KICK-ASS REVIEW
As an avid comic lover of all things Marvel and DC…and even Indie…and as a writer of comics, prose, poetry, novels, graphic works etc…I decided to do my first major film review…as I felt Millar persoannly touched and spoke to me with this film, I feel exactly like Dave Lizewski…and waited for months for this film…I was more pumped for this than Iron Man 2, reason being, when I read the books and I did so issue by issue…supporting Millar from his first Kick-Ass release, I grew more and more attached to it. People say he mouths off and uses his comics as screenplays, but hell…I would love to do the same. Millar’s works are immaculate…his Red Son Superman, his Wanted, his Civil War in Marvel is my fave ever, not to mention his impressive Ultimates or Old Man Logan works…I rate the guy a lot…that said…Matthew Vaughn rocked the movie…or did he?
The Movie –
The introduction was amazing…as was the overall soundtrack and music to the film. Dave’s love interest had me at hello also…and the way in which Vaughn and the team built Dave’s reasoning to becoming this hero…was spot on…even better and more expansive than the book…and I applaud this fully. Dave’s friends also make a hell of a clip…kudos…as everyone gave a brilliant performance. Aaron Johnson, Chloe, Nic…Strong, Plasse…everyone brought their A-game…and Aaron’s voice along with Strong’s…amazing…these guys nailed it! I love his impetuous training and rooftop-leaping clamours to be the superhero in his comics…LOL…and his costume is gold! His first foray into being a superhero and attacking his foes…priceless…and the execution by Vaughn…amazing…the only problem was the loophole of the medic helping him hide his identity…I guess that’s trust huh…even when Kick-Ass became popular, the medic kept his mouth shut about Dave…oh well! Oh…and his mom’s death…dude…amazing as expected…not to sound like a dick…but this movie was surpassing the book thus far.
I loved his gay-charade, the tirades at the comic store…and the quiet gangster’s son…SHHHHH! All leads up to Kick-Ass recovering for his 2nd foray…and his battle…leads from cat-rescue to rumbling in order to save a Puerto Rican’s life…wow…this rocked hard…and Dave’s speech made me giddy…the scene was spot on and Vaughn did justice…so did Kick-Ass…the way in which he rose to fame…as in the comics…the movie plays faithful thus far…and Vaughn, well he is ringing well…could he keep this up?
Well, the gay-charade as hilarious as it was led to the huge gang confrontation, which wasn’t as immense as in the books. As an interlude, I might add…that Chloe rarely cursed compared to the books, and this cursing, as well as the violence, was much less than I expected…I actually found this a bit watered down on-screen…but again…C*NTS…the fight scene was epic as Hit-Girl stole the show…all scenes with her and Big Daddy…even when out of costume…I loved the Adam West btw Nic…they had a chemistry and rapport that was elemental and superb. The bloody mess was epic and again, the action sequence rocked…it wasn’t over though as the first meeting with Daddy and Hit-Girl, and at Dave’s home…well seeing Dave scared that his fantasy was now a bloody hell reality…I mean…this translated so well on screen and this film started to get so dark and serious from outta nowhere…that well…I must applaud all…Kudos Matt Vaughn…or am I still jumping ahead?
The origin of Hit-Girl and Big Daddy were well done and I loved the changes, especially how the mum died, and with Marcus also, these changes rocked. I loved how Daddy’s past made him a Punisher-like anti-hero…and the adjustments made to the main villain, his gang, the crooked cops etc…well…all rocked harder than I expected. I must add, seeing garbage gangsters being crushed is always fun!
They switched the Red Mist reveal from the comics…and this was the stroke of genius for me…as they made Chris (I think that was his name) obviously plot to help and impress his father by luring the hero as Red Mist. This was amazing…as was the warehouse fire scene…which led to them realising that the duo, not Kick-Ass, was the real threat…and this paved well. As Red and Kick toured the town, Gnarls Barkley never sounded better! Despite not endorsing ‘tunk’ in the film…I loved how Kick-Ass was scared shitless outta his mind…and he got the girl…a Happy ending thus far…a brilliant change…and not having his dad banging interracially was something that wasn’t a huge loss either…although I’d have liked Halle Berry to come take it!
The way in which the movie now takes itself on and goes away from comics…well…to me…it’s Nolan-esque here…the way in which Mist sets em up, turns of his friend…then tries to beg for forgiveness…while all trying to please Dad…is golden…and they were idiots for not making sure Hit-Girl was dead when he shot her off the window!!! Major plot hole no. 2!!!
But the ransom scene that followed, beats any testicular electrocution, as I’d have liked all to be translated from comic to film…all the gore and cursing…and blowjobs…but I got this deviation…and damn, all the deviations were a win…the rescue by Hit-Girl, was immense, and an amazing action scene that beats the death of dad in the comic…by far…and her convo with Kick-Ass in the car was lovely…and scary! And the guy who wanted to wait til she became legal…he is sick…but he spoke from his heart. I respect that a lotttt!
The revenge and completing her dad’s job after his death…was wow! No flame thrower but a bazooka…hmmmm….the jet-pack…F**k it…I loved it all…and when they raided the building…WOW!!!! Hit-Girl would cut Chuck Norris up! Kick-Ass whupped Mist and I loved how he didn’t feel the need to kill him as he saw forgiveness despite betrayal, as Mist didn’t want harm to befall Kick-Ass…so he helped Hit-Girl from death…and what a way to go! I loved Strong winning the fight but his death was A+. Nic’s death scene btw was hugely awesome, as was the hostage scene…and how they got out…and how Hit-Girl reacted..wows…but again I’m jumping the gun cuz she left her dad’s body for the cops, and then I guess from the video when she shot the hostage cam, they knew Big-Daddy had a girl sidekick…hence could link Mindy to Hit-Girl…ummm…plot hole 3! She should have burned it…the body…and also, having found Damon, how could Marcus adopt Mindy? They must have known she’d be Hit-Girl!!!!
Oh well…the good guys..i mean kids…won…and the guy got the girl…the heroine got a dad again…and this happy ending was welcome, cuz the book ended miserably…but still rocked! Dave became Mindy’s big bro and had the poontang from Katie…amazing huh…but wait…the end line from Jack Nicky’s joker…as in the comic…set up a Red Mist waiting for revenge…say SEQUEL BITCH!!!!
And I loved this ending cuz in the comic…Mist was an obvious villain so why didn’t Dave kill him…he dumbly let him live…but in the movie…he let Mist live cuz Mist did try to save Dave before, and cuz well…he went to save Mindy…overall peeps, the performances, music, dialogue, script changes and tweaking from the source material, the action, gore and cursing…the violence…everything was amazingly well done and spot on…Matt made this film go from wacky to eerie, something that the book never did…it went from wacky to crazier to wackier…but Matt had this film go to places, dark, that I never saw coming…and thoroughly enjoyed…I am just as stunned as when I saw Nolan’s 2 bat-films…cuz he stunned me, one of the biggest Bat-comic fans out…and for Vaughn to stun me, an avid lover of all Millar works, makes me giddy…this movie gets a 9.5 outta 10…not perfect cuz I wanted more gore, blood, cursing and violence…I loved the books man!!! LOL…
And while, Vaughn may not be directing Avengers, I hope he does a Superman, JLA someday…he rocks…the wait for this film…was worthwhile!!!
I CAN’T BE A SUPERHERO…BUT I CAN KICK YOUR ASS!!!