Not Quite So ‘Bright’

“Only a Bright can control the power of the wand.” So states the Great Prophecy in Netflix’s new blockbuster movie ‘Bright’ starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton. The scene is simple: Humans, magical elves, centaurs, dwarves and orcs live together in a world where inequality, a whole lot of hatred for the police and racism exists.

The elves are portrayed as spoiled, rich beings who rule the world from the corner of their metropolis, but their role in the movie is almost non-existent, including the other races who are meant to promote some kind of alternate earth similar to those in ‘Lord of the Rings’ and the lacklustre ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’.

In other words, ‘Bright’ does a terrible job of establishing a good representation of all the races. The focus is shifted to the elves who live in Elftown, the equivalent of a wealthy metropolis, where “even the rich are snobs”, but it’s incredibly subtle though, like mentioning ‘Animal Farm’ without really mentioning ‘Animal Farm’. Badly.

However, the story centres around the lives of two cops, namely Daryl Ward, a veteran in the Los Angeles Police Department and his “unblooded” orc partner Nick Jakoby, the first orkish police officer – two ordinary cops with an eagerness to make things right in the world they live in.

Naturally, all eyes would be on them and their relationship for the sake of establishing a peaceful cooperation among all races. But Ward develops a special kind of disgust for his partner when he is shot by an orc and Jakoby fails to capture the suspect.

Returning from a necessary recovery period, Ward and Jakoby are back in the field once again, only to come into contact with a Bright, i.e, a person who can control a special wand that can grant any kind of wish, be it a billion dollars, power, revival or anything else they can think of.

Elves can be Brights. But so can humans, at least one in a million. Unfortunately, the wands are weapons of immense destruction as well – anyone who is not a Bright can explode instantaneously if they touch one with their bare hands. But power-hungry thugs are determined to fight for what is “rightfully theirs”.

Only a few wands exist at present and an evil group of elves known as the Inferni want to use them to revive an evil force known as the Dark Lord who will bring chaos to the world.

Several conversations have been circulating around ‘Bright’, and sadly, it’s nothing good. Enticed by a stunning trailer that sold dreams late last year, it’s no surprise that the movie became highly anticipated. But if you’re trying to look for depth, meaning and a beautiful explanation about the injustices of the world we live in today through the characters, forget about it.

The same way you’re not looking to James Bond to free us all from the economic crises and celebrate black freedom, Ward and Jakoby aren’t going to do that.

The sole purpose of ‘Bright’ is to entertain. It’s not heading to the Academy Awards (or any other kind of award), really. Sit back, enjoy it and rather allow your own judgement to dictate what you should or shouldn’t watch. Some people found it interesting, others didn’t. Yes, it lacks a proper storyline, but ‘Bright’ is actually a really good action movie – violence and all. Just make sure you keep the children away from this one. There’s nothing pretty about throat-slitting.

Oh, and the rumour mill says there’s a sequel coming – one we definitely don’t need. But if they can make a better story out of a plot that could’ve been perfect, we’re here for it.