Movie Review: ‘Morbius’ Solid But Not Out of Ordinary Special

Jared Leto stars as Dr. Michael Morbius in “Morbius” (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures/2019 CTMG, Inc.).

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There is something special about childhood friends.

Those lifelong friends know your good and bad qualities and they likely have your back regardless.

However, “Morbius” proves that a lifelong bond can get destroyed by greed and selfishness, even if love is initially at the heart of the bond.

In “Morbius,” Young Michael Morbius (Charlie Shotwell) and Young Loxias/Milo (Joseph Esson) share a unique bond that does not necessarily begin on the best terms.

The two lifelong friends meet at a hospital for crippled and ill children.

Michael, Milo and the rest of the children at the hospital with their particular condition must reside in such a hospital because they have to be constantly monitored by doctors and nurses because their blood condition can lead to sudden death.

In fact, on Milo’s first day at the facility when he takes ill at the hospital and no doctor or nurse is around to tend to his illness, Michael uses his own ingenuity to save his new friend’s life.

At that moment, a lifelong brotherhood is established even if circumstances eventually pull the “brothers” away from each other.

As a result of Michael’s quick thinking and life-saving action, the hospital staff recognizes his genius and fosters his growth as a serious medical mind in the world.

Michael becomes so big as a doctor and biochemist that he is big enough to turn down a Nobel Prize, in the process dissing Swedish dignitaries and leaders in front of the entire world.

But awards have never really been important to Michael in “Morbius.”

What motivates Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto, “House of Gucci”) is discovering a cure for his illness and the illness of his “brother,” Milo (Matt Smith, “Last Night in Soho”).

The blood disorder that the pair has cripples them to the point that the use of their legs becomes almost impossible.

As a result, both need crutches and canes to get around, even though they still move at a snail’s pace.

Therefore, Michael spends many of his days conducting scientific research, even if it is not always ethical.

Dr. Michael Morbius discovers that if he combines human DNA with bat DNA, he can cure the disease he shares with his buddy, Milo.

In fact, Michael eventually discovers that he not only cures his crippling disease with the DNA mix, but the combination also makes him more superhuman than just the normal human being he wants to be.

He has superhuman strength, superhuman athleticism and superpowers, basically.

However, the human and bat DNA combination makes Michael more of a vampire with evil superpowers that puts people in danger when he does not keep the evil in check.

Additionally, when Michael cannot keep his evil in check, all you know what breaks loose, and the once beloved doctor becomes one of America’s most wanted when the FBI takes offense to some of his demented behavior.

His cure for his illness, as a result, puts everyone in his path in danger even though he tries desperately to control the ill effects of his scientific and medical “breakthrough.”

The Marvel movie “Morbius” is definitely better than some critics have assessed, with many panning the movie.

“Morbius” is a solid movie.

However, it is not a special film in comparison to many of the great and iconic movies that have come from the institution known as Marvel Studios.

But the movie is watchable and, in some ways, satisfying.

The concept of vampires terrorizing a city is indeed enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the plot is not anything new or unique.

Moviegoers have seen that vampire plot play out on big screens for years, if not decades.

Nevertheless, Leto does his thing as he so often does.

The man did not win an Academy Award for nothing.

He definitely brings the goods as always.

Furthermore, portraying FBI agent Simon Stroud Tyrese Gibson (“F9: The Fast Saga”) brings the goods as well, but not only when it comes to delivering dialogue.

The actor/singer does a solid job portraying his character, an FBI agent, verbally.

But it is the facial expressions that jumps off the screen in “Morbius.”

He seems intense, perturbed and tired of the foolishness that Michael has unleashed on the city, which is captured all in one facial expression.

Although Gibson does not get much screen time, he makes the most of his Marvel moment.

Screenwriters Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless deserve credit for the irony that exists between the opening scenes of “Morbius” and some of the final scenes of “Morbius.”

The parallels between beginning and ending are intriguing to say the least.

In “Morbius,” the dynamic between the two doctors, Michael, and Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona, “Life of the Party”), is the most compelling character dynamic, next to that of the Michael and Milo.

The chemistry is apparent to everyone, maybe except them.

But how can a woman truly fall for a man that is a part-time vampire?

Furthermore, how should Martine justify her feelings for the Michael she once knew versus the Michael that he has become thanks to his experiment gone wrong?

But when a person truly knows a person, like someone in love or a lifelong friend, they can sometimes separate the real person from their flaws and mistakes, even if those mistakes place many others in serious danger.

“Morbius” definitely has its flaws, but that does not mean that it does not have its good qualities and characteristics.

 

REGAL RATINGS

FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT

THREE CROWNS=GOOD

TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE

ONE CROWN=POOR

Todd A. Smith
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