When I watch a comic book film, more than anything, I want to experience something I’ve never seen before. Or at the very least, a type of story I’ve already seen but told in a totally new and original way. Some say the comic book movie genre has become tired and that Marvel movies’ best days are behind them (which may be true), but comic books as a medium would not have lasted this long if they weren’t constantly innovating. Just show us something new.
So with that in mind, I had high hopes to see Valiant Comics’ first big-screen adaptation, Bloodshot. The film’s title character is the mercenary Ray Garrison, played by Vin Diesel. We meet badass Ray with the love of his life, and then he “dies” tragically during a dangerous mission. Ray is then resurrected and given powers in the form of healing, microscopic nano-bots making him unbeatable in a fight. The corporation that brought him back from the dead nickname him Bloodshot and sends him on dangerous missions. As soon as he is down for the count or injured beyond belief, the nano-bots do their job. Ray is soon tasked with taking out those who wronged him, but not everything is as it seems. Ray discovers that the company that brought him back from the dead may not have his best interests at heart.
“It’s Iron Man meets RoboCop by way of Wolverine. Which actually kind of works…”
The Hollywood pitch for Bloodshot must have been something like, “It’s Iron Man meets RoboCop by way of Wolverine.” Which actually kind of works as it combines some of the best aspects of these solo characters. The things I enjoyed most about Bloodshot were Vin Diesel’s performance, along with the surprisingly effective digital effects. Bloodshot’s body is infused with these nano-bots that rebuild his form each time he’s horribly injured, and I have to say that it’s pretty damn cool to watch.
In the world of Bloodshot, perception is not necessarily reality. Never trust what you see. Ray’s killer instincts lead to him being used as an assassin to take out the bad guys… but are they bad?
"…...a highly original take on the superhero genre."
