LinhKick-Ass; comic fantasy action film review
April 13th 2010 11:04
Cult Comic Crusaders by Linh
Kick-Ass is the superhero film that sets the new benchmark for comic fantasy fun and excitement. The film is an adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic book and will become an instant classic for anyone who enjoys a lot of biffo with heart-stopping thrills and blood spillage taken to the extreme. Kick-Ass redefines the comic superhero genre by bending the hyper-realism in the action sequences to appear as a parody of graphic comic book action and breaks the usual conventions of superhero films by pushing the boundaries of absurdity, profanity and violence.
Kick-Ass is the story of an ordinary teenager named Dave Lizewski, whose mother died eighteen months ago, and he leads an ordinary life with his father in New York until he hits upon the idea of becoming a real-life superhero. After ordering a green and gold wet-suit online, Dave names himself Kick-Ass and sets out to fight crime in his neighbourhood. The only problem he faces is the lack of superhuman powers, yet he acquires metal plates and damaged nerve-endings that increase his tolerance to pain, after he is brutally bashed while on his first assignment. After his bashing appears on YouTube, a string of copy cat cases and impersonators emerge which confuses crime boss Frank D’Amico and the police. Kick-Ass meets the ultra-skilled and well-equipped superhero duo of Big Daddy and Hit Girl (also ordinary people with no super powers), who save his life. Kick-Ass soon has a rival superhero named Red Mist, whom he befriends, but Red Mist has more sinister plans in store for Kick-Ass.
Director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) also produced and wrote the screen adaptation for Kick-Ass, after becoming enthused by the premise of comic book writer Mark Millar’s ordinary-turned-extraordinary male protagonist and his crime-fighting adventures. Vaughn has assembled a fantastic cast of well-known and unknowns faces to portray the varied personalities and ensured the playful but deadly spirit that pierced the pages of the original comics were not lost in the film adaptation. Vaughn succeeds with Kick-Ass by engaging audiences’ attention not only with who the characters are, but what they represent and how they interact with the other characters.
The brilliant ensemble cast tackles the excellent script with unbridled fervour, while the post-production team weaves the action, and dialogue into flawlessly captivating scenes. The film even parodies the comic book genre during the scene when the painful past and the present motivations of Damon Macready/Big Daddy are revealed.
Young British actor Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy, The Greatest) is perfectly cast as Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass, and he brings tenacity and inner strength to his character which makes up for Dave’s lack of fighting skills; Christopher Mintz-Plasse, best-know for his role as McLovin in Superbad, is goofy but determined as Christopher D’Amico/Red Mist, the son of crime boss Frank D’Amico; the standout performer in the film is thirteen year old Chloe Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready/Hit Girl, who trained for nearly four months to bring the foul-mouthed, cheeky and agile, butt-kicking heroine to life; Mark Strong is starting to become typecast as the token villain in films, such as the evil Lord Blackwood in Sherlock Holmes and as Sinestro in the upcoming 3D film The Green Lantern. His masterful portrayal of the relentlessly ruthless Frank D’Amico is restrained and controlled; Nicolas Cage channels television’s original Batman, Adam West, in speech and mannerism, yet exhibits the ultimate hero qualities as the compassionate yet vengeful Big Daddy.
Numerous references to popular comic book heroes are mentioned, with the representations of celebrity/hero worship and fanaticism through media and technology, with the spectacle of danger/violence/death reinforced. Despite a cast of impressionable youths with impressive skills, this is not recommended for younger audiences, due to the extreme level of violence, strong coarse language and other adult themes.
Kick-Ass is a fresh take on comic book superheroes and their vulnerability, fragility and sacrifice for the greater good. Dave/Kick-Ass narrates the story in the film, until the final few seconds when Christopher/Red Mist, takes over – which gives the audience a glimmer of hope for a sequel. Perhaps titled Kick-Ass 2: Red Mist’s Revenge?
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Lyndsy Fonseca, Sophie Wu, Evan Peters, Clark Duke, Kofi Natei , Michael Rispoli , Garrett M. Brown, Jason Flemyng, Elizabeth McGovern, Craig Ferguson
Screenplay: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, Mark Millar (comic book series)
Producers: Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., Matthew Vaughn, Brad Pitt, Kris Thykier, Adam Bohling, David Reid, Tarquin Pack, Lyn Lucibello, Darren Goldberg
Cinematographer: Ben Davis
Original Music: Ilan Eshkeri, Henry Jackman
Film Editor: Eddie Hamilton, Jon Harris
Running Time: 2 Hours and 5 minutes
MASKED MAYHEM: Kick-Ass (Aaron Johnson) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) unite to fight in the film Kick-Ass. Image: Marv Films, Universal Pictures.
Kick-Ass is the superhero film that sets the new benchmark for comic fantasy fun and excitement. The film is an adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic book and will become an instant classic for anyone who enjoys a lot of biffo with heart-stopping thrills and blood spillage taken to the extreme. Kick-Ass redefines the comic superhero genre by bending the hyper-realism in the action sequences to appear as a parody of graphic comic book action and breaks the usual conventions of superhero films by pushing the boundaries of absurdity, profanity and violence.
POWER PUNCH: Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) shows no mercy for Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong) in the film Kick-Ass. Image: Marv Films, Universal Pictures.
Kick-Ass is the story of an ordinary teenager named Dave Lizewski, whose mother died eighteen months ago, and he leads an ordinary life with his father in New York until he hits upon the idea of becoming a real-life superhero. After ordering a green and gold wet-suit online, Dave names himself Kick-Ass and sets out to fight crime in his neighbourhood. The only problem he faces is the lack of superhuman powers, yet he acquires metal plates and damaged nerve-endings that increase his tolerance to pain, after he is brutally bashed while on his first assignment. After his bashing appears on YouTube, a string of copy cat cases and impersonators emerge which confuses crime boss Frank D’Amico and the police. Kick-Ass meets the ultra-skilled and well-equipped superhero duo of Big Daddy and Hit Girl (also ordinary people with no super powers), who save his life. Kick-Ass soon has a rival superhero named Red Mist, whom he befriends, but Red Mist has more sinister plans in store for Kick-Ass.
MAJOR MINOR: Mindy/Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) acquired the skills in handling and using weapons to revenge the death of her mother in the film Kick-Ass. Image: Marv Films, Universal Pictures.
Director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) also produced and wrote the screen adaptation for Kick-Ass, after becoming enthused by the premise of comic book writer Mark Millar’s ordinary-turned-extraordinary male protagonist and his crime-fighting adventures. Vaughn has assembled a fantastic cast of well-known and unknowns faces to portray the varied personalities and ensured the playful but deadly spirit that pierced the pages of the original comics were not lost in the film adaptation. Vaughn succeeds with Kick-Ass by engaging audiences’ attention not only with who the characters are, but what they represent and how they interact with the other characters.
HUMAN HEROINE: Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) is human but embodies superhuman potential in the film Kick-Ass. Image: Marv Films, Universal Pictures.
The brilliant ensemble cast tackles the excellent script with unbridled fervour, while the post-production team weaves the action, and dialogue into flawlessly captivating scenes. The film even parodies the comic book genre during the scene when the painful past and the present motivations of Damon Macready/Big Daddy are revealed.
Young British actor Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy, The Greatest) is perfectly cast as Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass, and he brings tenacity and inner strength to his character which makes up for Dave’s lack of fighting skills; Christopher Mintz-Plasse, best-know for his role as McLovin in Superbad, is goofy but determined as Christopher D’Amico/Red Mist, the son of crime boss Frank D’Amico; the standout performer in the film is thirteen year old Chloe Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready/Hit Girl, who trained for nearly four months to bring the foul-mouthed, cheeky and agile, butt-kicking heroine to life; Mark Strong is starting to become typecast as the token villain in films, such as the evil Lord Blackwood in Sherlock Holmes and as Sinestro in the upcoming 3D film The Green Lantern. His masterful portrayal of the relentlessly ruthless Frank D’Amico is restrained and controlled; Nicolas Cage channels television’s original Batman, Adam West, in speech and mannerism, yet exhibits the ultimate hero qualities as the compassionate yet vengeful Big Daddy.
Numerous references to popular comic book heroes are mentioned, with the representations of celebrity/hero worship and fanaticism through media and technology, with the spectacle of danger/violence/death reinforced. Despite a cast of impressionable youths with impressive skills, this is not recommended for younger audiences, due to the extreme level of violence, strong coarse language and other adult themes.
Kick-Ass is a fresh take on comic book superheroes and their vulnerability, fragility and sacrifice for the greater good. Dave/Kick-Ass narrates the story in the film, until the final few seconds when Christopher/Red Mist, takes over – which gives the audience a glimmer of hope for a sequel. Perhaps titled Kick-Ass 2: Red Mist’s Revenge?
REAL RIVAL: Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) joins the realm of comic superheroes in New York in the film Kick-Ass. Image: Marv Films, Universal Pictures.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Lyndsy Fonseca, Sophie Wu, Evan Peters, Clark Duke, Kofi Natei , Michael Rispoli , Garrett M. Brown, Jason Flemyng, Elizabeth McGovern, Craig Ferguson
Screenplay: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, Mark Millar (comic book series)
Producers: Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., Matthew Vaughn, Brad Pitt, Kris Thykier, Adam Bohling, David Reid, Tarquin Pack, Lyn Lucibello, Darren Goldberg
Cinematographer: Ben Davis
Original Music: Ilan Eshkeri, Henry Jackman
Film Editor: Eddie Hamilton, Jon Harris
Running Time: 2 Hours and 5 minutes
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