*This post contains SPOILERS for the film VENOM*
After watching the brilliant “Avengers: Infinity War”, I eagerly wait for all Marvel movies. Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom” was enjoyable, but didn’t impress as much as other recent releases from the house of Marvel.
THE PLOT:
A series of events lead jobless journalist Eddie Brock to become the host of an alien parasite. Known as Venom, the parasite gives Brock superhuman strength and power. The unlikely pairing of Brock and Venom, join hands (and bodies) to save the world from an alien invasion.
Tom Hardy in a still from the film.
THE COMMENTARY:
“Venom” harks back to the superhero films of the noughties, when large chunks of the narrative were dedicated to establishing the background of the superhero, rushing through the rest of the story. Like those films, “Venom” is well-made and entertaining, but doesn’t make for memorable cinema.
Venom is a villain in the original comic books but an anti-hero in the film. His wishy-washy reason for choosing a good path over an evil one is quite implausible. The story simply doesn’t do justice to the fantastic characters originally created by David Michelinie and Mark Bagley. Venom is a complex protagonist representing the many shades of grey most people possess. His multi-faceted personality offers a plethora of possibilities that the film doesn’t explore.
However, I still enjoyed the film. It’s made with fantastic special effects, some noteworthy CGI fight scenes and plenty of emotional drama. Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Michelle Williams as Anne Weying are endearing; and Riz Ahmed as Carlton Drake is creepily deadpan.
The cinematography is well-done. Some of the scenes are visually disturbing and even scary. Think twice before taking young ones or people who don’t enjoy horror films, to this one!
THE VERDICT:
“Venom” may be predictable, but lays adequate ground for developing this interesting and layered character. I can’t wait to see his internal growth in future films in the series. I’d recommend the film to fans of the Marvel Comicverse, and to people looking for some light-hearted entertainment.
Film Rating: 3.5/5
If you like this post, you may enjoy these too:
Review of Avengers: Infinity War
Review of Mission Impossible: Fallout
Review of Hotel Transylvania 3
Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp