Kick-Ass -- Review

A year ago I assisted the MTV News team at the NY Comic Con for a panel discussion considering the topic of who the top ten movie badasses of all time are, and since then I have spent a lot of time contemplating the names on the list.  For me that question takes a lot of consideration, much like my answer for "what's your favorite movie".  But as I though of the names of the characters that made the list according to MTV, debates by the panelists, and my known knowledge of the characters I feel that in today's media and technology crazed world, that many of the names on that particular list should no longer be considered relevant for today's films.  I personally do not think of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry as being the ultimate badass any longer.  And no matter how much I love the Alien series and everything Ripley related (thank you Dave for the introduction), I cannot picture Ellen Ripley as the #2 badass of all time (regardless of where the votes and tallies came from).  Even my excitement for Bruce Willis' John McClane just doesn't quite make my top 5 for today's movie goers -- not even having blown up a helicopter with a police car in Live Free or Die Hard.  Especially after the large quantity of action flicks over the last few years, and those by rather ambitious directors to took action to the next level.  Picture Kill Bill or Reservoir Dogs with a cast of teens.  Tarantino meeting the end of a blade or coming face to face with the muzzle of a gun held by one of his own badass characters.  Think of Fox coming to her fateful end in a dark alley at the hands of a little girl.  Or Marv getting his ass kicked by a former cop out for revenge.  There is nothing right about any of those pictures, but Kick-Ass gets very close to something that would resemble each and every one of those images.

Kick-Ass is a hard punching, ass kicking, blade yielding, heavy metal flick that will literally blow your mind. Yes we can all connect with the idea that it would be cool to be a superhero.  Some may have even questioned why no one has ever truly tried to be a superhero like those in the comic books, but Kick-Ass will put all those thoughts to rest.  From the opening monologue and drop dead shocking death, Matthew Vaughn's direction of Kick-Ass is a film that truly puts the classic Tarantino style to shame.  With characters like Hit Girl and Big Daddy I feel that the traditional lists of "all time badass characters" are no long relevant.  Personally, I no longer look at any of the classic cowboys, "bad boys", "good cop/bad cop", or those vengeful characters as being badass enough.  Even though Dirty Harry, John McClane, and even Sarah Connor remain on the list of characters that I'd rather not run into on the street, these classic characters are beginning to lose their status to the new generation of "badassness".

Kick-Ass is a wild ride with several heavy hitters on the cast list.  It has been years since Nick Cage has played a badass like Big Daddy, and I loved every second of it.   Over the past year I have begun to feel like all of my favorite "old timers" are finally making a come back in some serious badass roles. Bruce Willis is always a favorite with Live Free or Die Hard, John Travolta showed us he could still kickass and sent me back to the Pulp Fiction days with his role as Charlie Wax in From Paris with Love, Denzel Washington shocked us with his skills and overall badassness in Book of Eli, and now Cage joins the league and gives those characters a run for their money.  I've miss the good ol' days when Cage was that dangerous man in Face/Off, Con Air and Bangkok Dangerous.  Big Daddy was a role meant for him and I bow down before the performance and he truly went down in a blazing glory.

But it wasn't the old timer that did it for me.  He was more of a chaperon on set to the younger stars of the film.  I almost feel that if I was to match The Bride up against Hit Girl, she would easily "finish off" Tarantino's character in a matter of seconds before heading off to face the next badass on the list. The minute you see 13 year old Chloe Moretz playing with her first weapon, straight through to the final battle of the film you'll instantly be a Hit Girl fun.  Of course there is a chance you will puke in your lap at the degree of violence this little bombshell is capable of presenting.  It is her level of skill, power, and over all "girl-power" that is like no other character that has come before her, and instantly raises her level of badassness to a place on the top ten list.  Hit Girl could even give Jolie a run for her money as any action character in her repertoire.   This young star is an action star in the making that is someone to watch out for.  But don't worry, I have not forgotten about the boys in this flick.

Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse bring a whole new level to the "cool nerd".  It is their comedic timing and attempts at being a superhero that make Kick-Ass and Red Mist the new "cool kid".  It is the "losers" that are making it look cool to be the underdog.  With so many films hitting theaters about characters coming to terms with who they are and discovering that it is cool just to be yourself, it was the new "nerd" that every girl is going to be cheering for.  These character are going to put the "jocks" to shame in this new revolution in the "revenge of the nerds".  I could not get enough of the hard hitting characters, even when they were getting their butts kicked.  This adaptation of Mark Millar's graphic novel will place director Matthew Vaughn clearly on the radar for a career worth following.  I loved every second (even those that turned my stomach) and walked out of the theater wanting more, hoping for a sequel.  I give Kick-Ass a solid 10 out of 10 and highly recommend this film, with just one stipulation...

If you are a parent, older sibling, or relative/babysitter/etc of a child under the age of 13 I would suggest thinking twice about taking them to this film.  This film is an in-your-face ride that follows close to Frank Miller's Sin City and Alan Moore's Watchmen, and may not be appropriate for younger kids.  The screening I attended had several parents and family members sitting with young children between 3-10 years old, and all it took was the opening scene to send them into a fit of tears, ultimately causing their parent/relative/sibling to have to leave the theater until the child was able to calm down.  So please, do your fellow movie-goers a favor and come enjoy this film in an age appropriate manner, otherwise you may find a real-life superhero waiting for you just around the corner. 

Legion -- Review

Over the years I have watched more horror films than I can keep track of.  Within my circle of friends I have acquired a reputation for watching just about anything, no matter how good or bad the film may be.  I would even admit to owning some films that have shocked quite a number of people.  I thoroughly enjoy the sexploitation films the feature Pam Grier, I seek out b-rated horror films and sometimes find a charm like The Trilogy of Terror, and I even brave those films that have been hidden behind other DVDs long enough to collect dust.  Yes, I watch just about anything.  However, over the past few years I have come to expect certain things out of specific films or directors of said films.  Sometimes those expectations are met and others leave me sitting at a buffet table spattered in human remains feeling starved because what I though out be the beginning appetizer ended up being the entire feast.

I went out tonight expecting to be given an all you can eat horror feast from the new release Legion.  What I was given was a few decent appetizers, an entree that looked delicious but had not flavor, and a desert that included freezer burnt ice cream.  The film's marketing/PR team did one hell of a job getting the word out, but for the articles that I read regarding the film I did not get what I was being sold.  I was pumped up and ready to go on the wild ride in the tiny dinner in the hopes to save mankind, but as I sat in the dark theater I had a hard time focusing on the action.

With this film being Scott Stewart's directorial debut, I felt slightly overwhelmed by some of his shooting choices.  I looked forward to seeing what he would have in store for us, but the final product left me with a slightly empty feeling.  It reminded me of what it felt like to watch Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds where I expected the film to be similar to his previous projects but was not given the blood and violence I have come to associate with Tarantino films.  I expected to see certain things as they were described in detail in horror magazines, but the images they painted for me were none existant.  Granted they may have just ended up on the cutting room floor, but for whatever reason I was not given what appeared to be a promising film.  The only other thing I can think is that maybe it was his choice in shooting style and cast that limited things.  Not only will you not think of angels in quite the same way, but you will never be able to hear an ice cream truck and feel that warm, joyous feeling knowing that the ice cream man is coming.  Then again the ice cream man has never really been one of the friendliest people in my personal experience. 

With a surprise in cast, you are left wondering why some of the actors were cast in their respective roles.  Some should never be let into the horror genre again, as they were just not believable outside of their track record in ABC drama series.  And even though I did love the 'darkness' of the film, I hoped for a little bit of light so that I could at least see some of the blood and violence that was taking place.  With a large portion of the film taking place during the night or in a boarded up diner, the shadows hide the aspects of the film that made it so appealing.  I wanted to be able to see what was going on, and not just witness a split second because it was mixed with the shadows and curtains.  I know film is all about the power of illusion and the magic that happens behind the wizard's curtain, but this film's curtain was larger than was necessary.  We were also teased with the promise of mass carnage, and then left hanging as the film quickly moved right from one thought to another. 

Paul Bettany was by far the best part of the film.  Michael was not only the most interesting character in the entire film, the most believable, but even as a "mortal" he kicked more ass than could have been expected.  His introduction is where i felt a bit of a lack-luster.  I wanted to witness his change from angel to mortal that Fangoria had promised us but it was nothing but shadows and dark clouds in the form of silhouettes.  If only Bettany's influence had empowered the rest of the film.  It wasn't until the battle between angles did we get another surge of hope for the film to turn around.  The fight was fun, like any good fight should be.  But the dialog was so painful the there was little that could be done for the film before it ended. 

Legion showed a young director on his way of beginning his career.  The writing was lacking, but the idea and concept was a nice take on a story that has been played in several different notes.  The film is not horrible, but do not go in expecting more than what it is.  If you take the film as just that you may get enough to enjoy it, otherwise it can just be written off as first film and we can look forward to hoping for a slightly better take during round two in Scott Stewart's next film Priest which is due to hit theaters later this year.  I give this film a 2.5 out 5.