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The last time we saw VENOM on the big screen was when Sam Raimi was churning out his final entry in Sony's first SPIDER-MAN trilogy in SPIDER-MAN 3, which would be Raimi's last before a fourth chapter fell apart and everything was rebooted…twice. Topher Grace played the shady journalist known as Eddie Brock in SPIDER-MAN 3, which features a near-perfect comic adaptation of that character's origin. However, the film didn't receive the accolades the prior entries did and ultimately VENOM was short-changed on screentime (not to mention shoe-horned in), leaving the character ripe for reintroduction. Enter Tom Hardy and director Ruben Fleischer, who lead the charge in bringing VENOM back to life in his first solo effort that attempts to kick off Sony's own Spider-Verse of features, seeking to compete (and potentially cross-pollinate) with Marvel Studios (as well as all the others staking a claim in the CBM cinematic world). While early rumors suggested an R-rated horror version of the character, the studio never promised anything of the like, gunning for a PG-13 that would push the limits, rather than step outside of them.
Early reviews have been mixed to negative from critics, many even citing that it's "CATWOMAN level bad" (it's not), while others are having fun way more fun with it. My own reaction was that it's a spazzy, goofy, hilarious and cool ride. It's by no means a classic, but Hardy is great and VENOM himself is just a blast to watch. JimmyO had a similar take in his 7/10 review, saying, "This is a fast paced, comical and sometimes thrilling superhero flick that occasionally feels more along the lines of an entertainingly cheesy creature feature." That about sums up my feelings as well.
Click the image below to check out all the trailers, spots, featurettes, clips & more from VENOM!
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Rotten Tomatoes: 115 reviews, certified fresh: 30%
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