KICK-ASS Review

I have to start off by saying that I've never read the comic book from which 'Kick-Ass' is based, but I imagine the film gets the tone of it right. That seems to be the most important thing about this film. It has huge elements of both action, comedy and drama. Neither of these are small elements of an otherwise dominate comedic, action or drama film. So, in order to mix all of these with a good balance and having to keep a consistent tone I'd also say it is the most impressive thing about this film. it does escalate from comedy to action comedy to action drama with bits of humor, but it knows what it wants and it goes for it with no regard as to who will be offended. I read Roger Ebert's review of this film because he was severely offended by the thought of an 11 year-old girl killing people with no remorse and claims the audience who enjoys this film simply "inhabit(s) a world I am so very not interested in." I am not going to make my review a justification of why it is a much better film than Ebert gives it credit for, but his points are certainly interesting and worth noting. He knows this is satire but doesn't know what of. This is a fair question, but one I would assume most people could guess after watching the film. This is not necessarily a spoof of comics or comic book movies, as it still has moments that resemble any other comic book adaptation. What this is making fun of but being in love with at the same time is the world that these comic books take us too. At least, that is how I am going to take it. The question is posed, "How come nobody's ever tried to be a superhero?" and that in turn spawns our main character to try it out. What this leads to is the "making fun" of how ridiculous it would be if someone tried to act like the superheroes they read about in the comics. Even the good ones like Big Daddy and Hit Girl are laughable in the way they have chosen to live their lives. It is also fair to question how an 11 year-old can show no remorse after stone cold killing 12 men, but it is established from the beginning that this character has not been raised to show remorse or affection or anything. She has been trained her entire life to kill, why would one expect her to act any differently than the way she did? There is no argument this is not the best way to raise a child, but for the purposes of being shocking and quite original (which I'm positive is what the comic book creators were going for) it works here. This is not for the young crowd, this is for the 17 to 30 audience (mostly males) that enjoy comic book movies and comedies. This is for the college age-kids who's narcissistic tendencies will be satisfied with this piece of satire. The story I thought was structured well, giving all plot lines the right amount of attention and sequencing them in the right order so as to create the best effect this kind of story can produce.Even Ebert cannot deny the appeal of the cast which is great here. In any other movie Chloe Moretz would have ran away as a scene stealer, but Aaron Johnson anchors the film well playing normal teen with a kind thrill for the unknown. Christopher Mintz-Plasse feels underused and is really my only complaint about the film though if they actually get to make the sequel that the end suggests at my craving for more McLovin will be satisfied there. Mark Strong is quickly becoming one of my new favorite actors and one of my least favorite actors, Mr. Nic Cage turns in his best performance in years channeling Adam West's batman and being the source of some of my favorite moments in the film. It has to be remembered this is all in good fun and shouldn't be taken as more than that, if kids are being allowed to watch a movie called 'Kick-Ass' in the first place, its their parents fault they take it as something other than a parody. Its just poking a little fun at a world most people who will actually see this love. Nothing more. There is nothing to be sad about.

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