At 52, Vin Diesel gets to show his face as a comic book superhero. If you didn’t know that “Bloodshot” is an adaptation of a Valiant comic, you’re probably not alone. As producers seek to jump on the Marvel and DC bandwagon, niche properties will inevitably find their way to the big screen.
But where “Deadpool” and “Guardians of Galaxy” proved to be surprising hits, there will always be misses. And “Bloodshot” fires wide of its target.
When soldier Ray Garrison (Diesel) is killed, he’s brought back to life by a corporation with the help of millions of nanobots. The tiny machines that comically are displayed like insects can regenerate his body almost instantly. And once he’s awake, Garrison controls their power.
Dr. Emil Harting (Guy Pearce) is the brilliant scientist responsible for the Frankenstein-like resurrection. He sports a mechanical arm through which he can control things in his laboratory by remote. And before Garrison’s successful transformation, Harting has developed a team of former soldiers, each given prosthetics that address battlefield injuries and enhance their abilities.
For example, one soldier named Katie (Eiza González) sports a new breathing apparatus installed in her neck that restores her ability to breathe. This device also makes her immune to any chemical attack. Another soldier, Jimmy (“Outlander’s” Sam Heughan), has new mechanical legs that make him run fast and become more agile. Still, another team member is gifted with the renewed power of sight by replacing his damaged eyes with a series of cameras that allow him to see everything.
The first problem with “Bloodshot” is the nanotechnology used to give Garrison new life. At no time are we ever given an explanation as to why a human host is required to house these miraculous machines? In the Marvel movies, we’ve seen Tony Stark use “nanites,” as they are called, to command his various Iron Man suits. We buy that Tony wears his armor because, if nothing else, his ego makes him want to be close to the action.
Read Jonathan’s full review online and in print in the Times-Herald: https://newnan.com/2020/03/13/bloodshot-diesel-plays-pointless-hero-in-comic-book-movie/