MovieChat Forums > Venom (2018) Discussion > Surprisingly Fresh

Surprisingly Fresh

posted 4 years ago by Ace_Spade (9544)
9 replies | jump to latest

Although it had a lot of the tired superhero schtick that's going around, the relationship (is that the right word for it?) between Eddie and Venom felt original and cool. It was like a twist on a buddy cop movie.

I do wish that the film had spent more time and effort developing their relationship and showing how each one affected the other (Eddie moving more towards Venom's nastiness while Eddie drags Venom into more moral territory), and I thought they should have made some of the symobiote details clearer (how/why they bond, how that relationship works), but that relationship core made the movie work - more or less.

The plot itself: okay, that was generic (although I liked the more sci-fi alien invasion), and the final fight was really dull (CGI gorillas punch each other...ooh) but it was better than most of the superhero tripe that's been out lately.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Just saw this and I agree with your thoughts 100% Ace.

I’d only add that the charisma and surprising comedic talents of Tom Hardy made for the most enjoyable lead performance in a Marvel film thus far.

A solid 3.5/5 for me.

[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 4 years ago

Yeah, I'd probably rank it a 3. So, pretty close to where you'd have it.

Hardy's performance was really great. I think Downey Jr. was at least his equal, though. He became so consistent throughout the MCU that I think people have forgotten how refreshing he was as a superhero lead in the first Iron Man. At the time we had Maguire's Spidey (who I really like), the Ioan Griffud/ Jessica Alba fantastic four, Eric Bana and Ed Norton Hulks, and so forth. Downey came out swinging as Stark.

But other than that, yes, Hardy's got the most engaging character in the MCU. I don't want to discredit Chris Evans, though, who does a fine job with Cap; but Eddie is just more darned interesting.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

You’re so right, RDJ was a revelation in the first Iron Man at least. The sequels didn’t do much for me and I pretty much avoided all the Avengers movies after being bored by the first one.

Funny you should mention Bana’s Hulk. I am in the tiny minority of people who loved that film. I personally think Ang Lee created something completely original and proved that a superhero film could be more than explosions and wisecracks. Such a sensitive drama film, let down only by the limitations of CGI at the time.

[–] Esterhowse (468) 4 years ago

" let down only by the limitations of CGI at the time."

Except that is not a small matter when CGI is the centerpiece of the movie. The CGI poodles were laugh out loud terrible. The Hulk looking like Barney Rubble every time he ran around.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I see what you mean but for me it was balanced by the inspired use of comic book frames which was such a simple but amazing artistic choice.

[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 4 years ago

I haven't seen the first Hulk film, actually, and I do intend to because of that minority report from people like you who say, "No, no; it's kinda special." I really like Ang Lee, so I do want to check it out.

[–] Esterhowse (468) 4 years ago

I agree that the relationship between Venom and Eddie was the best part, it wasn't enough to carry this movie.

Everything else in the movie was just terrible.

[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 4 years ago

Fair enough; I found that the Eddie-Venom angle was intriguing and unique enough to make me want to keep watching. But, yeah, there's a lot of other generic stuff in the film that doesn't work. The plot is forgettable, and the final fight is bland CGI monsters. They did get kinda creative with the action scenes, though, don't you think? I'm thinking about stuff like Venom as a creature feature monster terrifying as much as fighting (the lobby with the SWAT guys, e.g.)

[–] Esterhowse (468) 4 years ago

I really didn't find the action scenes in the movie to be any good.

Venom (the Symbiote) is such an awesome character. There are so many awesome things that can be done with that character, just not with Ruben Fleischer as a director or with jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg and
Kelly Marcel as the writers.