Showing posts with label kick-ass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kick-ass. Show all posts

Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Losers -- Review

This weekend will be a showdown of the comics. After it's opening weekend last week, I feel as though Kick-Ass needs a make-up session, and the challenger in the other corner is Vertigo comic's The Losers.  Last week Kick-Ass just barely beat out the family film from Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon, but I feel this weeks challenger should put up less of a fight.  Unfortunately I did not buy the hype of The Losers.  Yes, it looks cool.  Yes, there is a hot chick that can kick ass and will give any guy a hard on for her flexibility and ability to handle dangerous weapons.  But other than that this film lacks in a variety of areas.

As an action fan from the female prospective, The Losers left me wishing I had not wasted my time.  Regardless of several "hot" male actors there was nothing that truly appealed to action fans.  There wasn't quite enough action to keep me satisfied, and the overall dialog and story fell short even in comparison to some of the worst comic book adaptations like The Punisher, Hulk (Eric Bana version)  and The Fantastic Four.  I get that they tried to appeal to females by adding in Chris Evans who previously starred as Human Torch, but even for how bad the Fantastic Four films were we (female audience) were at least given a little skin to help us get through the painful moments of the film. But there was very little for me to hold onto during the 98 minute running time of The Losers.

 The Losers gave the impression to have great potential, but after Kick-Ass and the witty dark humor I felt the dialog and story choices made for The Losers just reached too far.  Granted I have not read the comics, but I have a feeling that several of the characters are not quite as bad as they are portrayed.  Jensen is over the top and is almost "clueless" to an extent that is unbelievable.  It's "cute" that he loves his niece but there is something about an elite special forces hacker that acts the way he does that just doesn't make it for me.  Clay is the most relateable character, however his character is so one-dimensional that I just couldn't seem to like him.  Aisha is a bad ass chick suffering from lack of bi-polar medication.  Her history and connection to the Losers makes sense but the lead up to the reveal make it less believable as to who her character is.  My only real porblem with Zoe Saldana as Aisha is the fact that I find her hard to believe as an action star.  Her dancing background adds to her ability to make the appearance believable, but her acting style is hard to keep up with.  I wish she would stick with drama films and leave the action genre to other actors for the time being.  The best part of the film for me was Cougar and Pooch.  Their contrast together made for the perfect pair in the team. Cougars lack of need to speak makes him a true bad-ass, and adds to his character as a sharpshooter. 

Over all I struggled to find something steady throughout The Losers to keep me grounded long enough to really appreciate it.  I guess having just come off Kick-Ass I have higher standards for comic adaptations and just wanted something more.  The Losers cannot touch Kick-Ass in overall quality of entertainment.  Personally I would suggest putting The Losers on the back burner and waiting to see it after it's out on DVD.  But who knows, maybe I just missed the point and maybe one of you can help explain to me what I missed. 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

How to Train Your Dragon -- Review

We always seem to go through phases when it comes to popular genres and topics of entertainment.  We have the year of 3D (which I'm still debating as to whether I should actually be excited or not), the year of remakes (that has become YEARS and I wish would seriously end), the year of cheapquels/sequels (which some films have promise and others are straight to DVD quality), and of course the year of the "underdog"/geek(which is by far my favorite).  3 months into 2010 and I already have two favorite films.  I recently noticed that I seem to have a pattern this year and am beginning to fall harder and harder for the "geek", and although one is a much older sense of humor, I also find myself falling harder and harder for Jay Baruchel.  He went from playing a "hard 5" and winning the heart of a "hard 10" to being a very un-viking like viking.  How to Train Your Dragon is based on the characters from a children's series by British author Cressida Cowell which following the adorable Hiccup and Toothless. This film, however paints a very different picture of Toothless in comparison to the children's novel. Regardless, after watching the film I wanted to go out and find some way of adopt Toothless for myself.

How to Train Your Dragon is an adorable family film that is truly a joy for kids of all ages.  From start to finish everyone in the theaters cheered and gasped as Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) discovered the truth behind the dragons and his discovery of friendship with Toothless.  I will confess there were several scenes where I became so wrapped up in the story that I even teared up for the dragons. and his viking companion.  The story of friendship, courage, and determination is one that everyone can relate to no matter your age, or personal goals in life.  It is far more than a story of "don't judge a book by its cover", but a true testament to going out and learning the truth for yourself so you can make an educated decision on whatever you may encounter in life.  Even the relationship between Hiccup and his father Stoick (voiced by Gerald Butler) is relate-able to the real world.


Dreamworks has created an amazing family friendly film that touches the heart of its viewers all the way down to the deepest darkest corner, warming even a bully's heart.  With voice talents of America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) as Hiccup's love interest Astrid, Kristen Wiig(Extract and Whip It) as the female of the twin duo Tuffnut and T.J. Miller(Extract and She's Out of My League) as her male counterpart Ruffnut, Craig Ferguson as the "handy" Gobber, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Bad-AssRole Models and Superbad) as Fishlegs, and Jonah Hill (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Superbad) as the "tough" Snotlout you are sure to laugh with their outstanding comedic skills.  The names are enough to send any kid into a fit of giggles, but when you get the characters together on screen, competing for the ultimate bragging right and the chance to kill a dragon in front of the whole village, it's obvious why Dreamworks would take on such an amazing story.  The characters are fun, and the dragons will make even the macho-ist of men  turn a little soft around the edges.  As for the dragons, Toothless is the ultimate family pet.  Everyone will walk out of the theater wanting one of their own.  Even for a dragon that can breath fire, and almost destroy a village, his puppy dog eyes and lovable demeanor will push you right over the edge.


How to Train Your Dragon is a film for kids of all ages who are looking for a good time at the theater this weekend.  You will laugh, you will cry, and you will give three cheers for Hiccup and Toothless.  So if you are looking for a film to catch this weekend, take your kids or kid brother/sister or husband/wife or whomever and check out this film.  You will not be disappointed. I give this film a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

How to Train Your Dragon -- Olympic Sports Spots
Snowboarding
 
Ski Jump
Speed Skating
Bobsled
Medal Ceremony

Trailer