Release Date: December 22, 2017
Director: David Ayer
Writer: Max Landis
Music by David Sardy
Netflix
Cast: Will Smith, Joel Edgarton, Noomi Rapace
TV-MA | 1h 57min
Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy
In an alternate present day, humans, orcs, elves, and fairies have been coexisting since the beginning of time. Two police officers, one a human, the other an orc, embark on a routine night patrol that will alter the future of their world as they know it. Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a young female elf and a thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which, in the wrong hands, could destroy everything.
Pamela K. Kinney's Review
I give Bright 3 ½ sheep.
This action-thriller was directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, writer of Training Day) and it follows two cops from very different backgrounds Ward (Will Smith) is human and Jakoby (Joel Edgerton) is an orc. The two men are fighting their own personal differences as well as enemies in their own police force and from human and orc civilians. When they find a young elf woman they need to work together to protect her and a mythical magical wand. If the wand falls into the wrong hands, a Dark Lord, once defeated by a legendary orc, can be brought back and the world can be destroyed.
The film fell a bit short of the genre themes it referenced: fantasy, cop drama, and social commentary. The reason could be all the missing backstory that might show us why this is happening and why we should fear Leilah’s wand wanted by everyone—some for good reasons, more for the wrong reasons—and so forth. Netflix released a documentary that explains this world and its history of magic. Filling in some details, making the events more understandable. You can watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRRoAZcwQMY
Too bad this wasn’t put out before the film was released, or even a short bit included in the show—like where the Dark Lord is defeated by the orc.
I thought Will Smith was too tough, more stone than human. On occasion, he would say something intended to be funny but fell short. I did enjoy Joel Edgarton’s role as the orc cop. And Noomi Rapace who played the bad-ass, vicious elf, Leilah, did the villain role well. I admit being curious why she wanted the Dark Lord brought back instead of taking the power for herself.
SharonS Review
3 1/2 "Bright" Sheep
I agree with the things Pamela pointed out. I enjoyed the movie. There were some well-done action scenes but...and I can't believe I'm gonna say this...there were too many action scenes! They tried to shove in way too much action. It was exhausting. Some of that time could have been used to fill in some of those backstory gaps instead of putting them in the YouTube special. And on the subject of shoving... I get the writers wanted to address the very real social issue of discrimination but they were too heavy handed with it.
There is a pivotal scene where Ward and Jakoby are confronted by some crooked cops and it was one of the best drama/action scenes I've seen. It had a strong emotional impact.
They are making a sequel which I will definitely be watching. I want to know more about Ward's background and see some more elves, RAWR!
