Hundreds hit streets in Hong Kong’s first ‘PokeWalk’ SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2016 39 LOS ANGELES: This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows, from left, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc and Jay Hernandez as Diablo, in a scene from “Suicide Squad.” — AP Film Review ‘Suicide Squad’ is a mess of epic proportions By Aakash Bakaya but what ends up on screen is a confused, mishandled mess (Deadshot’s speciality), infiltrate a highly secure location Jared Leto as the Joker is simply a Hollywood con-job. that reeks of studio interference. (Captain Boomerang) or burn everything in a targeted area (El Everything from the trailers, the posters and the pre-release t’s been 8 years since ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ The film begins quite well. We are first introduced to Diablo).They most definitely don’t need Killer Croc or Harley interviews teased at a unique, new take on the character. graced our cinema screens and brought the Summer Amanda Waller, a stone-cold intelligence operative who is Quinn to do whatever it is they do. What we end up getting is a poor imitation of Heath Ledger IMovie Season into a new era of Superhero/Comic-book eager to get the Army to approve her hand-picked team of None of these problems are addressed or even brought up. from ‘The Dark Knight’. His character appears in both flash- blockbuster films. After almost a decade of being bombarded criminals that would be tasked in ‘protecting the country in When your films entire premise is clearly flawed, forced and backs and the main-story but apart from setting up Harley by Superhero flicks, it’s relatively easy to have a certain future wars’. We never find out what those ‘wars’ refer to and down-right idiotic - you start asking yourself what the entire Quinn’s character, his role is as useless as nipples on the Bat- amount of expectations when going to watch one. If you are a much like the rest of the film’s dialogue, it feels thrown at the point of this movie is. Unfortunately for everyone involved the Suit. You know it’s there, you can’t take your eyes of it and now casual movie-goer, you’ll be expecting some great action audience and quickly forgotten. She narrates the introduc- answer to that question is a big, fat nothing. There is no point. the film has the live with this embarrassment until someone sequences, larger-than-life characters and a bit of social com- tions to our ‘Suicide Squad’. Deadshot, the world’s greatest hit- No symbolic look at the inherent goodness in even the worst edits it out. Behind all the shiny apparel and ludicrous make- mentary thrown in to make it feel less like mindless entertain- man; El Diablo, a Mexican gang-runner who can control fire; of criminals or a jab at the self-righteousness of our govern- up, you cannot for one second envision this Joker has ment. Hardcore fans on the other hand simply want to see Captain Boomerang, an Australian super-thief; Killer Croc, a ment powers. There are miniscule lines of actual character Batman’s arch-nemesis. He might appeal to some movie-goers these characters and stories stay true to themselves in some monster that kind of looks like a half-man half-crocodile and development but they feel so absolutely inconsequential that but I cannot imagine fans of the character approving this ver- way or the other. So how does the latest ‘Suicide Squad’ hold the deranged lunatic Harley Quinn. There’s also an archaeolo- there is no point in bringing them up. sion. up by twisting the narrative to focus on the villains for a gist who gets possessed by an Ancient God and high-ranking What about the action you say. You might just want to Ultimately I feel the film will be polarising much like change? The only thing that comes to mind is garbage. It was Army Commander Rick Flag who has the power of being an watch the film to see how the action hold-ups or to see Jared Batman Vs Superman was. But at least that film had a sem- simply atrocious, confusing, cringe-inducing and at times All American Army man. Leto’s performance as the iconic Joker. To put it bluntly, both blance of actual story and was confident in the direction of its painful garbage. These intros are done in the stylized, neon-blazed colors were terrible. When it comes to the action it’s hard to expect characters. In most films, one can argue its merits and like all that makes up the crux of this movie’s marketing. But just like much in truth. These characters aren’t Spider-Man or Wonder art it will find its niche crowd and fans. I can’t seem to do that What happened here? the film’s dialogue, it feels thrown at the audience and quickly Woman. The most they can do is shoot guns really well or for ‘Suicide Squad’. Some might find the film entertaining in The concept, the setting and the characters were ripe for forgotten. We see how the squad got sent to the highest-secu- swing a baseball bat in Harley’s case. Captain Boomerang is between all its flaws and horrendous dialogue. Some might something truly unique. A film about a crooked Intelligence rity prison in the country and the life they are facing in jail. But really good at throwing Boomerangs and if you’re eager to see like the choice of music which feels ripped from a teenager’s officer duping the government to let her control and use when a super-human entity starts attacking the fictional some bursts of CGI boomerang action then you’ll love the iPod from the year 2004 and some might actually like the some of the country’s most dangerous villains is a ‘Dirty ‘Midday City’ (yes that’s the name), the army immediately action scenes. Deadshot does have one really cool scene of card-board representations of these characters that might act Dozen’ style of plot hard to not get interested in. Throw in the approves the use of these criminals and tasks Waller to lead him shooting stuff and at one point El Diablo becomes a mas- and look their comic-book counterparts. For me, the film has a fact that it’s also a direct continuation of ‘Batman Vs them into dealing with the threat. And here’s where the movie sive Fire-demon. But other than that, the action is boring and whole felt like the dialogue - thrown at the audience and then Superman’ where (SPOILER ALERT) the world is reeling from starts quickly collapsing upon itself and leaves the audience flat. It would have been exciting if we actually got a chance to quickly forgotten. the death of Superman along with minor appearances from with one confusing question - why send these particular indi- care about any of these characters, just like in every good Batman and a brand new Joker. It’s a really interesting setting viduals at all? They don’t have to kill a single target action movie! ’From trails to cocktails,’ active wear hot at outdoor show nce an afterthought in the historically but most outdoor brands have moved away from your friends at the bar afterward for a drink.” male-dominated outdoor retail industry, the “pink it and shrink it” philosophy that frustrated Adidas Outdoor decided to focus on the bur- Owomen have become a sought-after force female outdoor enthusiasts for so long. “Every sin- geoning women’s market when it launched six with companies vying to tap into a market that has gle company knows that we are expecting more years ago, a decision that has paid dividends, said grown to $4.6 billion in annual sales. A wide array from them,” said Laurie Tewksbury, chief operating Greg Thomsen, managing director of the division. of clothing, gear and equipment specifically officer of the Outdoor Women’s Alliance. “We’re not Their booth features colorful shoes designed espe- designed for women adventurers is on display this just looking for things that are cute, it better work cially for women’s feet and a host of shirts, jackets weekend at the summer version of the world’s well too.” and pants. Large images of a professional female largest outdoor gear show for retailers that attracts rock climber - a brand ambassador - cover the 30,000 people a year to Salt Lake City. Evolution of production walls. At California-based PrAna, yoga pants, light- Large images of women rock climbing, paddle The way skis and bikes are made, for example, weight dresses and stylish blouses that can be lay- boarding and doing yoga in exotic locations adorn has evolved in recent years to not just be smaller ered on top of sports bras were on display. the elaborate setups at company booths inside the than men’s gear but made to fit women’s bodies Women “want performance. They want some- convention center for the Outdoor Retailer show. and features. Within women’s sales, active wear or thing they can wear comfortably through whatev- The sales of women-specific goods has grown “athleisure” is the current hot trend, Clark Day said. er activity they are doing over the course of the from about $400 million some 15 years ago to $4.6 That includes yoga pants, versatile shorts, dresses day,” said Sasha Dietschi-Cooper, vice president of billion this year, said Julia Clark Day, executive and pants.