Give me a break.
I can't stomach the 'Saw' movies. Does that mean that I "can't tell the difference between reality and fiction?" Could you be more insulting?
Is it perhaps ok if I just don't like the 'Saw' films? Would that be acceptable?
"Kick Ass" Review Thread
- Thread starter Faldor
- Start date
Give me a break.
I can't stomach the 'Saw' movies. Does that mean that I "can't tell the difference between reality and fiction?" Could you be more insulting?
Is it perhaps ok if I just don't like the 'Saw' films? Would that be acceptable?
Checkmate
Commodore
Maybe you missed the rest of the quote. You know, like where he said he's disgusted at the thought of coexisting with people who don't mind [the Saw movies].Give me a break.
I can't stomach the 'Saw' movies. Does that mean that I "can't tell the difference between reality and fiction?" Could you be more insulting?
Is it perhaps ok if I just don't like the 'Saw' films? Would that be acceptable?
Once again: Big difference between not liking something and telling the people who do that they're the scum of the earth.
Nardpuncher
Rear Admiral
THIS THREAD WILL NOT END WELL!
Anyway...I just checked the thread to see how many times the word "awesome" was used.
Anyway...I just checked the thread to see how many times the word "awesome" was used.
Would Ebert's head just completely explode if we ever got to see a faithful adapation of Ender's Game on the big screen?
As for Kick-Ass, I'm interested...hope to catch it this weekend sometime...
As for Kick-Ass, I'm interested...hope to catch it this weekend sometime...
Not what Ebert said, of course.
It's not unreasonable for a critic to be dismissive of ideas that he considers trivial or silly; that's arguably part of the mindset of most critics. Any difficulties you have with "implications" that you read into his review are not really Ebert's shortcoming - you've no more right to be free of people expressing negative opinions of your tastes than others are of you expressing yours.
Checkmate
Commodore
"Let's say you're a big fan of the original comic book, and you think the movie does it justice. You know what? You inhabit a world I am so very not interested in." --Ebert
Sounds like it to me.
People can say whatever they like about whatever. But when they start attacking people for having a different opinion, that's going overboard. Even for a professional critic.
^ He didn't aver that such a world is disgusting to coexist in; his statement says only that he is "so very not interested" in living in the world fans of the comic and movie prefer. It's possible to have a strong wish to not live in another's world, but respect that person's own preference to live there.
Too often, persons demand respect for their right to choose to live with something, but ignore the equal right of others to live without it.
I generally agree with Mr. Ebert's opinion of the film, but take issue with the suggestion that an 11-year-old is incapable of killing adults without experiencing emotional trauma. Until the mid-19th Century, midshipmen roughly Hit Girl's age routinely fought and killed adults in naval conflict. Admiral Farragut famously commanded his first ship at age 12 (it was a capture by the U.S.S. Essex, to which he was assigned). "Powder monkeys" even younger regularly served aboard warships too, as members of the gun crews. The idea of childhood fragility is of relatively recent formulation, and was not at all borne out by earlier societies.
Too often, persons demand respect for their right to choose to live with something, but ignore the equal right of others to live without it.
I generally agree with Mr. Ebert's opinion of the film, but take issue with the suggestion that an 11-year-old is incapable of killing adults without experiencing emotional trauma. Until the mid-19th Century, midshipmen roughly Hit Girl's age routinely fought and killed adults in naval conflict. Admiral Farragut famously commanded his first ship at age 12 (it was a capture by the U.S.S. Essex, to which he was assigned). "Powder monkeys" even younger regularly served aboard warships too, as members of the gun crews. The idea of childhood fragility is of relatively recent formulation, and was not at all borne out by earlier societies.
Saw it, and it was pretty good.
It's at times a bit indecisive as a parody, largely as a result of the changes made - Mark Millar's original story drips cynicism and holds pretty much all the characters with a certain degree of contempt; Vaughn and Goldman's changes (with Millar's involvement, though) lighten things up a bit and makes you empathize with them, so some of the brutal violence is played for laughs while others are dead serious. I'd say it's a better movie for it, though, ultimately.
The increased sympathy toward the characters is most prominent in two respects: Dave actually gets the girl here, where in the original all he got for his troubles was rejection and a beatdown from her thuggish new beau (parodying the whole Clark Kent/Lois Lane dynamic); and Big Daddy and Hit-Girl's origin story is totally reworked, with the former becoming somebody with a plausible and understandable motivation, even if he's still really warped.
In both the comic and the film, we start off in the "real" world, which gradually becomes crazier and crazier, starting with the arrival of Hit-Girl. The film actually amps this up considerably, to the point where the climax involves Kick-Ass arriving to save the day with a gatling-gun-equipped jetpack - after which point he kills the villain with a rocket-launcher (instead of Hit-Girl doing the honours, as in the comic).
The actors are all very good. Aaron Johnson, the lead, actually comes across like someone who could have been a good Spider-Man. Chloe Moretz, the one everyone's talking about, is really good as Hit-Girl (who, thanks to movie-magic, seems almost believable).
It's at times a bit indecisive as a parody, largely as a result of the changes made - Mark Millar's original story drips cynicism and holds pretty much all the characters with a certain degree of contempt; Vaughn and Goldman's changes (with Millar's involvement, though) lighten things up a bit and makes you empathize with them, so some of the brutal violence is played for laughs while others are dead serious. I'd say it's a better movie for it, though, ultimately.
The increased sympathy toward the characters is most prominent in two respects: Dave actually gets the girl here, where in the original all he got for his troubles was rejection and a beatdown from her thuggish new beau (parodying the whole Clark Kent/Lois Lane dynamic); and Big Daddy and Hit-Girl's origin story is totally reworked, with the former becoming somebody with a plausible and understandable motivation, even if he's still really warped.
In both the comic and the film, we start off in the "real" world, which gradually becomes crazier and crazier, starting with the arrival of Hit-Girl. The film actually amps this up considerably, to the point where the climax involves Kick-Ass arriving to save the day with a gatling-gun-equipped jetpack - after which point he kills the villain with a rocket-launcher (instead of Hit-Girl doing the honours, as in the comic).
The actors are all very good. Aaron Johnson, the lead, actually comes across like someone who could have been a good Spider-Man. Chloe Moretz, the one everyone's talking about, is really good as Hit-Girl (who, thanks to movie-magic, seems almost believable).
The film and the comic are broadly similar; the comic is, as I said, a lot more cynical and its conclusion is more downbeat in tone. If you liked the movie, it's pretty likely you'll enjoy the comic.
I thought it was pretty good. I dunno, whatever.
when I saw the coming attractions for this thing, it looked like the bastard child of My Super Ex Girlfriend and Hero At Large. However, after browsing through this thread I gotta say I'm kinda stoked to see it the second it hits cable.
Just got back. I've been waiting for this movie ever since I saw the ComicCon footage last summer.
I have to say that, overall, I liked it. However, like Iron Man, the third act completely derails for me. I think the main thing on why it derails is the jetpack. During most of the movie, we are treated to a mostly realistic portrayal of what would happen if superheroes existed (I say mostly, because, as has been discussed, Hit-Girl's abilities are hyper-realistic, but, I don't think they break the suspension of disbelief). When the jetpack appears, the movie kinda breaks the rules that it set for itself.
Now, I realize that the ending of the movie was written before the ending of the comic (the two endings are similar, but very different in the details), so they wrote what they needed to write to get the script done. However, I really feel that jetpack (and, to the extent, the bazooka that is fired at D'Amico) stick out like sore thumbs.
Now, I did like how the movie expanded on the villains. The comic gave an actual personality to D'Amico that was completely lacking in the comic (he was presented as just a generic, cardboard cut-out mob boss).
EDIT: I almost forgot. I loved Nick Cage's Adam West impersonation. He totally nailed it.
I have to say that, overall, I liked it. However, like Iron Man, the third act completely derails for me. I think the main thing on why it derails is the jetpack. During most of the movie, we are treated to a mostly realistic portrayal of what would happen if superheroes existed (I say mostly, because, as has been discussed, Hit-Girl's abilities are hyper-realistic, but, I don't think they break the suspension of disbelief). When the jetpack appears, the movie kinda breaks the rules that it set for itself.
Now, I realize that the ending of the movie was written before the ending of the comic (the two endings are similar, but very different in the details), so they wrote what they needed to write to get the script done. However, I really feel that jetpack (and, to the extent, the bazooka that is fired at D'Amico) stick out like sore thumbs.
Now, I did like how the movie expanded on the villains. The comic gave an actual personality to D'Amico that was completely lacking in the comic (he was presented as just a generic, cardboard cut-out mob boss).
EDIT: I almost forgot. I loved Nick Cage's Adam West impersonation. He totally nailed it.
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Just got back from it myself and it exceeded my expectations...even the alterations from the graphic novel were well done and I didn't have any problems with it. Unfortunately the theater I saw it in was only a third full but it was an enthusiastic crowd and reacted to everything they pretty much should have and everyone loved Hit-Girl and clapped at the end of the movie. I loved the cinematography and how the film looked visually. Mark Strong was brilliant as D'Amico. Seeing John Romita Jr's art in the film with Big Daddy's back story was awesome. My one disappointment and its a small one is that in the comic book after Mindy loses her father and the two of them take out Frank they share a really poignant and emotional moment together where Mindy asks Dave for a hug and tells him "I just lost a father today". I cried when I read that in the book but the scene in the warehouse was just as good. There were people tearing up in the theater. I'm probably going to see this again and I'm buying the DVD when it comes out.
favorite movie i've seen a long time. dead-perfect cinamatography in the action set pieces, all of which looked different and had its own unique spin. I especially liked the night vision + strobe light in the warehouse.
good soundtrack too! sounded almost something quentin tarantino would have used at times, with the spaghetti western.
want the sequel now badly, as the ending of the film wants me to feel.
not a bad performance in the bunch! I even empathised with mclovin, which surprised me.
good soundtrack too! sounded almost something quentin tarantino would have used at times, with the spaghetti western.
want the sequel now badly, as the ending of the film wants me to feel.
not a bad performance in the bunch! I even empathised with mclovin, which surprised me.
Keep in mind that the jetpack did cost $300,000.
I found it believable in the same way the Batmobile or Batplane is believable, in that enough money can get you any ridiculous gadget you can imagine.
I enjoyed the way the soundtrack was mixed into the film however didn't really dig the score as it was composed by four different people and John Murphy used pieces from 28 Days Later and Sunshine...kind of disappointing the score wasn't able to have its own voice sort to speak. I loved the song that played during Hit-Girl's action scenes and I agree that all the action sequences were shot incredibly well...Lynsey Fonesca was really hot too lol interesting change from the comic book with her arc with Dave and obviously changed due to the book not being finished yet.
This was my favorite part of the movie. I have been pretty disappointed by Nicholas Cage's performances in recent years, but this has to be my favorite performance of his in a long time. When he first spoke as Big Daddy, and he gave those staccato style lines, I was just so thrilled. The entire audience loved it, too. It was hilarious. In the end, I wanted more of Cage's Big Daddy performance.
"Hit-Girl, back to headquarters!"
Overall, I really dug the film. I haven't read the comic-book yet in which the film was based off of but I did read the script a few months ago, so I pretty much knew what to expect. I realize that the comic and script were written at the same time, so there are natural deviations, but this has definitely made me wish to read the comic now.
I don't understand Roger Ebert's criticisms. The film is obviously satire, and the violent acts perpetuated by Hit-Girl including the vulgar lines spoken are intentionally over-the-top and ridiculous. That's the point. It is fiction, and I don't really think 11 year-old girls are going to start saying the c-word and decapitating gang thugs any time soon. It takes the whole concept of superheroism and vigilantism to the extreme. Besides, Hit-Girl is an instantly iconic character. Chloe Mortez did such a fantastic job, she imbued such personality and wit. One of my minuscule problems with the film is that I ended up wanting to see more of Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, since I thought they were more interesting characters.
That's not to say that Dave/aka Kick-Ass wasn't interesting. I thought Aaron Johnson's portrayal was the perfect mixture of naive earnestness and tender vulnerability. You really believe him when he stands over a beaten guy with two metal sticks and utters, "Bring it on"... He had a slight Michael Keaton-as-Batman vibe in the respect where you could tell maybe he was a little nuts. Regardless, though, what makes Dave's character so endearing is that his motivation drives to the very central core and ideal of what it is to be a superhero: to help people. I feel like comic-book movies these days have veered off on wild tangents and not really adhered to that simple premise anymore, so to see Kick-Ass return to that was refreshing.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris D'Amico/Red Mist was a little underwhelming in my opinion. I mean, he did an all right job, and he was believable as the son who wanted to do more and be seen, but I just felt like his performance especially toward the end just didn't leave that much of an impression. Thankfully, the Red Mist character isn't that integral to what makes the movie work -- it really rests on the shoulders of Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl, and Big Daddy -- but a little bit more involving performance would have been a tad better.
The rest of the supporting cast was great as well. I am really beginning to appreciate Mark Strong as an actor, who is becoming the "go-to" guy for movie villains, but he really gave Frank D'Amico a lot of personality and character. I liked that he got to see more of his persona -- he does karate -- and I felt like it was a more realized character than I thought it was going to be. Plus, it was nice to see some of the tertiary cast from Layer Cake, including that ever-so-annoying yellow Range Rover!
I will say though that besides John Murphy regurgitating his musical cues from 28 Days Later and Sunshine (which did work within the confines of the film's score...), the rest of the score was pretty memorable and suited the film well. I think my only complaint is that the sequence in which Hit-Girl saves Kick-Ass and Big Daddy was definitely the most memorable out of the flick, with the first-person shooter aspect and then the strobe light. It was such a fantastically put together sequence and it had a really poignant emotional payoff, so when we get to the third act, even with the surprise appearance of the jetpack and the use of the bazooka, it just felt... lackluster. Up until that point, the fight sequences were progressively building in intensity and magnitude (and scale), and it culminated in this sequence, and I was expecting the finale to really crank things up, and I felt like it just didn't. It needed a bit more in the end.
Also, I loved the brutality of the fight sequences. Matthew Vaughn really knows how to craft a believable and authentic fight sequence that is hard-hitting and where you can understand the geography of the characters and the setting. It was something he did very well in Layer Cake, and something he did even better here in Kick-Ass.
Again, overall, I really loved this movie. It works as a hilarious satire on violence, on comic-books, but it also works as a moving, emotional, poignant drama. The action sequences were stellar, as were the performances and pretty much everything else. Quite literally, Kick-Ass kicks ass.
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