As a seasoned gamer and comic book enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the Venom films have left me feeling like I’ve been stuck in an endless loop of playing the same game on easy mode – entertaining enough, but never truly challenging or satisfying.
Title “Venom: The Last Dance” hit theaters, marking the conclusion of Eddie Brock and Venom’s team-up. Critics agree that this installment is the strongest in the series, but they also note that the “Venom” franchise is unpredictable, often veering between humor, action, and body horror. Much like its extraterrestrial character, it’s a chameleon of sorts, struggling to find a consistent identity.
Many people feel that one major problem with movies is the absence of Spider-Man, a character who plays a crucial role in Venom’s existence since he started out as one of Spidey’s main adversaries. While it’s true that discussions can arise about Spider-Man’s impact on The Lethal Protector’s popularity, it’s important to remember that there is a rich history of over 30 years featuring Venom in his own comic book series, demonstrating his ability to stand alone as a hero and character separate from Spider-Man.
It seems that Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Venom, alongside a prominent klyntar member, failed to earn the same level of universal adoration as Spider-Man. If some aspects had been addressed earlier, it might have served as a strategy for correcting other notable flops in Sony’s universe without Spider-Man, such as Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter (based on the trailers). Venom, like these characters, appears to have a particularly dark nature. Emphasizing this side of Venom might have boosted the franchise’s popularity.
The Venom film’s never really embraced just how terrifying Venom could be
Over the course of his comic book appearances, Venom has committed some genuinely wicked acts. Initially, this character was born from a strong dislike for Spider-Man that was mutual, and there’s no denying his malevolence. However, things changed for him at some point.
Over time, Venom transformed into a fearsome yet adored figure for righteousness, aligning him with Marvel’s gritty heroes and anti-heroes such as Blade and The Punisher. Just like them, when Venom struck the villains, they seldom rose again, instilling terror even in those he aimed to protect. This edge is conspicuously absent from the “Venom” films, which seems all the more puzzling given the talented actor portraying his human counterpart.
As a die-hard fan, I believe Tom Hardy possesses the talent to deliver an exceptional Venom, one that might have eclipsed the original in every aspect. If Hardy had combined the physicality of Bane, the unnerving intensity of the Kray twins from “Legends,” and the fierce nature of Alfie Solomons from “Peaky Blinders,” we could’ve witnessed a much more brutal and unsettling Venom. Throw in a dash of Hardy’s enigmatic, nomadic character from “Mad Max: Fury Road” and a touch of his gritty performance in “Warrior,” and Brock wouldn’t have been the overly-anxious, whiny version we saw on screen. This would’ve addressed an ongoing issue that should’ve been tackled right from the first movie.
Venom and Eddie were a match made in hell
In a different phrasing: Despite three films together, Eddie and Venom fail to develop the dynamic partnership fans of Marvel Comics anticipate, which is reminiscent of two friends growing apart rather than bonding. The movies feature occasional spats, as they are necessary for any good buddy story, but these disagreements don’t lead to the harmony that would establish them as the anti-hero duo we know from the comics. Unfortunately, their on-screen portrayal falls short of earning the “Lethal Protector” title that Venom frequently references.
On the page, Brock and his massive, otherworldly counterpart frequently display an unstoppable power, dispensing their unique brand of justice over the years. Occasionally, they might have prolonged disputes leading to the symbiote bonding with a different host temporarily. Nevertheless, whether it’s for good or bad, Venom often returns to Brock, leading to some of the most thrilling showdowns ever depicted in comic book lore.
Unfortunately, we didn’t receive anything like what we expected from Hardy’s tenure as Brock. Moreover, the mistreatment of Venom and Eddie seems to have extended to a wide range of Sony characters, including some legendary villains who have been reimagined as mere shadows of their original versions.
Venom’s villains were handled as poorly as he was
Occasionally, an antagonist can make a movie exceptional, but unfortunately, the “Venom” series hasn’t produced a memorable villain. It’s not shocking given the way the franchise’s protagonist has been developed. For instance, Carnage, a symbiote that aligns closely with its serial killer host, Cletus Kasady (played by Woody Harrelson), speaks using “I” rather than “we,” as Venom and Eddie Brock do. This chilling trait is conspicuously absent from Carnage’s on-screen portrayal, and, surprisingly, is even depicted as a vulnerability that Venom can exploit to defeat it.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my disappointment over how trivial the portrayal of this character seems to be in the movies. This aspect isn’t simply a niche concern for comic book enthusiasts; it’s a fundamental part of their identity that shapes who they are at their core. Regrettably, it appears that those responsible for creating these films fail to grasp this significance.
Fundamentally, the recurring flaw in “Venom” is that Sony had all the necessary components to create an exceptional franchise starring an edgy hero, but they chose to dismantle it and produce a chaotic comic book adventure with fangs instead. As we anticipate the comeback of bloodsuckers and lone warriors, Tom Hardy could have become a timeless anti-hero. Regrettably, he found himself immersed in a lobster enclosure.
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2024-10-25 21:00