Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash
Blue Beetle elevates DC to new heights
By Jayvin Williams
Staff writer
With the announcement of Blue Beetle, many people worried if the film would hold up to the comics that began in 1939. Would critical, diehard fans’ expectations be met? How would the CGI measure up to the art from the comics? Would they be able to top previous depictions of the Blue Beetle in TV shows, movies and video games? And, could the actors carry out the daunting task required for the film?
After seeing the film, it’s clear that expectations were met, Blue Beetle was worth the wait and it was a win for DC Studios. The movie’s casting, costume design and cinematography make it a great film.
This film shows the Reyes family enduring struggles with money and being at the bottom. The main character, Jaime Reyes, decides to help his family by getting a job. This then kicks off a series of events that leads to him becoming Blue Beetle, and he has to protect himself and his family from those who try to harm them.
The casting was a major reason the movie did so well, with actors such as Xolo Maridueña, who plays Jaime, and George Lopez, who plays Jaime’s Uncle Rudy, having excellent performances throughout the film. The cinematography also enhances the film, whether in the action scenes or emotional moments between Reyes family members.
The action scenes are well choreographed, and they make us feel empowered when seeing the hero easily defeat foes. The film also features emotional scenes among the Reyes family, and shows their struggle of disparity in opinions about how to help Jaime. The line delivery from the cast also adds to the emotional value with heartfelt scenes between Jaime and his dad (played by Damian Alcázár).
The costume design for the film also magnifies the appeal of the characters and makes it better for the audience. With a rating of PG-13, this film appeals to adults and not just children. It includes jokes that can appeal both to a younger and older audience, similar to the film Shrek.
But, it wasn’t all good. One of the main issues of the film was that some scenes seemed rushed to further the plot of the film to get to the action scenes. It also seems like a usual superhero movie where someone gets powers that weren’t supposed to go to them. However, even with this superhero cliché, the film does well to create its own original idea.
The movie develops the theme that you build the path of your destiny. Altogether, the film holds up very well with fantastic visuals and acting. Blue Beetle has made more than $125 million globally at the box office. After viewing this film, we can see why it was a success, and there’s no reason to be blue.
Quinton Smith contributed to this review.