142. Bloodshot; movie review

BLOODSHOT
Cert 12A
109 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, bloody images, infrequent strong language

Just when it appeared that Marvel and DC had hogged all of the superhero limelight, along comes an interloper - Sony has picked up the right to Valiant Comics material.
Never heard of them? Me neither.
No matter. It transpires that there is a new avenue for the very few actors who haven't been signed up to multi-billion dollar bandwagon of the aforementioned studios.
Step forward, Vin Diesel. Ok, he doesn't have the type of wholesome back catalogue which would fit with 12A action movies but he can kick ass.
Diesel plays Airman Ray Garrison - a special operative who has to make edge-of-moment decisions in some of the hairiest spots in the world.
After one such operation, he takes a well-earned break with his wife Gina (Talulah Riley) but, when on holiday, they are kidnapped, she is killed and he is shot in the head.
He awakes in what appears to be a laboratory to be told by a scientist (Guy Pearce) that he died but has been brought back to life in one of the greatest innovations of all time.
Indeed, his blood and skin can now repair themselves because they are made up of nanite technology and he has become a special forces machine.
But what of his wife and revenge for her killing? He shouldn't be able to remember her but he can.
And, so he goes rogue, using his power of indestructibility and the newly wired technology in his head to track down and kill the guilty party and his entourage.
Simple, eh? Well, not quite as obvious as it seems, it turns out.
David S.F. Wilson's film has all of the hallmarks of a superhero franchise - a damaged central character who cannot be killed by conventional methods and a pretty sidekick (Eiza González) who isn't too shabby in the fight.
There are also decent special effects although nowhere near the standard of the Marvel movies.
The final essential element sees our hero is up against the archetypal megalomaniac villain.
However, the problem is Diesel - he just doesn't have the panache to be a superhero. In other words, he can only play the monotone, shaven-headed character of Fast & Furious.
And, I'm afraid, Dominic Toretto ain't no superhero - that's why Bloodshot doesn't work.

Reasons to watch: Sci-fi and Vin Diesel kicking ass
Reasons to avoid: Forget character exploration

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? The nuclear-powered limbs and implants that made crippled test pilot Col. Steve Austin a bionic superhero in the 1970s television series “The Six Million Dollar Man” would cost more like $30million today.

The final word. Vin Diesel: "I think if you’re a fan of Valiant Comics, then you are going to be delighted to hear all of the Valiant comic books are going into the cinematic universe. It’s going to be very exciting." The Play List

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