Warner Bros. Changed Title After Upsetting Film Opening of Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey
Araceli Quino Acho
Actress Margot Robbie really had it down in the recently released movie, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey but the rest of the film did not compare to her great acting. The movie was released on February 7, 2020 as a rated-R crime and action film.
The Harley Quinn spinoff movie focused more on her split with the Joker, the mentally insane doctor, and ignored the previous film, Suicide Squad, and thank God for that. With trimmed backstories of some of the characters and a terrible ending, it makes sense Warner Bros. would not want Birds of Prey to be connected to the previous film. The same situation exists with Jared Leto, as he won’t even be making a cameo as Joker in the movie. Also, Warner Bros has changed the title to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey after the disappointing opening.
Despite the negative aspects of the new film, there are also many things to be excited about. As Harley Quinn comes out of the dark and into the spotlight, going solo and acting free like a bird, with a parrot-colored wardrobe to match. Harley Quinn’s clothes really spoke for her, as they showcased her vibrant and colorful view of the world. It’s all pink onesies, marshmallow cereal, and cartoons even as she was locked away in her apartment.
In the movie, Harley Quinn goes through a break-up with the Joker, or as she called him “Puddin’ Cup”. She does not take the breakup well and goes on a “single ladies night out” every night, stealing drinks off of peoples’ tables, margarita in one hand and a tequila shot in the other. Many doubt her and Joker’s last breakup, as Harley Quinn has a history of crawling right back under his devil wings. Not only did the breakup affect Harley Quinn emotionally, but every person she has ever wronged has come after her since the protection of the Joker has worn off.
Harley Quinn eventually joins other empowering women in the film who try to save a young girl from an evil villain, the Black Mask (Ewan McGregor).
These other women include Jurnee Smollett-Bell as “The Black Canary”, a singer at the club, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as “Huntress”, and Rosie Perez as Detective Renee Montoya, and of course the youngest of them all, Cassandra Cain played by Ella Jay Basco.
All have shortened backstories, especially “The Black Canary” and Casandra Cain. Guess we’ll never know who their families were, besides that the Black Canary’s mother was “a damn good woman” from an argument scene with Detective Montoya over their unknown past. And I’m still wondering why Detective Montoya never sucker-punched her full of a crap boss,. The writers just ignored that whole fiasco and there are many loose ends left to tie up.
Designer Erin Benach really outdid the whole feminist upgrade for these women. “I looked to street and current fashion because it seemed right for this film,” she said.
Who knows, maybe there will be a part two of Harley Quinn’s movie that will tie up all of the loose ending after the upsetting ending. A Birds of Prey 2 is still yet to be confirmed. At least there’s one thing to look forward to: the second part of The Suicide Squad (not the Suicide Squad film that was released in 2016) that will be released Summer 2021–try not to get the movies confused by the identical titles.
