3 Short Paragraphs: Bloodshot

2020, Dave Wilson (video game cinematic director, Bioshock Infinite) -- download

Not that Vin Diesel is hurting, but man, the guy's luck. Sure, he is doing well by the Furious franchise but as a head liner, things either bomb or, in this case, just not come out at all. Relegated to Straight To by The Pause, it actually might have been a blessing in disguise, as this was not likely to get any rave reviews. An adaptation of the 90s comic book property from Valiant, its classic not-comic-booky, as in removing itself entirely from the world of capes and becoming a sub-par actioner. If Valiant is hoping to do their own Universe thing, this does not bode well.

You see, the trouble with dumb actioners is that very few even try to be more than that. How do you expect to rise and become the next John Wick or Dredd if you are content with Good Enuff? You can see that Wilson had a desired look for his movie, with bright colour palette and strong archetype characters. But instead of doubling down on it, giving us solely his own style, he instead just kept on pulling back short of style to make a more "relatable" action movie, something more familiar.

Vin is Garrison, a soldier killed after watching the kidnapping and torture of his wife by a bad movie cliche Bad Guy. But not really. Garrison is actually a resurrected soldier, killed in action yes, but his backstory is being manipulated by Guy Pearce, in another of his many Evil Company Overlord roles. Pearce's Dr. Harting re-builds super soldiers, claiming to be a hi-tech Waramps program, but really he just wants to perfect a technology he can sell. In Garrison's instance, his body was filled with nanites that heal his injuries, provide him super strength and a connection to technology. When Garrison discovers he is being reset (mind wiped) again and again, so that Harting can take care of the competition, he goes rogue and kills all the Bad Guys.