, Lamorne MorrisRelease Date: March 13, 2020
After he and his wife are suddenly assassinated, Marine Ray Garrison (Vin Diesel) is brought back to life by a team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a superhuman biotech killing machine – Bloodshot. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he struggles to recall anything from his previous years. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility hellbent on revenge, only to discover that there’s more between what he originally feels and a conspiracy.
In the world of comic book publishers, there are companies with their own brand of unforgettable characters to choose from. You have your Marvel, DC, Dark Horse Comics, and Valiant. Out of all of the publishing companies, Valiant Comics never received film adaptations so their properties could shine in the limelight… until Bloodshot. Bloodshot debuted in 1992 and it focused on an indestructible superhuman who was brought back to life Frankenstein-style. For a property that was released in 1992, this adaptation would’ve been perfect for the early 2000s rather than 2020.I love the creativity that went into assembling Ray’s memories whenever they needed to adjust something. They have screens up as if it was made through an editing program and they initiate the sequence with a few renders and a readjustment in the sequence timeline. They arrange his memory like they’re on Adobe Premiere, which I thought was pretty neat.
With one glimpse at the film’s trailer — hell, even the poster — you can tell that this is a movie that requires you to turn your brain off. If you do, you might have a fun time… eventually. I’ll expand on this later, but the first act is pretty slow and it takes a while for the story to get moving. By the second act, the story begins to pick up speed, effective humor comes into effect, and interesting supporting characters are added. It begins as a generic revenge sci-fi story, but it turns into an enjoyable mindless action thriller. It pulled the wool over my eyes and was like, “YUP! WE’RE SOMETHING ELSE!” The movie is about Ray Garrison, but it doesn’t focus on him as much as the forces who want to control him. It’s as if a Wolverine movie focused on the Weapon X team who manipulated him and sent him out to do their bidding. Several years ago, Tessa Thompson shined in Thor: Ragnarok where she, an American actress, delivered a great British accent. Now we have a new addition to the list of Black American actors who can do a great British accent in Lamorne Morris, who honestly steals the show. The film has several characters who play as comedic relief and Morris’ character (Wigans) is funny, but also charming. Morris is from Chicago, yet he dons a British accent for this character and it’s really consistent throughout. Now, let’s get a movie where Tessa Thompson and Lamorne Morris go to the UK as undercover Americans as an excuse for them to deliver their great British accents.
The first act is brutal. The movie is nearly two hours long and the story takes forever to reveal its true colors. The tone is very straightforward and takes itself way too seriously. It’s revealed that it’s supposed to be cheesy and generic to an extent that the script makes meta jokes, but that doesn’t diminish the 30 long, excruciating, and unexciting minutes. It tries to be meta and point out cliches of tragic superhero origin stories, but it isn’t enough, for it still falls into the trappings of every other superhero flick.
The movie boasts its own fun personality, but in its center is Vin Diesel who is playing the generic Vin Diesel type. His character may be named Ray but it’s just Vin Diesel. Not even 10 minutes in and he’s wearing a goddamn tank top. That’s his signature look. He doesn’t believe in t-shirts, only tank tops! That’s how Diesel he is. Nothing about this character is interesting. He’s one-note, bland, and all he wants is revenge. Once he realizes that all of his memories were manipulations, he’s still just pursuing revenge but with a newfound purpose.For a supposedly gory property, this film is so safe. There is no reason for this to be PG-13. The tameness and indecisiveness just makes the action so lame. It doesn’t help that the editing and camerawork is shoddy, for with each combative punch or moment of action is a cut.
I wonder how this film would’ve performed with critics and audiences if the trailer didn’t reveal so much of the story. The trailer reveals so much of the second act, but what if it only showed footage of the first? Everyone would’ve been genuinely surprised when it drops the ball at the 30-minute mark. More power to anyone who goes into this blind because it’s more fun that way. God, this deserved to be made in the early 2000s. Releasing this in the days of Diesel’s dominance of the film industry would’ve probably put him in that action superstar bracket. Hell, the CG visual effects would’ve been perfect for the time because they’re pretty weak by today’s standards. If this came out in 2003 in between XxX and The Chronicles of Riddick it would’ve been a financial hit. That being said, Bloodshot is a fun rentable movie. It's nothing special for theaters, but if this was airing on Starz (where all Sony Pictures movies end up), it would be worth the watch. Save it for Starz! Rating: 2.5/5 | 54%
