Movies: “SUICIDE SQUAD” SOARS TO MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS,P276-M IN PH Warner Bros. Pictures’ Band of Antiheroes Hits the $500Million Mark at the Global Box Office After Just 13 Days in Theaters

BURBANK, CA, August 18, 2016 – Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “Suicide Squad” flew past half a billion dollars after 13 days in theaters around the globe, with a cumulative total of $509 million and counting.  Having set records in its first two weeks in release, the film will help drive the overall August box office to a record high.  The announcement was made today by Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Kwan Vandenberg stated, “It is incredibly rewarding to see audiences around the world coming out in such a big way for ‘Suicide Squad.’  We have several major markets yet to open, and expect to continue seeing strong returns at the box office for the weeks to come.”

Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, added, “We’re thrilled with the huge numbers on ‘Suicide Squad,’ and to be coming out of an already highly successful summer with such a big win for our slate.  The film is in position for another terrific weekend as our overseas expansion continues.”

The U.S. box office total now stands at more than $238 million; the international figure is $271 million, with the film opening in Germany this weekend and in Japan on September 10.

In the Philippines, “Suicide Squad” continues to dominate the box-office with current gross receipts at P276 million, and still counting.

            From writer/director David Ayer comes “Suicide Squad,” starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis.

            It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super-Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do.  However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

            Written and directed by Ayer based on the characters from DC Entertainment, the film also stars Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, Adam Beach, and Karen Fukuhara in her feature film debut.  It is produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

            Now showing across the Philippines, “Suicide Squad” is  distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.  

You can check out my review on #SuicideSquad here. 

Movie News: “SUICIDE SQUAD” A BOX OFFICE HERO WITH $267-M GLOBAL OPENING HAUL

David Ayers’ debut of DC Super-Villains grosses P161-M in PH in four days!

August 7, 2016 – DC’s favorite lineup of incarcerated antiheroes arrested the global box office this weekend, with “Suicide Squad” topping $267 million and smashing records for both the film and its many players. The announcement was made today by Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

With a U.S. total of $135.1 million for the weekend, the movie broke several records for the month of August, including: the largest opening weekend; the largest pre/midnight show with $20.5 million, which includes the largest-ever IMAX pre-shows at $2.3 million; and the largest Friday (over $65.2 million), Saturday ($38.8 million) and Sunday (over $31 million).

Internationally, “Suicide Squad” took in a total of $132 million in 57 territories, setting numerous records, including: the all-time biggest August opening; the biggest August opening for an IMAX film at $7.2 million; and the second-largest DC film opening of all time. The movie dominated the theaters in such markets as the Philippines, UK, Russia, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, France and Spain.

In the Philippines, our heroic villains captured a smash opening weekend gross of P161.26-million in just four days. Several box-office records also fell, including all-time biggest August opening weekend, all-time biggest opening weekend for an R-rated film, and all-time biggest opening weekend for a Will Smith film.

Worldwide, the film enjoyed the highest August weekend ever for IMAX at $18.2 million. And on both the U.S. and international fronts, the film marks the highest opening ever for writer/director David Ayer, as well as for all of the film’s stars.

Kwan Vandenberg, in making the announcement, stated, “We knew there was great anticipation for this film, but we are thrilled to see that translated to such a spectacular result. And with key territories like Japan, Germany and Italy yet to open, we feel confident that the Squad will continue to entertain audiences everywhere for the foreseeable future.”

Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, said, “This film is such a great ride and these characters clearly connected with a broad range of moviegoers in a very real way. We congratulate the cast and filmmakers and everyone who worked on the campaign—it’s extremely gratifying to see their efforts appreciated at this level.”

From writer/director David Ayer comes “Suicide Squad,” starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis.

It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super-Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do.  However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

Written and directed by Ayer based on the characters from DC Entertainment, the film also stars Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, Adam Beach, and Karen Fukuhara in her feature film debut. It is produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

Now showing across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in IMAX 3D theaters, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Movies: WILL SMITH ON TARGET AS DEADSHOT IN “SUICIDE SQUAD”

In my non-spoiler movie review, I talk about how Will Smith's Deadshot got a big role in the film, he had a lot of screen time and dialogue. While some may that he got the added screen time because he is a big star, you should know that Deadshot did have a bigger role in "Assault on Arkham" the direct to video animated movie which features the Suicide Squad. So let's not be to quick to rush about things. 

Smith's take on Deadshot is the third that I've seen, counting the one in "Assault on Arkham" and the one in CW's Arrow series and I can say that Will Smith is definitely a refreshing Deadshot. Some of my favorite lines in the film, come from him. I guess it's how he delivers them. "Will Smith Swagger". More Will Smith's Deadshot below! 

You can also read my non-spoiler review for Suicide Squad here. 

Superstar Will Smith leads the Super Villains ensemble as master marksman Deadshot in Warner Bros. Pictures' action adventure “Suicide Squad.”

(Watch “Suicide Squad's” It's Good to Be Bad featurette here at https://youtu.be/H0PAbJPRlcw.)

“I have always loved the superhero genre, and [director-writer] David Ayer wanted to make a truly fun film that put a powerful story into the package, which looked at the difference between being bad and being evil. I thought it was a great opportunity to play a character who, seeing as he’s a father, is very much at odds with what he does for a living but at the same time really, really good at it,” he smiles.

“The Suicide Squad is comprised of all these deadly incarcerated villains,” explains producer Charles Roven. “What would they do, given the chance to reduce their sentences or even gain their freedom, even if it’s likely they won’t survive the mission? And they take that shot—not that they’re given much choice.”

Though seemingly given a “choice,” the prisoners who will become the Suicide Squad will have to learn to work as a team—literally. This is no voluntary gig. Plucked from the notorious Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary, which is designed to hold the “worst of the worst,” Deadshot and fellow inmates Harley Quinn, Killer Croc and Diablo, among others, aren’t exactly given an appealing alternative to playing along. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller, a ruthless, manipulative operative who prides herself on her ability to get people to act against their own self-interest, sees to that.

Like a young daughter he may never see again? Enter Deadshot, whom Waller has quite cleverly managed to toss into Belle Reve with the aid of Gotham City’s most famous crime fighter. As the group’s (and likely the world’s) greatest assassin, he’s quite a prize for the penitentiary. But Waller has a more effective use of his talents on her mind.

“Deadshot has a daughter he loves more than anything, and he wants desperately to be a great father,” reveals Will Smith. “But at the same time he keeps the lights on by being a hitman. He’s deeply conflicted by the paradox of his love for Zoe and the fact that he gets pleasure out of ridding the world of trash.”

It is this internal conflict that Waller manipulates as events unfold, promising Deadshot a chance at paternal redemption—the chance for a normal family life—no matter how unlikely it seems.

As a parent himself, Smith readily understood Deadshot’s desire to be the best father possible, but the assassin’s visceral love of murder was a tougher nut to crack. “I could not get my head around the idea of killing people for money,” says Smith. “But then I read a book called The Anatomy of Motive by John Douglas, who had worked in the FBI profiling unit. One of the first lines in the book is, ‘Why did he do it? Simple, because it felt good.’ That was such an explosive moment of comprehension for me. The question became not why did he do it, but why did it feel good? As an actor, I always hit a wall when I want to know why someone does something versus just accepting the fact that they enjoy it. That book really helped me understand Deadshot’s need for power and dominance and to create a back story of how during his childhood he must have felt really disempowered…how targets remind him of people who were unkind to him in the past.”

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in IMAX 3D theaters on Thursday, August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. 

Movie Review: Suicide Squad

Stepping away from their usually dark tones, DC puts up the lights, the music and the jokes in "Suicide Squad". Now before I continue with this non-spoiler review I have to let you know that I did see Batman: Assault on Arkham which is the direct-to-video animated movie that features the Suicide Squad, so I may have different views from other critics about the film. 

Let's continue. I appreciate that David Ayer's "Suicide Squad" took some cues from the animated movie, most especially where they introduce each character. Yup, if you were wondering what was up with the flashing names and criminal history 101 at the first part, they were giving a nod to the animated movie. No qualms here, I was happy that they acknowledged a different material of the characters. 

So we are introduced to the Suicide Squad,  a covert team assembled by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) in all out bad-ass, conniving, manipulating, 'gangster' mode. Everyone should be scared of her and not Killer Croc. Kudos to the award winning Viola Davis for her tough-as-nails, I go-up-against bad-guys Waller (more on her later).

After the team is assembled they head to their mission (a secret at this point, no spoilers after all). 

A good chunk of the first part of the movie is mostly back tracking to the characters and because it is a team of super villains, this can take some time, which is probably why I felt that the movie took a while to finally come together (about 3/4 into it) but what can you expect, when you have a big cast of relatively unknown bad guys, you want your audiences to connect with them in some way, so you have to show bits and pieces of their past.  

Moving along. A friend of mine, my seat mate at work actually said that Will Smith, being a big superstar will steal the movie, despite it being an ensemble cast. He was right in some ways as Smith who plays Deadshot definitely had a lot of lines and screen time in the film, but what moviegoers may not know is that Deadshot has a lead role in Assault on Arkham so all the spotlight on him in Suicide Squad is understandable, my husband for one, missed the cool Will Smith, and said that it was nice to see him taking on Deadshot with his brand of swagger. 

Too many villains. Not much villainy? 

I read a lot of reviews, criticizing "Suicide Squad" for having so much villains but lacking in villainy, they were mostly unhappy about the main antagonist in the film. But let me give you this, in a film full of villains, who will your antagonist be? For me, the real villain in the film is "gangster" Amanda Waller, who plays the characters like pawns in her game, she manipulates them and controls them with her own vested interests in mind. The scary thing about it, is that on the outside, she's the "good guy" as a high-ranking government official. After all, it was through Waller's efforts that all the trouble starts, in the first place. (Stop. No Spoilers).  

I was just surprised that they were able to keep the antagonist under wraps. I did not see that coming and did not mind the twist in the story. Very different from "Assault on Arkham". That is all that I am saying. My lips are sealed. 

I guess what Suicide Squad was also trying to do was to show these bad guys, in another light. They may be motivated by different goals, greed, money, love and their life choices may not fit within our society but they have some innate good in them, even if they themselves won't admit it. 

  

A little too less Joker? 

Okay- I will have to admit that there was a little too less of Jared Leto's Joker in the film, I definitely would have wanted to see more of that but even in "Assault" The Joker was just a side conflict, never really getting to the main plot. I liked Leto's take on the Joker and would like to see more, in a future Batman movie perhaps? Please? The green hair and his physique was really the Joker of my childhood. So more please. Please. 

A mistake in a song

This one, I will have to agree in, I love the song choices for "Suicide Squad" from the trailers to the original OST and the songs we heard in the movie, there was classic rock care of Queen, and I love "Seven Nation Army" but why, of why did they have to include Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" which coincidentally is also on the "Guardians of the Galaxy" Awesome Mix Vol. 1, which led to some viewers to compare the ensemble cast to each other. While both 'squads' may not be outstanding members of society, you have to remember that "Suicide Squad" was assembled by those in a higher power, coercing, using and threatening them against their will. I think that warrants for a line to be drawn in not comparing the two. 

So despite the negative reviews the film is getting from critics, I still urge you to see it with your own eyes and decide for yourself. It's a bida-kontrabida ala DC and it was fun. I enjoyed it. I may not have been a fan of dramatic El Diablo or dramatic Katana for that matter but it was a 'hell of a ride' once it got off the air. It may have taken some time but it was worth the wait. 

8 out of 10. "Suicide Squad" is an explosion of gun fire and a big unknown weapon wrecking havoc, these guys may not like the job but they will do it any way and in the guns-a-blazing, no care for the consequences way that only they can pull off. Worth seeing in iMAX. 

Suicide Squad is in  theaters tom! 

If I have time, I may come out with a review that has spoilers, but let's see. :) 

Movies: THE JOKER LOVES HARLEY QUINN IN “SUICIDE SQUAD”

Oscar-winner Jared Leto and Margot Robbie play the world's ultimate dysfunctional couple The Joker and Harley Quinn in Warner Bros. Pictures' wickedly fun action-adventure “Suicide Squad.”

While most complicated people try to keep their weaknesses a secret, former psychiatrist Dr. Harleen Quinzel (Robbie) wears hers on her sleeve. She openly expresses her love for the Joker, a man she was once assigned to psychoanalyze at the notorious Arkham Asylum prison, but for whom she now brands herself with tattoos that bear his name and symbols. Her transformation into Harley Quinn—Joker’s lover and the target of his twisted affections—was the result of the tables turned by a master manipulator.

But Harley has been separated from her true love by the thick walls of Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary, which is designed to hold the “worst of the worst.”

Harley’s love for her boyfriend initially troubled Margot Robbie, who was tasked with bringing the harlequin to life. “Why does she love this guy?” the actress asks. “It was one of the things I really struggled to crack with this character. She’s so strong and smart and such a badass, she’s just awesome, but then she falls to pieces over this guy all the time. It’s something I didn’t like about her because I didn’t understand it at first. So, because she’s a psychiatrist, I decided to do research into the concept of codependence. I was taken by the idea that people could really live their life for one person. And it turns out it’s not really about the person, it’s a compulsion like alcohol or drug addiction. Once I thought of her relationship with Joker in those terms, as an addiction, I had a world of empathy for her.”

Ayer found himself fascinated by Harley’s psyche as well. “She’s a bit of a female Joker,” he says, “she has this amazingly chaotic personality; she’s mad, she’s uncensored, does what she wants. She’s only been around in the comics since the 1990s, but has leapt off the page ever since she appeared, and Margot worked hard to take her even further, from the page to the screen, with all the spontaneity and humor and power fans love about the character.”

But what of the Joker in return? Does he truly love Harley? Jared Leto doesn’t let on any more than his character would. “The Joker has a very strong attachment to Harley,” says Leto. “No one else really matters very much, but why would they when you’ve got her? What’s the rest of the world? It’s just a game. We’re sharing a wicked dream and having a good laugh.” But once she’s taken away, will he bother to try and find her?

Leto courageously took on the role of the lunatic who so easily takes to the asylum. “The Joker is iconic, a legend,” he declares. “He’s been around for 75 years, and there are so many variations of his story. The Joker is Mount Everest: one of those impossible ideas where you most likely can’t achieve what you set out to do. It was terrifying and exciting and a total honor to take on that role.”

It was a challenge for director-writer David Ayer in scripting the character as well. “The Joker is a fascinating, complex guy, but it was terrifying to work with that character because he’s one of the best-known villains in Western fiction. He has this incredible history, and the trick was to be respectful of the legacy of the Joker and the canon and everything that has come before. To understand the core of that character and not tamper with that, yet at the same time reinvent the Joker for this film.”

Leto also admits the notion was daunting at first. “I remember when I got the call, I had this simultaneous feeling of excitement and dread. As soon as I heard the word Joker I knew that I was going to have to dive really deep and go to a place I had never gone before. He’s been interpreted so beautifully, they should almost put a cap on the well and just call it. But then there was the other side: what else could I uncover? What could I do that hadn’t been done? The side of me that likes exploration, adventure, to push the envelope, was set on fire immediately. And it changed me forever. It was such an immersive, challenging, unique experience going into that rabbit hole. I never thought in a million years I would have the chance to play a role like this.”

Robbie, whose scenes with the Joker were her most intimate, found her co-star’s interpretation both energizing and unnerving. “Jared and I didn’t really do any rehearsals,” she relates, “so when we got in front of the camera those scenes were just electric because those characters are so unpredictable.”

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in IMAX 3D theaters on Thursday, August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Movies: WORST HEROES EVER IN “SUICIDE SQUAD”

Is it ever a good thing to be the bad guy? In Warner Bros. Pictures's “Suicide Squad,” the most improbable crew of crazy criminals ever thrown together will find out when they are united on a mission to save the world that turns into the wildest, weirdest, wickedest ride of their already insanity-filled lives.

“The Suicide Squad is essentially a team—though a wholly reluctant one—of DC’s Super-Villains,” explains writer/director David Ayer. “Because who better to defeat one Super-Villain than another or, in this case, a whole gang of Super-Villains? It was pretty exciting for me because it let me explore a different version of the superhero movie; they’re the absolute flipside of heroes.”

Though they may not consider their exploits to be heroic yet (or ever), the Squad’s adventure will encompass all the heightened thrills, shrewd antics and full-blown combat that go along with the actions of their more traditional counterparts. They’ll just have to try to behave, to be on the better side of bad…for now.

Producer Charles Roven, a veteran of the genre, offers, “I felt it was really interesting to make a film with the DC bad guys, to see which of them are truly evil and which might have some redeeming factors. The Suicide Squad is comprised of all these deadly incarcerated villains. What would they do, given the chance to reduce their sentences or even gain their freedom, even if it’s likely they won’t survive the mission? And they take that shot—not that they’re given much choice.”

Though seemingly given a “choice,” the prisoners who will become the Suicide Squad will have to learn to work as a team—literally. This is no voluntary gig. Plucked from the notorious Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary, which is designed to hold the “worst of the worst,” Deadshot and fellow inmates Harley Quinn, Killer Croc and Diablo, among others, aren’t exactly given an appealing alternative to playing along. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller, a ruthless, manipulative operative who prides herself on her ability to get people to act against their own self-interest, sees to that.

“It starts with the screenplay, and David’s are incredibly rich, the characters jump off the page, because he creates this incredible sense of reality,” producer Richard Suckle says. “What I love, too, is that he has this edginess to his writing; there’s a swagger in the characters and films that he’s made. He’s the perfect guy to take these Super-Villains and make them as palatable and exciting as anyone else in the world of a DC film.”

Roven readily agrees, adding, “One of the wonderful things about David’s writing is that he can certainly hit the dramatics, but he also gives these characters great personality, and that results in many of them having fabulous wit, great lines of dialogue that fit into the situation, that come from the character so they feel real. Even in such intensified circumstances as these anti-heroes find themselves in, you just can’t help but laugh and enjoy them, they are just so unusually funny. It’s an action adventure film that has a lot of dark humor to it.”

“For me, the power of the DC brand is its universal qualities; there is a truth to these characters,” Ayer says. “They’re a vehicle for our modern values, but the characters themselves are also echoes of past mythologies. That’s their timeless nature and why I think they’ll always be attractive. And that’s why I was eager to tell a story with this particular set of characters, and to see them come to life on film.”

Few teams could be considered more visually appealing than the wildly colorful members of the Suicide Squad, who, along with the pure spectacle of the actioner’s larger-than-life battles and tenaciously hedonistic soundtrack, present an all-out psychedelic confection for summer moviegoers.

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in IMAX 3D theaters on Thursday, August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. 

Movies: GET TO KNOW THE BADDIES AROUND THE “SUICIDE SQUAD

You've met the members of “Suicide Squad” last week, now get to know the baddies around them in director David Ayer's epic, mad adventure “Suicide Squad” (in Philippine cinemas August 04).

AMANDA WALLER (Viola Davis). A hard-as-nails career U.S. intelligence officer who makes bad things happen to bad people, Amanda Waller is the secret commander of the Suicide Squad and cares only about the operation at hand—everyone is expendable when serving the greater good. She puts the inaugural Squad together in order to attempt an impossible mission, ensuring herself easy patsies to take the blame and zero personal accountability if things go wrong.

COLONEL RICK FLAG (Joel Kinnaman). Amanda Waller’s second-in-command, Colonel Rick Flag is the best Tier One Shooter the armed forces has produced, which makes him even more suspicious of a homegrown cannon like Deadshot (Will Smith). A military man through and through, Flag is in charge of keeping this disparate group in line.

THE JOKER (Jared Leto). Chaos personified, The Joker is incredibly dangerous and revels in every single moment of the chaos he creates. Batman’s greatest, most unpredictable adversary, he is also Arkham Asylum’s most infamous resident, as well as the love of Squad member Harley Quinn’s life.

KATANA (Karen Fukuhara). Dressed in Samurai-inspired, street fighter garb and ballistic facemask, Katana wields the Soultaker, a large Samurai sword that traps the souls of all its victims. A cold-blooded killer, she serves as a member of the Squad, but is also there as an associate of Colonel Rick Flag to keep the others in line.

LIEUTENANT “GQ” EDWARDS (Scott Eastwood). The leader of the Navy SEAL team assigned to the Squad’s mission, Lieutenant “GQ” Edwards – along with fellow SEALs Anvil, Gomez and Kowalski – wears his confidence as easily as his personal armory of weapons.

“Suicide Squad” follows the events of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and takes place in a post-Superman world where the government tries to determine how to respond in the event that an alien with more villainous intentions visits Earth. Ruthless intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) offers to recruit society’s worst criminals, those possessing lethal skills and superhuman powers. Her first target: the possessed archaeologist June Moone/Enchantress (Cara Delevingne).

When Midway City is threatened by a powerful mystical enemy, Waller’s plan gets the go-ahead. She cuts deals with the whole squad of prisoners: Deadshot (Will Smith) gets his Second Amendment rights reinstated, Harley (Margot Robbie) is set free from her cage, Diablo (Jay Hernandez) steps out of his fireproof prison, Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and Slipknot (Adam Beach) each get to wield their signature weapons once more, and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje) emerges from the swamp. The only condition is this: Obey orders or die. This is strictly enforced by squad leader Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), the samurai Katana (Karen Fukuhara), and of course the explosive devices – developed by Wayne Enterprises – inserted into their necks. However, the arrival of the tatted-up Gotham City mega-criminal, the Joker (Jared Leto), might doom the mission thanks to his plan to reunite with his true love, Harley.

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters on August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.www.suicidesquad.net 

Movie News: MEET THE SUPER VILLAINS ASSEMBLED FOR “SUICIDE SQUAD”

Meet the world's most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains assembled by the U.S. government on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity, in director David Ayer's “Suicide Squad” (in Philippine cinemas August 04).

DEADSHOT (Will Smith) —aka Floyd Lawton—is a career mafia hit man and possibly the best marksman in the world. A stone cold pro who works alone, trusting no one, his one soft spot is his young daughter, Zoe, whom the government uses as means to exploit the precision gunman into joining its mission.

HARLEY QUINN (Margot Robbie) —aka Dr. Harleen Quinzel—is a beautiful young psychiatrist who treats the criminally insane patients at Arkham Asylum, including The Joker…until he turns the tables on her. As crazy as she is desirable, Harley views life as one big, chaotic joke.

CAPTAIN BOOMERANG (Jai Courtney). An Australian roughneck, Captain Boomerang is devious, scheming and ruthless … and that’s his good side. Utilizing an assortment of his trademark weapon—razor-sharp, incendiary and electrically charged boomerangs—his wise-cracking attitude and short fuse often irritate the other Squad members and escalate the already dangerous situation.

DIABLO (Jay Hernandez). His face bearing a tattooed skull, this one-time gang member can create and manipulate fire to do his bidding. But Diablo is haunted by the misdeeds of his past, and if he allows his temper to flare, there’s no telling how much destruction he might cause.

KILLER CROC (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). A huge man for whom evolution is working backward, Killer Croc’s square jaw, cracked and scaly skin and toothy grin evoke the most fearsome of reptiles, but it’s his skill at surviving and maneuvering in dark, dank, filthy sewers that makes him a deadly foe when he’s in his element.

DR. JUNE MOONE / ENCHANTRESS (Cara Delevingne). Possessed by Enchantress—a diaphanous, ethereal, wickedly beautiful witch as old as time—June Moone struggles to hold on to her humanity while being overpowered by the seductress.

SLIPKNOT (Adam Beach) – aka Christopher Weiss – is a master in the use of elaborate ropes and tackle, including unbreakable ones. This trained assassin can climb anything.

“Suicide Squad” follows the events of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and takes place in a post-Superman world where the government tries to determine how to respond in the event that an alien with more villainous intentions visits Earth. Ruthless intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) offers to recruit society’s worst criminals, those possessing lethal skills and superhuman powers. Her first target: the possessed archaeologist June Moone/Enchantress (Cara Delevingne).

When Midway City is threatened by a powerful mystical enemy, Waller’s plan gets the go-ahead. She cuts deals with the whole squad of prisoners: Deadshot (Will Smith) gets his Second Amendment rights reinstated, Harley (Margot Robbie) is set free from her cage, Diablo (Jay Hernandez) steps out of his fireproof prison, Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and Slipknot (Adam Beach) each get to wield their signature weapons once more, and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje) emerges from the swamp. The only condition is this: Obey orders or die. This is strictly enforced by squad leader Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), the samurai Katana (Karen Fukuhara), and of course the explosive devices – developed by Wayne Enterprises – inserted into their necks. However, the arrival of the tattooed-up Gotham City mega-criminal, the Joker (Jared Leto), might doom the mission thanks to his plan to reunite with his true love, Harley.

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters on August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.www.suicidesquad.net 

Movie News: Comic Book Style Poster for Suicide Squad Revealed!

Something to keep you going through the week! New Suicide Squad Posters! 

Fresh from last week’s epic reveal, Warner Bros. Pictures has unleashed a new batch of character posters for “Suicide Squad" all bearing a comic-book theme.

The wacky character one-sheets feature Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Jay Hernandez as Diablo, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, and Adam Beach as Slipknot.

From director David Ayer (“Fury”) comes “Suicide Squad.” It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters on August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.www.suicidesquad.net

Movies: Suicide Squad Posters Revealed

Get your #SquadGoals on! We have Suicide Squad Posters to enjoy! 

Warner Bros. Pictures has just done a big reveal of 11 character posters for its eagerly anticipated “Suicide Squad.”

Get a load of the colorful character one-sheets featuring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Jay Hernandez as Diablo, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, and Adam Beach as Slipknot.

From director David Ayer (“Fury”) comes “Suicide Squad.” It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters on August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. www.suicidesquad.net

Movie News: WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ CINEMACON PRESENTATION HITS THE JACKPOT IN LAS VEGAS

SUICIDE SQUAD Cast (Jai Courtney, Cara Delevigne, Joel Kinnaman, Will Smith, Jay Hernandez, Adam Beach, Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje, Karen Fukuhara, Margot Robbie & Jared Leto)

Big Movies, Big Stars and Big News Take

Center Stage at the Studio’s Big Picture Presentation

BURBANK, CA, April 12, 2016 – Warner Bros. Pictures showcased an impressive lineup of talents and highly anticipated films at this year’s CinemaCon, which generated tremendous excitement for the Studio’s wide-ranging slate. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara opened the program and announced that Ben Affleck—who will again play the role of Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie—will direct, as well as star in, a new stand-alone Batman feature.

The Studio’s presentation was highlighted by trailers and film clips—including some never-before-seen footage—and appearances by some of the major stars and filmmakers involved in each of the movies. It also served to illustrate Tsujihara’s statement about the diversity of the slate: built on the foundation of the key franchises of DC Super Heroes, animated LEGO^® features, and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but also encompassing a broad scope of dramas, action adventures, horror thrillers and comedies.

There were also speeches from Sue Kroll, in her new post as Warner Bros. Pictures President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, who was recently named President of Worldwide Distribution.

LEGEND OF TARZAN (Christoph Waltz, Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson)

Remarking on the Warner Bros. event, Kroll said, “CinemaCon is always one of the high points of our year: when we get to introduce our upcoming slate to our partners in the exhibition community who are responsible for bringing our films to audiences worldwide. It was wonderful to have this opportunity to showcase the broad range of films Warner Bros. has on the horizon, as well as some of the extraordinary artists behind them.”

Kwan Vandenberg added, “We appreciated the enthusiastic participation of actors and filmmakers from every title, who added tremendous star power to the presentation. CinemaCon gives us a chance to reinforce our commitment to the big-screen experience on a global level.”

Kicking off the film presentation with a bang, Ben Affleck and Amy Adams introduced a thrilling reel spotlighting the Studio’s ambitious slate of DC films. The roster includes the new Justice League film, as well as stand-alone features for Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. Director Zack Snyder closed the reel with a greeting from the Justice League film set, surrounded by his stars.

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (Will Arnett and directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord)

The DC preview also included a glimpse of the summer’s hotly anticipated action adventure “Suicide Squad” and, immediately following, writer/director David Ayer took the stage and introduced the main ensemble cast, led by Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman. The extended version of the “Suicide Squad” trailer was met with loud applause and the buzz surrounding the film was palpable.

Host Mario Lopez then took the attendees through the rest of the summer line-up, including advance footage from the wide range of titles. The stars and filmmakers who excited the crowd about their upcoming films included: Russell Crowe for the action comedy “The Nice Guys”; Emilia Clarke for the drama “Me Before You” (from New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer); James Wan, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for the supernatural thriller “The Conjuring 2” (from New Line Cinema); Teresa Palmer and David F. Sandberg for the horror thriller “Lights Out” (from New Line Cinema); Kevin Hart and Rawson Marshall Thurber for the action comedy “Central Intelligence” (from New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures), which included a taped greeting from Dwayne Johnson; Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz for the adventure “The Legend of Tarzan” (from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures); and Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper for the comedic drama “War Dogs,” which is based on real events.

FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM 

(Colin Farrell, Alison Sudol, Eddie Redmayne & Dan Fogler)

Looking past the summer, Warner Bros. unveiled some of the films on the drawing board from the Warner Animation Group, or WAG for short. Three of the brilliant minds in the WAG think tank—Christopher Miller, Phil Lord and Nicholas Stoller—came to the stage to introduce a special reel featuring a few of the titles in the pipeline, anchored by three new films in the LEGO^® movie franchise: “The LEGO^®Batman Movie,” “The LEGO^® Movie 2” and “Ninjago.” Stoller, who co-directed the next WAG film on the slate, “Storks,” was joined by fellow director Doug Sweetland and voice talents Andy Samberg and Katie Crown to present new footage from the heartwarming and hilarious family adventure.

ME BEFORE YOU (Emilia Clarke) 

The animation portion wrapped with never-before-seen footage from “The LEGO^® Batman Movie,” which gives the breakout star of the hit “The LEGO^® Movie” a film of his own. Drawing laughter and enthusiastic applause, the clip was presented by producers Lord and Miller, joined by the voice of LEGO^® Batman himself, Will Arnett, who made a surprise appearance to the delight of everyone there.

Warner Bros. closed the presentation with a look at the most magical film of the year, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, which will bring moviegoers to a new place and time in the wizarding world. Four of the film’s stars, Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Colin Farrell, came to the stage to introduce the new teaser trailer and a look behind the scenes of the film, which has already captivated fans.