Bloodshot ⭐️⭐️½
Put me the column that appreciates creative marketing. Sony has made a smart move for their film that had its theatrical release cut short. It was one of the last two movies I was able to see before theaters closed. In retrospect, I could have seen a few others, but I held out so Kara and I could watch on our vacation together last week in Vegas.
And then the theaters all closed .. and then the casinos … and then pretty much everything except for drive-thru, take-out, grocery stores and well, you know.
But back to the “extended preview” as its being labeled.
So will we start to see more extended previews of movies? Especially movies that haven’t had the luxury of a theatrical release? Bloodshot only made $10 million during its first week, which means 99% of the population has not seen those first nine minutes.
Sony Just Gave Us The First 9 Minutes Of ‘Bloodshot’ For Free
From the interesting way to market your new VOD, Sony has released the first 9 minutes for free, watch it below.
Some (most?) action films are more action-packed than the first 9 minutes of Bloodshot, so not sure who compelling this will work out, but hey, I’m not knocking the concept. Get people a little into it, then bam, click on over to your nearest VOD for the full meal deal.
I will say this: I’d rather pay $20 and own the film forever than pay $19.99 to rent it. In the case of Bloodshot, you can own it.
Yay, on that front.
From here on out, warning as we’re venturing into spoiler territory. I would bookmark and come back after you’ve seen the film.
…. you’ve been warned SPOILERS ahead …
Vin Diesel, a brooding, boring comic book character
I like Vin Diesel. That super low voice, the menacing, muscular build and bald head. He’s ready to kick ass and chew bubblegum (ha! some of you will get that reference), but as this Valiant comic book character being brought back from the dead with nanotech giving him the Wolverine-type regeneration treatment? Um, no.
Please give me Fast & Furious Vin Diesel.
Maybe some (most?) of this was the script’s fault, but I wasn’t as engaged in Diesel’s character as say Paul Kersey in Death Wish or The Punisher. Instead, it’s like, yeah, he was killed, he wants revenge, these nanobots repair him, o … k.
Obnoxious Score
I dig a good 80s score, but this one was loud and obnoxious and sometimes out of place. I like the music and sound to add and enhance what’s on the screen, not distract. When I notice the music and sound more than the movie and it’s not making me feel the scene more, I’m put off. More than a couple times that happened here.
Summary
At the end of the day, the script and acting wasn’t very compelling. It’s a familiar revenge story that we’ve seen done before — and better. Vin Diesel might have been miscast for this role. He didn’t have or bring any dimension or depth to this role. It’s like he showed up, collected his paycheck and ran through the motions. Didn’t feel like he was trying very hard.
Reviews By Others
What do other movie bloggers think of Bloodshot?
Recommended
- Bookshelf Battle: “I’m sad critics don’t seem to agree and unfortunately audiences might not get to vote with sales due to the pandemic. However, I hope word of mouth spreads because I think it is a great flick that could be the start of an awesome franchise for Diesel.”
- Dave Bond / Set The Tape (3/5): “…unlikely to get a second installment. The film is not good enough for this to be any great loss, but it is good enough that no-one should feel overly short-changed if seeing this.”
- Jedd Jong (3/5): “If you’re looking for something to rival the best Marvel and DC movies out there, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for diverting, entertaining sci-fi action that sometimes feels like it’s out of the early-mid 2000s, Bloodshot has you covered.”
- Keith / Keith & The Movies (3/5): “There is a gravelly two-dimensional charm that [Diesel] brings to his roles. Here he is basically Dom Torreto with nanotechnology instead of a 1970 Dodge Charger.”
- Ken Murray / The Nerds Templar: “I went into Bloodshot with low expectations. I was kind of hoping it would be so bad that you would laugh at it, not with it. It’s not that bad, but it’s also not that good. For a movie I didn’t expect much from, it being watchable is a pleasant surprise.”
- Krishna Manoj / The Illuminerdi: “A big problem for this movie is that, even though it had a great premise to work with from the comic book, it didn’t explore much of the story onscreen. That being said, some people who enjoy action flicks in general will definitely enjoy this movie as a guilty pleasure.”
- The Peach Review (7.5/10): “You can tell when things were CG like a bad 90’s film that didn’t have the budget for good CG. It’s 2020 guys and technically, at it’s best, you know you could’ve done better than that. Even Sonic the Hedgehog had better CG than this.”
Not Recommended (or on the fence)
- Darren / the m0vie blog: “…a mess and misfire.”
- Dave Simpson (1/10): “…an inordinately tedious and yawn-inducing contribution to the comic book genre, and I really don’t recommend taking the time to check it out.”
- DC’s Take (Grade: D+): “…could’ve been sweet if a better team put to concept to better use, but it all ends up becoming a predictable superhero movie that’s forgettable in an instant. I don’t think anybody was even asking for a movie like this to be made.”
- Derek Morton / Nerd Life: “While the current Covid-19 crisis might not of helped the box office for this film, the script and plot hurt it more. This movie is the fair from the best thing that action fans could watch.”
- filmfanstake: “While there are some fun moments to be had, there is nothing special about Bloodshot.”
- Full Circle Cinema / James Preston Poole (3/10): “…is an anemic rehash of better movies in science fiction and the revenge genre. Since many of us are holed up at home currently, I know there might be some temptation to rent Bloodshot. Don’t.”
- Frankie Gilmore / DiscussingFilm: “…seems to mistake fast-pacing and disorientation for just complete, all-around incoherence.”
- IrFanReviews (3/10): “Bloodshot gives Vin Diesel a solid opportunity to indulge in old-school action that should satisfy fans, even if the end result is disappointingly mediocre.”
- IslandMovieBlogs (6/10): “…a middle of the road action movie, if with the occasional great scene or moment.”
- Luke Kent / Flicks & Pieces (2/5): “…this is very much a Vin Diesel vehicle, for better and for worse. But unlike his other big franchises, he struggles to get this one out of first gear.”
- Movie Reviews Today / Teddy Frederick (5.5/10): “Unfortunately, the film is nothing more than a wannabe melting pot of Matrix, Memento, and RoboCop.“
- Mr. Movies (Grade: C-): “…feels like both a slick-looking Hollywood production and cheap fan-made nonsense, jarring between both executions until you’re left feeling filled with ennui. It could be dumb fun to those who just don’t want to care about a Vin Diesel superhero movie, and I respect that perspective.”
- Red Beard Reviews / Chief Red Beard: “This will be an easy throw-away for Diesel’s long-running action career, but it was good to see him step out of the recent repeat roles.”
- Tom Moore / Moore Reviews (1.5/5): “…a bloodless bore that’s devoid of any fun, creativity, or originality and easily one of the worst comic book movies of recent time. We’re at a point where the superhero genre really needs fresh new entries that stand out and look to reinvent the formula.”
- vishalsviews (5.5/10): “While the story was actually interesting it was executed poorly. The direction was not well done and the villains were basic and fueled by greed…Which frankly just doesn’t work that well anymore.”
Linked above and wondering what would be the cool thing to do next? Commenting once in awhile is always good (I like reader and other blogger interaction). If you have the trackback/pingback come to your site then just approve it because after people read your review then they can come here and follow links and read someone else’s review. What comes around goes around and sharing is the ultimate “thank you!” on the internet.
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Happy movie watching!
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