Now what does it take for someone to become a superhero? A righteous determination? A rigid code of conduct? Superpowers? What about a freshly pressed cape? Well, if none of these things apply, then maybe this film has a better answer for us? This film Directed by Matthew Vaughn; and Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, and
Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It was made in 2010, and lasts for 117-minutes.
Kick-Ass
THE STORY
Kick-Ass
THE STORY
Hapless teenager, David Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), has always
wondered what it would be like to become a superhero. In fact, he is so
curious about this, that he buys himself a costume, goes out to fight crime,
and then gets himself stabbed and run over for his troubles.
Ooops!
However, when David tries to do this a second time – some
months later, once he has recovered from all of his injuries – things turn out
rather differently for him.
For a start, after David saves a man from being mugged on
the street – he hits the media spotlight, and is christened with the name ‘Kick
Ass’. Next, whilst attempting to help a friend of his, Katie Deauxma (Lyndsy
Fonseca), with a spot of bother she is having with a man she once knew – he
meets, and is aghast by, the deviant antics of the savage duo, Hit-Girl (Chloë
Grace Moretz), and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage). Then, because of this
chance encounter, David comes under the watchful eye of Crime Lord, Frank
D'Amico (Mark Strong) – whom goes so far as to utilise his son’s eagerness to
prove his own worth, Chris D'Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), to set a trap
for ‘Kick Ass’, guised as the wannabe hero, Red Mist. And finally, when this
trap is eventually sprung, unfortunately, things don’t really go according to
plan – all because of the brutal intervention of Big Daddy.
Though, it is at this juncture of David’s odyssey, that he
begins to have second thoughts’ about why he is doing all of this – especially
when he unveils to Katie his true nature. Nevertheless, due to the eventful
prodding by the Red Mist, he seems to be enveloped by a battle beyond his
control once more.
You see, what next transpires all begins once he and
Big Daddy are both captured by Frank D'Amico’s men. As girls crash – daddy’s
burn – asses are kicked – and at the end of the day, revenge is dispensed in a
not so orderly fashion.
Please note, this is not the end – but rather, it is the
beginning of a new school term, CLASS DESMIST!
THE REVIEW:
Now would it be too obvious of me if I said that this film,
‘Kick Ass’, really kicked ass? Yes – I think so too. Still, I have said it now
– so, in some way, I have to not be so obvious with my review next. But how can I
do that I wonder? Err - maybe - I could explain to you how I can feel about
this film in a song? Something like...
No – I don’t think that would work. So what about a touch of
trivia instead? Such as: (1) This film was based on a comic book by the same
name, which was owned by its creators, John Romita, Jr. and Mark Miller. (2)
Both Mark and John worked for Marvel and DC Comics in the past, and have
collaborated on such titles as ‘Wolverine’ and ‘Batman’. (3) John made a cameo
appearance in this film, playing the Atomic Comics barista – and he also
illustrated the artwork on show as well. (4) Nicholas Cage’s depiction of ‘Big
Daddy’ was based on the sixties Adam West version of Batman. (5) In the comic
books, ‘Big Daddy’ was not an ex-cop, but rather an accountant. (6) Kick-Asses
costume follows a similar design principle than another comic book characters attire – Gecko – in a series created by the creators of 'the Mask', John Arcudi
and Doug Mahnke, named ‘Major Bummer’. This series was also about a hapless
superhero too. (7) All of the ‘heroes’ in this film, except for Kick-Ass, have
different costumes to their comic book counterparts. And (8) Believe it or not,
the comic book version is more cruder and more blatant than the film.
OK, so now I have all of that out of my system, what else
can I do to make this review different? Mime? Scratch my nuts? Go on facebook
and then pretend to be an aardvark? No – none of these will work. However, what
will, is if I just told you what I feel about this ‘Kick Ass’ movie.
Well, for a start, let me just say that it is a good comic
book movie adaptation – with only a couple of alterations made to make it a
cinematic experience, rather than a true comic book experience. Now do not take
what I have said the wrong way please – as this is a fairly faithful version
all in all – and it does share the same spirit as the comic. Moreover, it also has that Mark
Miller vibe about it, which just tantalises, perverts, and adheres to his
satirical way of writing.
Fair enough, I can understand that the sight of a little
girl swearing and shooting a gangster in the head is not everybody’s cup of
tea. Nevertheless, I am sure that these same naysayers’ cannot protest how this
same facet was expertly and beautifully executed in this film – so to speak. In
addition to this, let’s not forget about the actors also, because all of them
are just spot on in this film. Aaron, class – Cage, sublime – Christopher,
surprisingly good – Mark, surprisingly menacing – Chloë, surprisingly adorable
– and the rest, surprisingly nice, and did help ground this film, which it
genuinely needed at times.
Now I would like to end this review by saying that this film
was a good film. It was a good adaptation from its original comic book source –
it was a good form of entertainment to watch for those with an alternate taste
– and it was a good film with a good story and with good actors in it too.
In my opinion – one of the best comic book to movie
adaptations since Sin City .
THE RATING: A
KICK-ASS
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
January 18, 2012
Rating: