KICK-ASS Post Release - Page 6

The car stuff you need because in another world they could have been friends.

Personally white people car dancing to Gnarls Barkley never gets old.

Even better a second time.

Yancy Butler as Mrs. D'Amico was a bit of a surprise.

And Lyndsy Fonseca has a nice set of gams.

I have a feeling this one's going to fade out of pop culture consciousness as quickly as "Sin City." It's got some cool tricks, but the characters seem half-formed and increasingly undercut as the action scenes begin to swallow the film whole. I didn't care for any of the characters by the end, which is shocking considering how invested i was at the beginning.

Moreover, the editing of the action scenes actually downplayed the graphic consequences of the character's actions and the violence enacted upon them (possibly corrected for the inevitable director's cut?). Too many quick cuts. This seems to be at odds with the film's initial philosophy towards violence, i.e. that if you get stabbed in this film, you'll probably bleed to death. Unfortunately, this reduces the tension and drama. Our "heroes" are essentially immortal by the end of the film.

It strives for something more than satire, but ends up as nothing more than a flashy, well-groomed relative of "Superhero Movie", which will probably end up the bigger money-maker in the scheme of things.

EDIT: I enjoyed Xander Berkley's little cameo role here. He's been doing a few of those recently in other films, too, which just classes up the joint for me. "Taken" and... "Redbelt" I think he was in there somewhere. I wish his role had actually had a payoff, though. Essentially *nothing* came of him.

I'll admit it was funny and Andre's point stands as well, but it slightly throws off the pacing for a brief moment. A minor problem, really.

So, should I check out Stardust and Layer Cake now? I've read some positive and negative opinions of Stardust here, but nothing about Layer Cake, and I'm really interested it in checking out Vaughn's other work now.

This movie off-da-chain!

- Hit Girl fucking owned this movie.

- Nic Cage is forgiven for WINDTALKERS and onward -- may he find some gems of scripts from here on out.

- Mark Strong continues to impress. Subtle within his villainy swagger.

- The McLovin kid was cool as Red Mist.

- Forgiven also is Matthew Vaugnh for STARDUST and producing SWEPT AWAY.

I love this movie.

Of Note: Would've been neato-rific had Daniel Craig played the role of Big Daddy, as he was offered the role.

Just got back from a second viewing:

The crowd was about 1/4 full (disappointing) and that 1/4 was populated by sarcastic hipster college students and bewildered couples, so they were a pretty lousy crowd and remained silent for most of the film. Note the film has only just opened in this town, so crowds should be larger.

So not even close to the reception it got the first time, but the film itself still worked like a motherfucker. I could take in the subtler character beats that I had noticed the first time but got mixed up in the excited delerium the movie left me in. I really did care about these characters, the action scenes proved this - particularly the entire webcast torture/Hit Girl rescue sequence. I was surprised by how it hit me on the second viewing, the swell of emotion, it really is an exhilirating sequence. It may have been even better the second time around because I wasn't taken by surprise by it, I could appreciate every frame of it this time.

The action in general felt even more impressive, I'd noticed a few tricks Vaughn used to make all the action click (like I said before, establishing the georgraphy of a location - particularly D'Amico's pad, I even noticed how they set up where the balcony was in relation to Frank's office, for the jetpack sequence) but I could appreciate the entire thing on the second playthrough, the first time I was clearly overwhelmed by the whole experience and things slipped by me.

I think I'm going to hit it up one more time, preferably on 2-for-1 Wednesday when crowds tend to be bigger. The crowds aren't important, but it'd be nice to hear an audience get behind this fantastic movie like they should.


I wasn't bowled over by Stardust, but it had its moments. I loved Layer Cake, though. There are a lot of great visual touches in that movie.

A lot of fun, but the cinematography was a bit wonky in places. Eh, about what I expected.

Also, we need to talk more about how good Vaughn is at building tension. There are many points in the movie where the tension builds, builds, and builds... and then it EXPLODES into roaring action. Every major setpiece has this, but it never grows stale because Vaughn is just that damn good at editing them and setting them to music. My three favorite music choices are probably The Banana Splits theme, "Bad Reputation" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Elvis edition!), and it's because they serve as such a great release to the tension.

It's strange that I enjoyed this much more than the comic, especially since the first part is almost identical beat-for-beat. I like to think it's the execution; whereas Millar's strong concept was defeated by a douchey protagonist (seriously, comic-Dave is just a creep), wonky art (nothing against Romita, but his character designs just look weird and unappealing) and "look at how cool I am!" macho posturing, Vaughn creates an entire cinematic world where Hit Girl, Big Daddy and Kick-Ass are as awesome as they should be.

Same at my theater, about half full but once the movie ended a huge damn reaction of clapping, first time I've seen that since the Lord of the Rings films.

Love the film! The fight scenes, editing and music are top notice..I will be seeing this again.

First movie we've seen all year due to the arrival of baby 2. Excellent. Tra la la made my day.

Sadly, we were the only people in the theater. We were in the east Atlanta burbs at a pretty sketchy theater, it is a big weekend here in town, but the only people in the theater for an 8 pm show???

damn really? wow

Bitches! Where the hell have you been???

I think it also helps the film that, in the comic, Big Daddy's an even bigger creep than Dave (he's Dave taken to the extreme, warping his daughter in the process). In the movie, by making his fake backstory real, he comes off as more your righteously driven action hero than demented loser (or, as he puts it himself, "asshole")-- plus, he doesn't give his kid coke and tell her it's some kind of super-potion.

One could argue that it defeats Millar's point, but I'll take the tradeoff.

Loved it. Such a blast.

My favorite money shot was Hit Girl loading her empty gun with clips that were floating in mid-air. Awesome. Kurt Wimmer must be seething with envy right now.

My only tiny complaint: the dumb masturbation gags at the very beginning were a bit too American Pie for my tastes, but thankfully the film abandons that tone almost immediately.

Overall, though, it's fantastically entertaining and throws the gauntlet down for the action/spectacle films of the rest of the year.

Been thinking about this movie some more (really can't wait to see it again) and I think my favorite little moment was Hit-Girl's "Dad, look at me! Dad!" while messin' around with the balisong. Nice little bit.

I couldn't understand a single word that came out of Hit Girl's mouth.

Paul you have to ditch this ghetto theater before it gets raided for showing bootlegs!

Hit Girl had fine diction.

It was one of the best superhero movies I've ever seen, almost as good as Tank Girl. I really enjoyed the repeated implications that Kick-Ass's crime-fighting was mostly displaced sexual energy. First time Hit-Girl takes out all those guys, it reminded me a little of Takashi Miike, where the violence is so over-the-top and immoral that it becomes dark comedy.

And I agree with Coombs, that butterffly knife bit was a really neat small moment. There were a couple things like that (like Kick-Ass and Red Mist dancing to Gnarls Barkley) that really made me appreciate this movie for more than the broader over-the-top moments of comedy.

This movie was so good it makes me want to give Layer Cake another try.

"What would you like for your birthday, child?'
"MSHDHDBNNBDDDHGDJHNDJSHSHHHHHHKKSKSKKS"

- actual Kick-Ass dialogue

That's not supposed to be sarcastic or anything, man. Seriously, get one. You're missing out on some prime dialogue/delivery.

Matthew Vaughn won me when he did this, so yeah it's worth giving it another try.*

I'm trying to find the time to check out Kick-Ass. I might be able to tomorrow, just depends on how things go. I really look forward to this one.

*=Although I never saw Stardust, should I catch up on that?

Yeah, give it a shot. Very fun and different. Not all "cutesy LOTR" bullshit like the trailer suggests. It is light-hearted, but loads of fun. Stardust gave me more hope for Kick Ass than Layer Cake, and I fucking love that film.

What I liked was that Big Daddy and Hit Girl had genuine hearts un-masked and when they don their masks: they took no prisoners. Fuck, I love that. Unlike Batman where he holds back and doesn't kill.

Also, the end left Red Mist alive. Hit Girl and Kick-Ass were smart to know check up on him and shot him in the head or something - but it opened up a great sequel and a great rivalry to be had by these individuals. Because Red Mist's dad were killed by these people and the dad showed genuine love to his son and they both cared for each other.

If it is successful enough to warrant sequel(s), I wonder what will become of Marcus because he knows what Hit Girl is about and will he don a mask as well?

I know what you mean. A lot of the film's dialogue was perfectly clear and understandable, but there were those few moments of real mumbly, inarticulate speech, and they really stood out to me as well.

Unless we both saw this at the Roseway in Portland, then I'm guessing there are others who had the exact same problem. I think it's a legitimate issue to level against the film, and I'm curious as to who else had trouble interpreting the mush-mouthed delivery of some of the lines? It just seemed like something that could've been cleaned up in ADR.

FWIW, the only problem I had understanding any of the dialog was with some of Nic's shouted commands as he was frying.

Yeah! What the hell was he saying?

Is it it evil that I LOVE the idea of parents bringing their kids to this thing not knowing what it is?

In a just world, Ms. Moretz would be an Academy Award nominee. And her performance is likely to be superior to the person who does win it next year.

This is going to be an extremely misunderstood movie, and in more ways than you can count. If a guy as smart and savvy as Ebert can miss the point, anybody can.

Would've loved to see this with it's temp score. I suspect the "real life super-hero themes" cut is the ideal one. I mean, you can tell where they used to be, but hearing the Superman theme on this would just add to the surreal, fucked up nature of it.

Nic Cage finally found a movie that embraces his practical joke.

I'm kinda glad the box office=no sequels. Could they really have topped this? It's one of the great cinematic losses if they could have, but I suspect not.

Seeing the Scott Pilgrim trailer, then hearing characters in Kick-Ass reference Scott Pilgrim, was cool.

I loves me some Craig Ferguson, was great to see him here.

Speaking of Craigs, if it's true Daniel Craig was the first choice for Big Daddy, we're so so fortunate that didn't work out. At best, he wouldn't have been as good as Cage, at worst, would've brought down the whole thing. Maybe there's some great, untapped comedic talent there, but...

It's interesting that both this and Wanted share so many characteristics. Of course, they're both Mark Millar properties, but are also both liberal with their translations. The two almost seem to take place in the same world, though Wanted's is a bit more metaphysical.

I hope Moretz grows up to be really hot. Fuck you, shut up, you hope so too.

I find it funny that the marketing uses "with no power comes no responsibility" as a tag line, when the point that Kick-Ass was trying to make is the exact opposite.

Kinda. It speaks to pretty unengaged parenting if they don't realize a rated R movie with ass in the title might not be for kids.

Are you planning on saving yourself for her? Sick fuck.

I bookended my post with irresponsible attitudes towards children! Cool!

A lot of parents are O.K. with "ass", but not "cunt". Weird but true. It's the exact opposite of my girlfriend's attitude (hey hey!)

Also, if you're worried about Hit Girl's virtue, I'd keep an eye on this guy:

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3886583040/nm1631269

YOU WILL NOT RIDE QUENTIN'S COAT TAILS TO HER DEFLOWERATION, YOU BASTARD!

I saw a family that brought their four daughters aged about 7 - 12; they ran out every so often because of its vile nature. Ya'll know which parts.

I have the impression it was code words that told her what maneuver to do next. One of them seemed to involve the word "kryptonite."

EDIT: eh, never mind.

Heh? According to Box Office Mojo it was made for only $30 million. Worldwide it's already made $20 million.

I hope that kid grows up to be, too. Total butterface, though.

All of it?

I tried to listen out for Big Daddy's burning screams on my second viewing, I got -
"TAKE COVER, CHILD!"
"NOW SWITCH TO KRYPTONITE!" (the strobe)
The third thing was something to do with "Robin", I believe, which is when she removed the strobe and set it up as a distraction.


Lionsgate and Universal probably paid more than that for the distribution rights, and there would be more money piled on for advertising, so ten million shy of the production budget is likely not going to cut it.

I love how the trailers make you think the "I'd fuck the shit out of him" would play differently.

To me, the third thing sounded something like "Robin's Revenge." But I don't think that makes any sense.

Yeah, I guess by the time we turn on the subtitles on the DVD, we'll find out those directions are pretty funny.

My friends and I could barely find an open seat at my theater, THIS MOVIE WILL MAKE THE MOST MONEY EVER!!!!

This movie is fucking great.

This seems to be a problem with a lot of movies lately. CASINO ROYALE may as well have been in Sanskrit. In fact, I found KICK-ASS to be pleasingly coherent for the most part. Good, straightforward fun.

Major lapses in tone, though. The part where Nicolas Cage's old cop buddy visits him was like something from the hit TV series BROTHERS AND SISTERS, and the internet unmasking/Cage's death were far too horrible for what is, the rest of the time, a likeable comedy. For paedophiles.

I'm with Parker and Haji on this one. Lots to like and love (especially the characters), but as an entire package it left me cold (pretty much exactly how I feel about Zombieland, actually). Unfortunate, because I feel like I might've loved this one like most of you guys had I been in a slightly different mood.

I think it was the tonal shifts that always took me out of the movie. Like Parker and Haji, I enjoyed the character work in the first third of the film more. For me, the film never matches the high point it reached with Kick-Ass' "I'd rather die," speech. That actually moved me, because I wanted Kick-Ass to pound that Asian kid and his cell phone for not dialing 911.

I certainly did appreciate the tension that Vaughn built and built up. I completely cared for the characters and the level of unpleasant violence in the film was established so early that I found myself in a state of dread for most of the movie.

The temp nature of the soundtrack... I was distracted whenever it went John Murphy/Danny Boyle on me. But I tend to feel that way about composers reusing cues.

When I saw his name on the opening credits and he made his first appearance, I did think of the B-Action Movie Thread and its loyal patrons. Kinda wished I was in the company of folks who would've appreciated me whispering a joke about not watching my television set to them during the screening.

What flavor is your hater-ade?

Also, Yancy Butler of HARD TARGET, DROP ZONE, and WITCHBLADE, respectively made a cameo as the wifey of Mark Strong.

___

I admired the set designer's work w/ the movie's limited budget. IMHO: Mark Strong's book shelf was nicely done and Big Daddy and Hit Girl's safehouse was neato-rif.

Arctic Chill!