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Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Oct. 9th, 2021 04:00 pmYesterday marked my epic return to the movie theater as I went to my first film since February of 2020 (which was Portrait of a Lady on Fire). Going to the movies was one of the things that I missed the most during the first year+ of the pandemic, so I am excited to be going back (despite the inevitable silliness of "must have masks on in the lobby, but munching on popcorn throughout the whole movie maskless is A-OK").
WELL, suffice it to say, it was one hell of a welcome back to the theater. This was (frankly) one of the worst movie-going experiences of my lifetime (and not because of the movie). The theater was absolutely full of about 25 unaccompanied middle schoolers, only two or so of whom had any desire to actually watch the movie. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was like a noisy auditorium, yelling, swearing, arguing, etc. Not so bad during the loud action sequences, but pretty distracting and awkward. I guess I should have just left and come back for another showing, but I had picked that showtime for several reasons, and I really didn't want to come back later this weekend...I don't know. I honestly might go back next week to watch the movie again (lol) because although I enjoyed it, I didn't get the full experience.
If you watched and enjoyed Venom, you will enjoy this sequel. I'm actually shocked that the first movie was successful enough to spawn a sequel in the first place, but I'm glad that it did. This is truly one of the stupidest movie series ever created. I have several major complaints: the scripts are consistently bad, Tom Hardy is totally unconvincing as Eddie Brock, and the movies don't seem to know who they're made for. Despite all this, I really enjoy them.
Venom is just an unreasonably compelling character. He's written poorly and awkwardly...it's very difficult for me to pinpoint what I like so much about him (in these movies specifically). I do like the CGI they do for him quite a bit. And I think Tom Hardy (as Venom) does a reasonable job with the stupid script.
I get the same feeling when I watch these movies that I get when I watch shojo or BL anime/movies...like, watching Eddie and Venom hang out is kind of embarrassing, but that embarrassment is exciting. The script is aware of this pseudo-dating relationship and jokes on it, but also it's genuinely the plot of both movies? So I can't tell how much is on purpose. Like, the plot of this movie is about Venom and Eddie going through a "rough spot", literally breaking up, and then making up and their bond becoming even stronger by the end. And the movie ends by them going on an island vacation-escape. So...it's not explicitly "they are dating" but it's very much NOT "they are NOT dating guys!!" like it could be. It's hard to describe how much I'm *not* looking at this through the gay-lens. It's all textual.
Eddie's ex-fiancee (?? can't remember if they actually got engaged or just planned to) Anne is a great part of these movies. Part of the major plot of this movie is her getting engaged to her "perfect" boyfriend Dan, and Eddie's reaction (he's still in love with her). This is another aspect that makes this movie very..."hmm" re: Eddie and Venom's relationship, because having to break it off completely with Anne is the catalyst for Eddie to fight with Venom, which leads to their getting back together and making their "symbiosis" (quote from the movie) even stronger and more complete. Anne (in my humble opinion) also acts as a totem onto which Eddie and Venom can project their mutual love for each other (at least in the beginning of the film)...like, we can imagine Venom's thought process as "I like Anne. Let's get Eddie and Anne to get married, that way I'll kind of be married to Anne, and I'll kind of be married to Eddie as well..." (this is completely my own idea LOL).
Besides the script, my biggest gripe with this series is their dedication to keeping these movies PG-13. Maybe I'm just paying too much attention to it, but you can FEEL the PG-13 radiating from this movie. For example, symbiotes (like Venom) like to eat brains (??) so "biting off human heads" is actually a huge motif in these movies. However, you can't show people's heads getting bitten off in a PG-13 movie, so all they can do is "suggest" that it happened off-screen. The movies are also hindered by their inability to go too far with suggestive content/nudity, so you get sort of awkward flirtatious scenes that seem out of place. Finally, the lack of swearing (PG-13 movies are allowed to use the word "fuck" only once...infamously this is why The King's Speech is rated R, because "fuck" is used like 25 times in that movie) is not so bad, but noticeable (to me at least). I think if they leaned into it more (ala Deadpool), these movies would be a lot more watchable. Venom should be allowed to fuck (say it and do it)...I don't know how else to put it.
I think I could write a whole different post on this, but the concept and design of the symbiote is just fucky. (SORRY!!) But like...he's all slimey...lives inside of Eddie and controls his body...huge tongue and teeth...he's RIPPED and strong (and protective)...and the whole movie is about Eddie and Venom's emotional bond & domestic life besides all that. But we gotta keep this shit PG-13 so...whatever.
Oh I almost forgot about Carnage. I obviously love the symbiotes conceptually, so I definitely love Carnage. Super quick overview if you're not familiar with the character--Carnage is Venom's "child" (created via non-scientific asexual reproduction) and he's like, the actually evil version of Venom's anti-hero. So he's more powerful, more evil/wild, and he hates Venom with a vengeance. His host is a serial killer named Cletus who is portrayed in this movie by Woody Harrelson, in a very good and normal performance (I was ready to really dislike it, but although it was a pretty by-the-books "crazy guy" character I thought he was fine). Maybe I'm crazy, but I actually enjoy the CGI symbiote fights they have in these movies. They're not particularly compelling or anything but I enjoy them...
To wrap it up...please watch these movies. The scripts are actually BAD so don't judge me for liking them, I know they're bad. Oh, and Tom Hardy spends most of this movie wearing a very cute Detroit Lions varsity jacket, so I kin him now (haha).
WELL, suffice it to say, it was one hell of a welcome back to the theater. This was (frankly) one of the worst movie-going experiences of my lifetime (and not because of the movie). The theater was absolutely full of about 25 unaccompanied middle schoolers, only two or so of whom had any desire to actually watch the movie. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was like a noisy auditorium, yelling, swearing, arguing, etc. Not so bad during the loud action sequences, but pretty distracting and awkward. I guess I should have just left and come back for another showing, but I had picked that showtime for several reasons, and I really didn't want to come back later this weekend...I don't know. I honestly might go back next week to watch the movie again (lol) because although I enjoyed it, I didn't get the full experience.
If you watched and enjoyed Venom, you will enjoy this sequel. I'm actually shocked that the first movie was successful enough to spawn a sequel in the first place, but I'm glad that it did. This is truly one of the stupidest movie series ever created. I have several major complaints: the scripts are consistently bad, Tom Hardy is totally unconvincing as Eddie Brock, and the movies don't seem to know who they're made for. Despite all this, I really enjoy them.
Venom is just an unreasonably compelling character. He's written poorly and awkwardly...it's very difficult for me to pinpoint what I like so much about him (in these movies specifically). I do like the CGI they do for him quite a bit. And I think Tom Hardy (as Venom) does a reasonable job with the stupid script.
I get the same feeling when I watch these movies that I get when I watch shojo or BL anime/movies...like, watching Eddie and Venom hang out is kind of embarrassing, but that embarrassment is exciting. The script is aware of this pseudo-dating relationship and jokes on it, but also it's genuinely the plot of both movies? So I can't tell how much is on purpose. Like, the plot of this movie is about Venom and Eddie going through a "rough spot", literally breaking up, and then making up and their bond becoming even stronger by the end. And the movie ends by them going on an island vacation-escape. So...it's not explicitly "they are dating" but it's very much NOT "they are NOT dating guys!!" like it could be. It's hard to describe how much I'm *not* looking at this through the gay-lens. It's all textual.
Eddie's ex-fiancee (?? can't remember if they actually got engaged or just planned to) Anne is a great part of these movies. Part of the major plot of this movie is her getting engaged to her "perfect" boyfriend Dan, and Eddie's reaction (he's still in love with her). This is another aspect that makes this movie very..."hmm" re: Eddie and Venom's relationship, because having to break it off completely with Anne is the catalyst for Eddie to fight with Venom, which leads to their getting back together and making their "symbiosis" (quote from the movie) even stronger and more complete. Anne (in my humble opinion) also acts as a totem onto which Eddie and Venom can project their mutual love for each other (at least in the beginning of the film)...like, we can imagine Venom's thought process as "I like Anne. Let's get Eddie and Anne to get married, that way I'll kind of be married to Anne, and I'll kind of be married to Eddie as well..." (this is completely my own idea LOL).
Besides the script, my biggest gripe with this series is their dedication to keeping these movies PG-13. Maybe I'm just paying too much attention to it, but you can FEEL the PG-13 radiating from this movie. For example, symbiotes (like Venom) like to eat brains (??) so "biting off human heads" is actually a huge motif in these movies. However, you can't show people's heads getting bitten off in a PG-13 movie, so all they can do is "suggest" that it happened off-screen. The movies are also hindered by their inability to go too far with suggestive content/nudity, so you get sort of awkward flirtatious scenes that seem out of place. Finally, the lack of swearing (PG-13 movies are allowed to use the word "fuck" only once...infamously this is why The King's Speech is rated R, because "fuck" is used like 25 times in that movie) is not so bad, but noticeable (to me at least). I think if they leaned into it more (ala Deadpool), these movies would be a lot more watchable. Venom should be allowed to fuck (say it and do it)...I don't know how else to put it.
I think I could write a whole different post on this, but the concept and design of the symbiote is just fucky. (SORRY!!) But like...he's all slimey...lives inside of Eddie and controls his body...huge tongue and teeth...he's RIPPED and strong (and protective)...and the whole movie is about Eddie and Venom's emotional bond & domestic life besides all that. But we gotta keep this shit PG-13 so...whatever.
Oh I almost forgot about Carnage. I obviously love the symbiotes conceptually, so I definitely love Carnage. Super quick overview if you're not familiar with the character--Carnage is Venom's "child" (created via non-scientific asexual reproduction) and he's like, the actually evil version of Venom's anti-hero. So he's more powerful, more evil/wild, and he hates Venom with a vengeance. His host is a serial killer named Cletus who is portrayed in this movie by Woody Harrelson, in a very good and normal performance (I was ready to really dislike it, but although it was a pretty by-the-books "crazy guy" character I thought he was fine). Maybe I'm crazy, but I actually enjoy the CGI symbiote fights they have in these movies. They're not particularly compelling or anything but I enjoy them...
To wrap it up...please watch these movies. The scripts are actually BAD so don't judge me for liking them, I know they're bad. Oh, and Tom Hardy spends most of this movie wearing a very cute Detroit Lions varsity jacket, so I kin him now (haha).
