Tonight, I saw the movie Venom starring Tom Hardy. Venom is getting savaged in the press but I actually enjoyed the movie. It is important to remember that though Venom is a Marvel character, this movie is not part of the Marvel universe. This is important so you won’t be left asking, “Where’s Kevin Feige? Where’s Spider-Man? Where’s Thanos? Why aren’t people turning into ash?” As long as you keep proper expectations, you will enjoy this movie.
Venom chronicles journalist Eddie Brock, played by Hardy, who is trying to take down Dr. Carlton Drake, played by Riz Ahmed, the founder of the Life Foundation. While investigating one of foundation’s experiments, Eddie body is infected by an alien symbiote named Venom. With Brock serving as Venom’s host, they battle Drake and another evil symbiote.
There is a number of instances of bad language but enough to keep a PG-13 rating. The best action sequence is a chase scene with Brock escaping the Life Foundation security team. You will enjoy this part of the movie.
Overall, I will give it a solid B. If you are looking for a “turn your brain off and have a good time” movie, Venom is for you.
The following are 12 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Venom The Movie:
- The Better The Leader The Better The Movie – Because this movie is not part of the Marvel Universe, it does not have the creative machine of Kevin Feige behind it. And it shows. Much like your church, business, or non-profit, the better the leader, the better the movie.
- Trust Is The Foundation Of Any Successful Relationship – Trust takes a lifetime to build but can be lost at a moment in time. Brock lost his fiancée and job by stealing secrets from her computer.
- Everyone Wants The Perks Of Leadership. Few Are Willing To Pay The Price Of Leadership. – Dr. Drake said, “Giant leaps will always come at a cost.”
- Successful Leaders Are Always Looking For And Creating Options – Venom said, “Eyes! Lungs! Pancreas! So many snacks, so little time!”
- Great Leaders Ask Great Questions – After being infected, Brock asks Venom, “What do you want from me?” Venom answers, “You’ll find out.”
- All Leaders Have Issues – Brock said, “Everyone’s got their thing! Maybe it’s a break-up. A death. An accident. Whatever it is, you used to be one thing. Now, you’re something else. We all have our own problems. Our own issues. Our own demons.”
- Out Of Great Calamity Comes Great Opportunity – Dr. Drake said, “Look around at the world. What do you see? A planet on the brink of collapse. Human beings are disposable. But man and symbiote combined, this is a new race, a new species, a higher lifeform.”
- Leaders Connect With Others More Out Of Their Weaknesses Than Their Strengths – Venom told Brock, “On my planet I’m a loser like you.”
- You Are Free To Make Your Decisions. You Are Not Free To Choose The Consequences Of Your Decisions. – We all sit down to a banquet of consequences. An armed robber of a local store unexpectedly encounters Venom, much to his demise.
- You Can Accomplish More With A Team Than You Can By Yourself – Venom and Brock simultaneously tell the robber, “We are Venom!”
- Successful Leaders Ask “Why Not” More Than They Ask “Why” – The movie’s final scene has Brock telling Venom, “We cannot just hurt people.” To which Venom replies, “The way I see it, we can do whatever we want.”
- A Failure To Plan Is A Plan To Fail – In the post credits scene, Cletus Kasady, played by Woody Harralson, said, “When I leave here, there will be carnage.”
Once again, Venom is a solid movie. Get your popcorn, lean back in your chair, have proper expectations, and then have a good time.
My new book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Release date is March 13th. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.