Movie Review: Birds of Prey (2020)

The DC Cinematic Universe rolls on! Their latest picture brings the DC Universe's resident all-heroine team known as the Birds of Prey to the big screen. When the villainous Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) goes after a young pickpocket named Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) who absconded with a very important jewel, it's up to former Suicide Squad member Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), police officer Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), vengeance-seeking assassin Helena "Huntress" Bertinelli (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and superpowered singer Dinah "Black Canary" Lance (Jurnee Smollet-Bell) to stop the mad crime boss. Can they save young Cassandra, and bring down Black Mask? Or is their film a gigantic mess? Let's find out.

The big thing I want to say is that the cast is very good. Two of the standouts are obviously Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis/Black Mask and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. You could tell they were clearly having a blast playing their characters. Robbie's Harley is surprisingly sympathetic and genuinely hilarious at times. I liked that she got to show that psychology knowledge at times.

I liked that the film gave some spotlight to a lesser-known villain in the Batman mythos. Black Mask, I feel, is not as famous as say, Penguin, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, or a certain homicidal clown who got his own movie recently. He has appeared outside of comics in other media, but ha hasn't made as many appearances in other media as other Batman rogues have. It's great he's getting some spotlight here. I liked the approach of portraying him as a smooth, charming rogue...who also is very ruthless and narcissistic.

Speaking of lesser-known Batman villains getting spotlight, we also get Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz. His Zsasz was wonderfully deranged and creepy. Something else interesting is that the film appears to hint that maybe there was something romantic going on between him and Roman. At least, that's the vibe I got from them.

One character I felt bad for was Huntress. I felt she didn't really get a lot of screen time and development. I enjoyed her being shown to be somewhat socially awkward when she wasn't trying to kill gangsters with her crossbow.

One thing that did confuse me about this film was the "R" rating. I felt like the film didn't really earn the rating. The characters were pretty potty-mouthed, but that's really about it. There was violence, but I felt it wasn't extreme enough to warrant the rating. The film was not really overly bloody or gory, so it made me think that they could have made the film PG-13 easily if they just turned down the characters' swearing a bit.

Also, I have criticized the advertising of the film or being rather Harley-centric in the past. And yes, Harley is very much the main character of this movie. There is a part of me that does feel they could have done this movie with giving her the lion's share of the spotlight. I am hoping this film does get a sequel in which the Birds of Prey can get to shine.

On the whole, the film is really good. It's unabashedly bonkers, there's some great fight scenes and set pieces. However, if you're a fan of Cassandra Cain, you may be a bit disappointed with her portrayal in the film, although Ella Jay Basco did do well with what she was given.

Birds of Prey Trailer #2, My Thoughts

Back in October 2019, I gave my thoughts on the first trailer for the upcoming film Birds of Prey, based on the DC comic book of the same name. I remember not being very impressed with the trailer, mainly because I felt that the film was more about Harley Quinn then actually about the Birds of Prey. Say what you want about Joker, but at least that film actually did focus on the titular character.

A new trailer has come out, so maybe we'll see the Birds get some more spotlight. Let's find out in my look at the second Birds of Prey trailer!

"These boots are made for walkin'...and that's just what they'll do..."

Yeah, if Margot Robbie can't do a good Brooklyn/"New Yawk"-type accent, maybe she shouldn't have just...not done it.

Yeah, she'll be back to him. She always comes back to him.

Remember folks, this film is called Birds of Prey.

Considering Harley's association with Joker and willing participation in his crimes, I can get why a lot of people would want her dead.

So evidently, cocaine is for Harley what spinach is to Popeye the Sailor. I expected her to flex a bicep and it showing an image of generators going FULL POWAH.

Shopping with Harley is likely an experience that has inspired nightmares.

And there's the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" bit again. I would not be surprised if this was just put in randomly. It...would kind of fit, actually. Considering Harley's character and all. You have noticed I have not mentioned the actual Birds yet, right?

Fun fact. In the comics, Cassandra Cain is the daughter of two assassins, David Cain and Lady Shiva. She was trained from birth to be an assassin herself. She was deprived of human contact, and never even taught to read or write. In fact, she was taught to speak through fighting. As such, in her early appearances in the comics, she was mute as a result of this. However, she was able to read body language to the point that she could predict what a person could do before they did it, based on how they moved their body. It made her one of the best fighters in the DC Universe, able to give even Batman a run for his money. Here, she's just some pickpocket, evidently. But for this...I get it. Can't have her outshine Harley Quinn.

This really should have been a Gotham City Sirens movie.

Oh, what do you know? Black Mask actually puts on a black mask. Finally.

This film is definitely Harley Quinn: The Movie.

Oh yeah, little nod to Harley being a psychiatrist in the comics...before she went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Would it kill anyone to show Huntress at least wearing something purple?

A bunch of characters that are not really going to be in the movie...and Harley Quinn.

Well, this was something. As I have said, the trailers have not really been getting me hyped for this movie. And this one...hasn't either. I do think that the Birds of Prey should get a movie. Captain Marvel showed people want to see female heroes kick butt on film. But I still get the impression this was intended to be a Harley Quinn solo movie and the Birds got tacked on to. A shame, really.

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Birds of Prey Trailer, My Thoughts

Back in January, I gave my thoughts on the teaser for the DC Cinematic Universe's upcoming eighth film, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn). Yeah, that title is a mouthful, huh? I also remember not being overly hyped for this film. Mainly, I was concerned that the Birds of Prey would be ignored in favor of Harley Quinn. And the title of the movie (not to mention that Margot Robbie is producing the movie) did not help.

Well, a new trailer is out! Will we get to see more of the Birds of Prey? Let's find out!

In case you're wondering, Harley is talking to Black Canary in this scene. She's played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell. I think she's supposed to be a punk rocker. Considering Canary's sonic powers, her being a singer kind of fits.

That face says, "I'm not going to be in this movie much, am I?"

She and Joker broke up. Yeah, that'll last. She always comes back to him. That's kind of the tragedy of the character.

I know who Rosie Perez is, and she's playing Renee Montoya.

And hey, it's Huntress! She's played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. I do wish the crossbow was purple, though. Still is neat, though.

...how did that place get the hyenas? I'd imagine Harley stole them from a zoo myself.

Ewan McGregor! He plays Black Mask...who is not wearing his black mask. I hope he gets that in this movie.

"We're henchman, you looney tune! Your ex used to kill us a lot!"

Aww, don't be sad, Ewan! We're happy to see you back as Obi-Wan Kenobi!

And there's the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes homage. And what IS that song?

In case you're wondering, the young girl is Cassandra Cain. In the comics, she became the...third Batgirl, I think. She was pretty popular. Then DC erased her from continuity, when brought her back, and it's all a massive fustercluck.

I can imagine this version of Harley sees everything like she's in a Looney Tunes cartoon. Would make sense, they are both owned by Warner Bros.

Well, this trailer...really did not dispel my concerns about this film being essentially "Harley Quinn and Other People". She really overtook the trailer, didn't she? I don't think we saw much of the actual Birds of Prey. That's not surprising. I do want to see a Birds of Prey film, but I would like it to focus on the actual Birds of Prey. The film may seem decent and maybe even enjoyable, but I want the Birds. I want a film called "Birds of Prey" to be about the Birds of Prey. I'm not getting that impression from this trailer.

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Birds of Prey Teaser, My Thoughts

In 1995, DC Comics put out a one-shot comic called Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey. This one-shot brought together the former Batgirl and the Sonic-Screaming Siren for the first of many adventures as their partnership would expand to becoming a full-on team over the years over several ongoing series. The group was unique as the big draw was that the membership was composed solely of female superheroes for much of its existence (Hawk did briefly join the group post-Brightest Day).

The title was also known for propelling writer Gail Simone to fame, as her run on the book became very popular and established the "iconic" roster of the team: Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress, and Lady Blackhawk. The Birds would be homaged in various media, including a TV show, cartoons, the Arrow television series, but now the Birds are flying into their own live-action movie!

Yes, the DCEU's eighth film will be focusing on the Birds, and Harley Quinn will be joining them for the ride. A teaser is out, so let's take a look!

It makes sense Harley would be shown first. The full title of this movie is Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn). Yeah, it's a mouthful. And it makes me think this film will just be a Harley solo with the Birds cameoing in a scene.

They...raced by everyone rather fast. Some teaser this was. Hey, you can slow it down a bit! Let us see these characters! Alright, I'm going to have to do some pausing to see them, and that is a bit annoying. Why did they do this?

I did see some of the stills of some of the characters in the movie on Twitter, and I...was not impressed.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! What is Harley wearing?! She looks like a drunken mutant peacock!

See you soon? Unlikely, Miss Quinn. That seems unlikely I will see you soon.

I know that it's a very short teaser, but watching it...it doesn't make me excited for this movie. It looks like a step backwards. I really enjoyed Aquaman and Wonder Woman. With them, especially Aquaman, it seemed like the DCEU finally got over the fact they're adapting comic books to film, and started to embrace it. I know it's only a thirty-second teaser, but it doesn't make me hyped.

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