Monday, October 23, 2023

Now Showing: Task Force X: Jungleland

 

Task Force X: Jungleland
Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Jimmy Ellis
Based on DC Comics characters
Cast: John David Washington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Halle Berry, Karl Glusman, Rose Leslie, Okieriete Onaodowan, Cristin Milioti, Gustaf Skarsgard, Scott Adkins, Oscar Jaenada, Josh Holloway

Plot: Congo Rainforest
A group of DEO soldiers close in on a drug shipment camp in the jungle, the squad leader, Eric Needham (John David Washington) takes out armed guards. One plants a bomb near a truck while the others take out more guards. The explosion goes off and they storm the main base. The leader goes commando and kills everyone in sight. They close in on a caged shipment and open it, revealing a masked humanoid Crocodile (Okrietiete Onaodowan) tied up in chains and a body cast, the leader takes off his mask, “Black Spider to HQ, call Waller”.

Amanda Waller (Halle Berry) arrives via helicopter to an unknown location. As she gets off the helicopter she can see destruction all around her, cracks in the ground. She walks toward a village, when a woman runs up to her at quick speed. It is revealed to be Mari McCabe (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). She stands her ground asking why Waller is there. Waller tells her that she is here to help. Mari looks to her, she has heard of Waller and knows that she does not offer help for no reason. Waller tells her that she will help Zambesi recover from the recent earthquake if the Vixen helps her out on a little mission. Waller continues saying it would not be far from where they are now. Mari looks around at the destruction saying that she has to be with her people. Waller understands but assures her the help will be worth it. Vixen eventually agrees to join Waller. Waller then receives a phone call from Black Spider telling her they are ready. Waller yells out to Mari telling her they need to go, now.

Needham sits at the camp as the soldiers wheel the crocodile out of the box. Amanda Waller lands in a helicopter, she approaches Needham who stands. She walks with him commending him on a job well done. He asks when they leave this place as the job is done. Waller stops and tells him the job is far from over, they just needed the croc for the team. “The Team?” Waller tells him that the crocodile was a side mission. She has a doctor walk behind the crocodile and implants him with the bomb in his neck. Waller and Needham stand in front of Croc as she explains who the Croc is, “Waylon Jones, but in Gotham they call him Killer Croc. Born with a skin disease that made him look scaly, he took to a life of crime for a short while until being captured by terrorists and was going to be auctioned to the highest bidder. But I’d rather not pay.” Waller has the muzzle taken off, Waylon Jones greets the two of them with a snarl, before he begins to say he has heard about Waller and her little team, he looks forward to meeting them.

Waller tells Needham that he will be leading one of two teams, he calls upon Vixen. She tells Needham that Vixen here will be leading the other. She says that if either of them die their whole team dies, before walking away. Vixen is shocked asking what she means. Needham laughs, he tells her that Waller is one sick son of a bitch. He explains, they work with the worst of the worst to take on suicide missions, or things that Waller just wants to throw at them. Waller comes back and sees Vixen’s face asking if there is a problem. Vixen shakes her head saying she will do anything to help Zambesi. Waller hands the two of them their teams in a portfolio.

Waller tells Vixen that her team is to take down a Gorilla known as Titano. “A gorilla?” Waller stays stone faced. She says that this gorilla has been enhanced by a mad scientist using Kryptonite. This gorilla is dangerous. She runs down her team list as they step off a helicopter; Pamela Isley (Rose Leslie), aka Poison Ivy. She will come in handy here in the jungle and has a feeling her and Vixen will get along, The Green and the Red. Next, Gar Lynns (Karl Glusman), Firefly, Needham leans over and wishes her luck, he’s hot-headed. Lisa Rory (Cristin Milioti), The Golden Glider, Waller tells Vixen that Firefly killed her brother, she does not know this, she asks Vixen to keep it this way. And finally, Eduardo Flamingo (Oscar Jaenada), a not so master assassin. She adds that other agencies may be after Titano as well, if it comes to it, they must be taken down, they do not want Titano to end up in the wrong hands.

Next up, Needham. She tells him that his team is to destroy all paperwork on Titano and to take out lead scientist, Dr Moyes. They have his location and she says that he is leading a team of trained killers. She tells him that it will be himself, Killer Croc and (as they step off the helicopter); Victor Zsasz (Gustaf Skarsgard), psychopathic killer, has scars for every person he has killed, and Constantine Drakon (Scott Adkins), skilled martial artist and with all weapons. Waller wishes them luck as she boards a helicopter to take off. She throws them a watch each, “oh and one more thing, blow off their heads if you need to.” All members of the teams look at her as if she is crazy.

Zsasz immediately walks over to Flamingo, sizing him up in his pink uniform. Zsasz pretends to lunge at him with a knife causing Flamingo to jump in fright. Zsasz laughs and Needham shakes his head. Needham and Vixen decide to head off straight away and not wait for somebody else to find Titano.

Vixen leads her team further into the rainforest, Ivy walks close by her, while Lynns and Rory walk together. Lynns tries to flirt with her saying that this isn’t his first mission, he’s done Waller’s dirty work before. Rory smiles and says that her brother was a part of the team too. She asks if Lynns knew him, Mick? Lynns is shocked to learn that she is Mick’s sister but his shock turns to sorrow as he says that he did, they became close in the end, they shared a bond. He then grabs out his fire gun and places a small piece of the forest on fire, a controlled fire if you will. Suddenly vines begin to come out and wrap Lynns up in it. Ivy berates him for treating the forest like something less. Lynns apologises as a vine begins to cover his mouth. Vixen yells at Ivy to stop, as does Rory. Rory ensure Ivy that she will make sure he doesn’t do it again. Ivy nods, and lets the vines go. Trailing behind them by a fair distance is Flamingo. He yells out to the guys to wait, but he hears something in the trees beside him. He screams out that there is something with them. Vixen senses it too, a monkey. Coming out of the trees is what looks like a dwarfed gorilla. Flamingo looks at it saying it is so cute. Suddenly the gorilla grows giant. Vixen yells out to Flamingo to run, everyone else does but for Flamingo it is too late, Titano steps on Flamingo. Firefly flies, Ivy uses her vines to get in the air, Rory skates in mid air and Vixen embodies a cheetah, to run faster than them all. Ivy eventually stops and calls for the green to help them. She raises vines to surround Titano into a ball and keep him trapped for the time being, she tells them it won’t last long so they better regroup and figure out a way to defeat Titano.

Needham leads his team through the jungle. They reach a research facility and stake it out. The 4 of them see armed soldiers walking through the base and see a scientist pulled out of the lab. They can see from the photo given to them by Waller that it is Dr Moyes (Jason Mantzoukas). Zsasz says that they can just let these guys kill Moyes. Drakon reminds him that they need to destroy the evidence and the only way to get to the evidence is Moyes. They wait for an opening, however Croc decides to just charge on in. He catches a guard that is alone and rips him limb from limb. The other three then jump into action. Zsasz runs on the top of a Humvee, and dives off stabbing two guards. Drakon uses his martial arts to unarm one of the soldiers he then picks up the gun and begins hunting people down. Needham takes a more stealthy approach and takes guards down quietly. He, however, does not see a soldier in the distance that has his gun aimed to shoot. Croc chomps the arm off, leading to Needham to look over, nodding to Croc. After they have dispatched the soldiers, they help Moyes to his feet, Zsasz is carving tallies into his skin. Moyes is still scared and asks what they want. Needham tells him that they are going to destroy everything that ascertains to Titano. Moyes agrees saying the subject got out of hand. He leads them into the lab where many different animals are in cages being tested on.

Inside the lab, Needham's team sees various animals confined in cages, subjected to experimentation. Moyes explains that the project got out of hand and they were trying to harness the power of Kryptonite for military purposes. Needham orders Moyes to retrieve all the research data and destroy it. As Moyes frantically searches for the files, Zsasz watches him with an unsettling grin, tallying his scars. Needham keeps a close eye on the surroundings, knowing that they might encounter more resistance. Suddenly, alarms blare throughout the facility, indicating an imminent breach. Needham and his team exchange worried glances as they prepare for an incoming threat. The doors burst open, and a group of heavily armed mercenaries storms in, led by the mercenary named Eddie Fyers (Josh Holloway). Fyers' team immediately opens fire, engaging in a fierce firefight with Needham's squad.

The intense battle ensues, with bullets flying and explosions rocking the lab. Drakon's exceptional martial arts skills prove crucial as he takes down several mercenaries with precise strikes and agile maneuvers. Zsasz, fueled by his twisted obsession, fights with a deranged ferocity, carving his signature tally marks into the bodies of his fallen foes.

Meanwhile, Croc charges at the mercenaries, his massive strength and razor-sharp teeth tearing through their ranks. Needham, utilizing his tactical expertise, coordinates their defense, directing his team to strategic positions while exchanging gunfire with Eddie Fyers. The clash between these skilled combatants becomes a personal duel, each determined to outmaneuver and outsmart the other.

Amidst the chaos, Moyes manages to retrieve the vital research data and initiates the destruction protocol. Explosions ripple through the lab as the facility crumbles around them. Needham's team fights their way toward the exit, leaving a trail of defeated enemies in their wake.

Just as they reach the extraction point outside the crumbling facility, Fyers emerges from the wreckage, wounded but still formidable. Needham and Fyers lock eyes, a silent understanding passing between them—an acknowledgment of each other's skills and determination. Needham and Fyers go toe to toe. The two of them are evenly matched in the fight, with Fyers gaining the upper hand. Needham manages to come back though and in doing so kills Fyers.

As the dust settles, they regroup and assess the aftermath. The lab is destroyed, evidence obliterated, and Fyers vanquished. Needham and his team, knowing the mission is far from over, set their sights on their next objective—reuniting with Vixen and her team to take down the colossal threat of Titano and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

Vixen and her team gather in a hidden base deep within the rainforest. They regroup after their encounter with the colossal Titano, who is still temporarily trapped by Ivy's plant-based restraints. Vixen and her squad discuss their next move, devising a plan to defeat the enhanced gorilla before their time runs out.

Ivy, utilizing her connection with the Green, suggests using her plant-based abilities to weaken Titano's Kryptonite-enhanced physiology. She believes that by neutralizing the effects of the Kryptonite, they can level the playing field and increase their chances of success. Vixen agrees, acknowledging Ivy's expertise and the advantage her powers can bring to the mission.

Meanwhile, the ground begins to tremble, indicating that Titano's strength is growing, and Ivy's plant restraints are beginning to weaken. Time becomes of the essence, and the squad realizes they must act swiftly to prevent disaster.

Vixen instructs Firefly to create a diversion, drawing Titano's attention away from the rest of the team. Firefly eagerly obliges, unleashing a barrage of fiery projectiles that soar through the air, captivating Titano's gaze. The massive gorilla breaks free from Ivy's weakened restraints, now fully enraged and charging towards Firefly.

As Titano charges, Vixen activates her animal-mimicking abilities, channeling the strength and agility of a lioness. She leaps into action, her enhanced physical attributes enabling her to move swiftly and evade Titano's devastating strikes. With calculated precision, she lands a series of powerful blows on the massive gorilla, momentarily staggering him.

Seizing the opportunity, Poison Ivy harnesses her botanical powers to create a dense thicket of entangling vines, ensnaring Titano's limbs and restricting his movements. The Green responds to her call, strengthening the vines and further impeding the enraged creature.

Golden Glider uses her respective skills to distract Titano and deliver swift attacks. Golden Glider's agility allows her to dodge the giant primate's strikes while launching razor-sharp projectiles, temporarily freezing portions of Titano's body.

Together, the team works in harmony, utilizing their unique abilities to chip away at Titano's strength and endurance. Each member showcases their skills, adapting to the chaotic battlefield and finding innovative ways to exploit the gorilla's weaknesses.

Despite their efforts, Titano proves to be an indomitable adversary. His massive size and Kryptonite-enhanced powers pose a significant challenge. As the battle intensifies, Vixen realizes they need a decisive plan to defeat the seemingly unstoppable force.

In a moment of inspiration, Vixen suggests combining their powers and coordinating a synchronized attack. She directs Ivy to use her plant-based control to immobilize Titano temporarily, while Firefly uses his fiery projectiles to create a wall of flames, engulfing the massive creature.

With the flames acting as a temporary barrier, Golden Glider seizes the opportunity to deliver precise strikes to Titano's weak points, targeting vulnerable areas with their weapons. Their coordinated assault weakens the creature, causing him to falter and lose his balance.

Capitalizing on this momentary vulnerability, Vixen channels the strength and agility of a gorilla, matching Titano blow for blow. With a ferocious final attack, she lands a powerful strike that sends Titano crashing to the ground, defeated.

As Vixen and her team regroup, they are caught off guard when Titano begins to stir, his massive form twitching with renewed energy. The tranquilizer's effect wears off faster than anticipated, and the gorilla's eyes open, glowing with an unsettling red hue.

Realizing the imminent danger, Vixen quickly assesses the situation and devises a new plan. She signals her team to surround Titano, preparing for a direct confrontation. Firefly activates his flamethrowers, creating a wall of fire to keep Titano at bay temporarily. Golden Glider harnesses her advanced technology, creating icy constructs to freeze Titano's movements.

At the same time, Needham and his team rush to Vixen's side, recognizing the urgent need for combined firepower. Killer Croc lunges at Titano, using his immense strength and razor-sharp teeth to tear into the gorilla's thick hide. Zsasz unleashes a flurry of deadly knife strikes, aiming for Titano's vulnerable spots with surgical precision. Drakon showcases his martial arts expertise, delivering lightning-fast strikes that leave a lasting impact on the formidable creature.

Drakon, Zsasz, and Firefly find themselves locked in a fierce struggle, facing the full fury of Titano's onslaught. Drakon's martial arts skills and Zsasz's lethal precision manage to keep the creature momentarily at bay, but the gorilla's overwhelming strength proves to be too much. He picks up both Drakon and Zsasz and with a quick thud, Titano smashes their heads together and drop them to the ground.

In a desperate move, Firefly unleashes a massive burst of flames, creating a fiery barrier that shields his teammates and provides a momentary respite. As the flames engulf him, Firefly realizes that this sacrifice might be his only chance to protect his companions and complete the mission.

Golden Glider, witnessing Firefly's selfless act, is filled with a mix of gratitude and sorrow. She realizes that he's given her an opportunity to survive and fulfill her own purpose within the team. Determined to honor Firefly's sacrifice, she rallies her remaining strength and focuses her constructs on weakening Titano even further.

The combined efforts of Black Spider, Vixen, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and Golden Glider intensify. They launch a relentless assault, exploiting Titano's weakened state. The team channels all their remaining power, striking with unwavering determination.

Eventually, Titano succumbs to the relentless onslaught. With a final powerful blow from Vixen, the mighty gorilla collapses, defeated and unconscious. The battle is won, but the cost has been high.

In the aftermath of the intense battle with Titano, the jungle is shrouded in an eerie silence. The remaining members of the Suicide Squad stand amidst the wreckage, their faces etched with exhaustion and sorrow.

Vixen, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc survey the scene, their eyes lingering on the fallen bodies of their fallen comrades—Drakon, Zsasz, and Firefly.

Golden Glider, still reeling from the shock of Firefly's heroic sacrifice, kneels beside his lifeless form. Tears stream down her face as she tenderly places a hand on his charred armor, her voice choked with grief. She whispers words of gratitude and farewell, promising to carry his memory with her always.

They all board the helicopter, Vixen and Needham sit next to each other, legs swinging out of the chopper as they look down at the Congo Rainforest. The chopper lands in Zambesi, Vixen leaves the chopper, but before she does she turns back to ask Waller when she should be expecting the help her people desperately need. Waller asks he what help. Vixen begins to anger saying they had a deal. Waller simply states she remembers no such deal. Golden Glider, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy and finally Black Spider all stand and stare Waller down. She ends up giving into the 5 of them and tells Vixen she can be expecting aid shortly. Vixen looks to Needham and nods before leaving.


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