On August 5th, Warner Bros. brought DC fans’ favorite villains to the big screen with one of the most entertaining and memorable films ever to be released from DC Comics. While critics have taken it upon themselves to bash and shoot down the most talked about movie of the summer, fans are sure to still enjoy the chaos and suspense that is Suicide Squad. With appearances from the notorious Harley Quinn and Joker (AKA: Puddin’) to the clever and emotional Deadshot, viewers are sure to find Suicide Squad to be a hilarious and dark film about redemption, saving the world, and defining what a villain really is.

Suicide Squad takes place directly after the events of the past DC movies Man of Steel and Batman v Superman — with the citizens of the United States unsure as to the intentions of the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel.

Viewers are quickly introduced to the manipulative and strong-willed Amanda Waller, who is determined to create a group of criminals and villains who are able to withstand the threat of an attack from those who are not human, such as Superman. With some difficulty, Waller is able to get permission to release Deadshot, Harley Quinn, El Diablo, Killer Croc, and Boomerang from prison. But their freedom comes at a price that could determine whether the villains live or die. With the fate of the free world on their shoulders, DC’s darkest and most sinister criminals are released to defend the human race from the evil Enchantress, who has escaped captivity and released a vortex that could destroy the entire world. The world is at stake, and its only defense is a group of criminals. What could go wrong?

I may be in the minority when I say this, but I truly enjoyed Suicide Squad. From the wonderful performance from Will Smith to the lighter atmosphere of the film (after the major flop that was Batman v Superman), this film felt like a breath of fresh air from DC Comics. With many recent failed movie attempts, Suicide Squad may redeem them in the long run with fans. The plot line was a bit predictable, but the intensity and entertaining action sequences were impossible not to enjoy.

The very best aspect of the film was the in-depth insight as to the pasts of each of the villains in the film. Getting to see the motivations of each character and how they became so incredibly insane was incredibly interesting. The character that was the most interesting to explore was Deadshot. At first glance he seems to be an emotionless assassin; but, as viewers soon learn, everyone has a reason for doing what they do, and not every villain is truly evil.

Compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Comics has not been able to compete with their past movies, including the Dark Knight Trilogy and the Man of Steel film. But with Suicide Squad, DC Comics has assured audiences that they have what it takes to produce a comical, emotional, and complex film without it feeling oppressive or unbearably dark. Catch Suicide Squad on the big screen, and follow the squad as they fight evil, discover themselves, and learn that being a hero is not so bad after all.