This is the second time I have seen 'Kick Ass' -- I saw it in the cinema when it came out after much hype and controversy. I'd read a lot of reviews saying a lotta' different things and I can understand that watching a 12 year old girl call a bunch of blokes 'c**ts' (can I swear? What is blogger's policy?) and then proceed to slice 'em up, impale them, shoot 'em, blow 'em up, bite 'em....is perhaps not certain people's idea of entertainment.
I, however....thought it was fucking cool! Taking place with the Tra La La Song (actually it's name) was a stroke of genius. Matthew Vaughn rocked this one, and kicked some serious...butt.
It's about one kid's desire to be a superhero. He is the traditional geek who finds himself at the bottom of the barrel, getting pushed around, not getting anything fair -- and it all seems to be following the conventional super-hero story. In one scene, he attempts to fight a pair of thugs and I thought as the fight started 'well, now -- here we go. He's gonna' beat the shit outta' em, and become a super-hero, and fight crime...'
...then he got stabbed. Run over...and almost died.
And we, like Dave...are brought down to earth with a violent, bloody thud.
This is not a superhero movie, if anything -- it aims to poke playful fun at those kinds of movies. Deep down, it's about a kid growing up, and wanting to be something more than he is, a thought shared on a global level. Matthew Vaughn takes this notion, and like any good filmmaker, he colours it in. He makes it something more, and he casts Nicolas Cage...which was awesome.
The movie is incredibly graphic, I'm not familiar with the graphic novels, but I assume they are just as 'graphic' -- there have been comments about the violence saying it's completely gratuitous. I can't say I really agree with that, because as mentioned, this movie aims to ascend a comic book movie -- it's real life, and if people try this in real life, they're going to get hurt....and have their legs chopped off by prepubescent girls...
So, Dave becomes Kick-Ass. And people are pretty psyched about it. It's exciting stuff. Meanwhile, Big Daddy and Hit Girl, a father and daughter vigilante duo are secretly training hard and killing off men connected with Frank D'Amico, a local mobster. Big Daddy (Cage) harbours some serious strong feelings towards this dude, the man who ruined his life, and was responsible for his wife's death. Frank's son is Chris -- who wants nothing more than to also grow up and be something better...however he wants to be the next Frank...who kills people. So that's a problem...
As films do...all this mixes together and it's pretty damn entertaining to watch. Some great lines, great great action, particularly from young Chloe Grace Moretz as Hit Girl who is a treat to watch. The final confrontation plays out as any big action blockbuster does, but it manages to maintain enough about it to resemble one complete movie. The jet pack may have been a bit too much, but fuck it -- it's not completely about reality in some cases.
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Thursday 5 August 2010
Same Day -- New Film = 'The Apartment'
Billy Wilder's 1960 classic features Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine in perhaps one of the best movies I have and will ever see.
In terms of comedy -- a lot of films are thrown about these days. The more educated population will maybe toss in names such as 'This Is Spinal Tap', 'National Lampoon's Animal House' -- the others will divulge trifle (in comparison to these great names) such as 'Anchorman' and anything from the library of Adam Sandler.
I sit in between. There are 3 types of comedy films in my opinion. There are the films that attempt to go for outrageous humour with obvious visual gags and one liners and ridiculous situations and parodies -- usually directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer or The Wayans brothers. Then come the animated features which in some cases tend to do the same, but as they are cartoons, they succeed, and have more focus, balance and appeal. Then there are the films like 'The Apartment', a film which finds the balance from minute one, and contains it consistently throughout inviting dramatic conflict to pair up with comic genius and have the two crackle and sizzle in one hell of a movie.
The film tells the story of C.C. Baxter. A life-long bachelor who at first appears to be some sorta workaholic, but is revealed to be a man who is so determined to get to the top, that he allows those higher than him to rent out his own apartment when they wish to do the dirty on their wives. He makes the contacts, and happily seems to work his way up -- all the way to the top where he meets Jeff Sheldrake -- the man in charge. Jeff is also doing the dirty, with the lift woman, Fran (Maclaine) -- a cute but unattainable girl who is also admired rather unsubtly by Baxter. It follows this love triangle throughout the movie, the situations staying remarkably calm despite Fran even attempting suicide. This is what I mean by the balance -- it's beautiful. It's such a remarkable film that I wish everyone would see it. It's really that good.
It deals with human characters in a very usual situation -- with this in mind, it becomes a drama. Yet we have the genius that is Jack Lemmon playing C.C. and he is perhaps one of the funniest men ever to grace the screen with his presence. His actions, his delivery, expressions -- not since Buster Keaton in 'The General' have I seen such skill at making what I'm sure is a bleedin' hard job seem like no trouble at all. Effortlessly funny for the entire movie, it is a wonderful performance...and from the supporting cast too.
I read earlier that the movie was great inspiration for 'American Beauty' by Sam Mendes and that Kevin Spacey dedicated his performance to Lemmon. This alone indicates how great the movie really is. It ascends anything that Will Ferrell casts off as comedy these days, and the script is so perfect that it reminds me of slicing through warm butter. It's easy, it flows, and it feels really good (IT DOES).
This is a great movie, and I recommend it to everyone. I'd also recommend using a tennis racket as a strainer. Absolute genius, buddy boy...
In terms of comedy -- a lot of films are thrown about these days. The more educated population will maybe toss in names such as 'This Is Spinal Tap', 'National Lampoon's Animal House' -- the others will divulge trifle (in comparison to these great names) such as 'Anchorman' and anything from the library of Adam Sandler.
I sit in between. There are 3 types of comedy films in my opinion. There are the films that attempt to go for outrageous humour with obvious visual gags and one liners and ridiculous situations and parodies -- usually directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer or The Wayans brothers. Then come the animated features which in some cases tend to do the same, but as they are cartoons, they succeed, and have more focus, balance and appeal. Then there are the films like 'The Apartment', a film which finds the balance from minute one, and contains it consistently throughout inviting dramatic conflict to pair up with comic genius and have the two crackle and sizzle in one hell of a movie.
The film tells the story of C.C. Baxter. A life-long bachelor who at first appears to be some sorta workaholic, but is revealed to be a man who is so determined to get to the top, that he allows those higher than him to rent out his own apartment when they wish to do the dirty on their wives. He makes the contacts, and happily seems to work his way up -- all the way to the top where he meets Jeff Sheldrake -- the man in charge. Jeff is also doing the dirty, with the lift woman, Fran (Maclaine) -- a cute but unattainable girl who is also admired rather unsubtly by Baxter. It follows this love triangle throughout the movie, the situations staying remarkably calm despite Fran even attempting suicide. This is what I mean by the balance -- it's beautiful. It's such a remarkable film that I wish everyone would see it. It's really that good.
It deals with human characters in a very usual situation -- with this in mind, it becomes a drama. Yet we have the genius that is Jack Lemmon playing C.C. and he is perhaps one of the funniest men ever to grace the screen with his presence. His actions, his delivery, expressions -- not since Buster Keaton in 'The General' have I seen such skill at making what I'm sure is a bleedin' hard job seem like no trouble at all. Effortlessly funny for the entire movie, it is a wonderful performance...and from the supporting cast too.
I read earlier that the movie was great inspiration for 'American Beauty' by Sam Mendes and that Kevin Spacey dedicated his performance to Lemmon. This alone indicates how great the movie really is. It ascends anything that Will Ferrell casts off as comedy these days, and the script is so perfect that it reminds me of slicing through warm butter. It's easy, it flows, and it feels really good (IT DOES).
This is a great movie, and I recommend it to everyone. I'd also recommend using a tennis racket as a strainer. Absolute genius, buddy boy...
Wednesday 4 August 2010
4th August 2010 -- 'Where The Wild Things Are'
So, the first film to make it onto this blog o'mine is Spike Jonze's coming-of-age family/monster movie -- the 2009 hit, 'Where The Wild Things Are'
Just to clarify -- I'm not writing 'reviews'. These are just my own thoughts about the movie, I don't intend to constructively criticize of suggest what may have been better or the general content of a film critic review.
Actually -- that's silly. Of course I do -- just don't think of it as a review, because that makes all this seem far too upscale and pompous. I'm just a kid, with a big bucket of popcorn. A dog chasing a car. I'm happy.
Anyway, the film is about this small kid called Max. He's....odd. He's got a wonderful adventurous spirit which I hate in kids, and he's got the usual contempt for his mother's new male-friend. These two combine and result in him biting his mum, and rushing off, hopping on a boat, and arriving at some random island where he meets large monsters. They think he's a king and has the ability to keep them all together. They eventually realize he's not, and get a lil' bit lairy with him. He decides it's time to go. Hops back across the pond. Arrives home, all is forgiven.
I gotta' start off by emphasising that this movie bloody well scared me -- the monsters are frickin' freaky. Judith (Catharine O'Hara -- Beetlejuice, Home Alone) is some sorta' goat monster with razor sharp teeth and a bloody huge horn on her nose. She describes herself as a 'downer' -- I'd describe her as...uh...something really scary. They were some freaky beings -- Max even ended up in the stomach of one of them, and like him, I felt myself holding my breath at points. Monsters are unpredictable, kids are unpredictable. Imagination is unpredictable -- for all I know, they coulda' gobbled that exuberant lil' bastard in a heartbeat...
I'm not very technical -- I don't know how they did the monsters -- special effects, puppets -- men in suits -- whatever the weather, the monsters had that desired effect of being placed between the worlds of reality and imagination.
On the outside, the film clearly inhabits a sense of family, change and abandonment -- it ties 'em together with a pretty ugly and furry bow. Seen through the eyes of a kid, it appears as if he can't win. We all remember those times when we needed the attention, yet are parents and siblings either gave us too little or too much. Nothing was good enough, and I felt the actor in this position, Max Records -- did a grand job. He displayed an innocence which was vital to any coming of age story, yet his 'wild' side was all so apparent in certain moments, such as the opening scene as he chases his poor defenceless pooch around his house, wearing a wolf suit.
On the inside, the film's undertones are so much more -- a question that has to be asked is 'Is this place real?'
I'd say no -- and that's where I think the film's flaws lie. Imagination
is NOT as powerful as reality. Within the imagination, the mind can do things which as the viewer, we can do nothing but marvel at. But in this case, the imagination felt empty. It lacked something more powerful, an anchor perhaps...
I know what I mean, but to put it into clear, cohesive sentences at the moment is not do-able. Something about it didn't have enough depth for me.
The voice actors were all very good, adding something different to their characters. I liked Carol (James Gandolfini -- The Sopranos) and Ira (Forest Whitaker -- The Last King Of Scotland) -- I felt their names and voices were identifiable and were the two most important 'Things' to Max. KW (Lauren Ambrose -- Six Feet Under) was also a great character for Max, and was placed in as the sister that Max doesn't feel he has anymore. These characters don't want to grow up in a way, they want to be together, and sleep in piles, and do whatever it is that they do, and when Max first arrives, this is all he wants too -- so it'd make sense for him to stay. As the film progresses, in Max's mind, he knows he has to leave -- he has to return to reality. To his mum -- and this is the development. He knows things will have to change -- it's the way of the world. People grow up, and move on -- have relationships -- meet different people. It's inevitable, and Max is the one who makes this decision in the end -- it's heart-wrenching. But if he had stayed any longer...he woulda' been eaten.
Just to clarify -- I'm not writing 'reviews'. These are just my own thoughts about the movie, I don't intend to constructively criticize of suggest what may have been better or the general content of a film critic review.
Actually -- that's silly. Of course I do -- just don't think of it as a review, because that makes all this seem far too upscale and pompous. I'm just a kid, with a big bucket of popcorn. A dog chasing a car. I'm happy.
Anyway, the film is about this small kid called Max. He's....odd. He's got a wonderful adventurous spirit which I hate in kids, and he's got the usual contempt for his mother's new male-friend. These two combine and result in him biting his mum, and rushing off, hopping on a boat, and arriving at some random island where he meets large monsters. They think he's a king and has the ability to keep them all together. They eventually realize he's not, and get a lil' bit lairy with him. He decides it's time to go. Hops back across the pond. Arrives home, all is forgiven.
I gotta' start off by emphasising that this movie bloody well scared me -- the monsters are frickin' freaky. Judith (Catharine O'Hara -- Beetlejuice, Home Alone) is some sorta' goat monster with razor sharp teeth and a bloody huge horn on her nose. She describes herself as a 'downer' -- I'd describe her as...uh...something really scary. They were some freaky beings -- Max even ended up in the stomach of one of them, and like him, I felt myself holding my breath at points. Monsters are unpredictable, kids are unpredictable. Imagination is unpredictable -- for all I know, they coulda' gobbled that exuberant lil' bastard in a heartbeat...
I'm not very technical -- I don't know how they did the monsters -- special effects, puppets -- men in suits -- whatever the weather, the monsters had that desired effect of being placed between the worlds of reality and imagination.
On the outside, the film clearly inhabits a sense of family, change and abandonment -- it ties 'em together with a pretty ugly and furry bow. Seen through the eyes of a kid, it appears as if he can't win. We all remember those times when we needed the attention, yet are parents and siblings either gave us too little or too much. Nothing was good enough, and I felt the actor in this position, Max Records -- did a grand job. He displayed an innocence which was vital to any coming of age story, yet his 'wild' side was all so apparent in certain moments, such as the opening scene as he chases his poor defenceless pooch around his house, wearing a wolf suit.
On the inside, the film's undertones are so much more -- a question that has to be asked is 'Is this place real?'
I'd say no -- and that's where I think the film's flaws lie. Imagination
is NOT as powerful as reality. Within the imagination, the mind can do things which as the viewer, we can do nothing but marvel at. But in this case, the imagination felt empty. It lacked something more powerful, an anchor perhaps...
I know what I mean, but to put it into clear, cohesive sentences at the moment is not do-able. Something about it didn't have enough depth for me.
The voice actors were all very good, adding something different to their characters. I liked Carol (James Gandolfini -- The Sopranos) and Ira (Forest Whitaker -- The Last King Of Scotland) -- I felt their names and voices were identifiable and were the two most important 'Things' to Max. KW (Lauren Ambrose -- Six Feet Under) was also a great character for Max, and was placed in as the sister that Max doesn't feel he has anymore. These characters don't want to grow up in a way, they want to be together, and sleep in piles, and do whatever it is that they do, and when Max first arrives, this is all he wants too -- so it'd make sense for him to stay. As the film progresses, in Max's mind, he knows he has to leave -- he has to return to reality. To his mum -- and this is the development. He knows things will have to change -- it's the way of the world. People grow up, and move on -- have relationships -- meet different people. It's inevitable, and Max is the one who makes this decision in the end -- it's heart-wrenching. But if he had stayed any longer...he woulda' been eaten.
What It's Good For...
As a film student, naturally I tend to watch films -- not because I have to...but because I really have to...
When watching films, a lot of nonsense and random ideas and thoughts pop up in my head, and I never have the chance to write them down -- so it seems like a bloody good idea to jot them down somewhere and I really don't fancy writing it down -- so I'll blog.
I'm not too bothered if people don't see it, but it'll help me organize my own thoughts.
In fact, perhaps I'll be the only person to ever post on here. That's kinda' scary -- right now, I'm just talking to myself. It's eerie, and it echoes. Quite frankly, it makes me seem a tad sad as well. Especially as I thought of all this a good paragraph ago yet have continued to write....
Enjoy...
If you do stumble across, or if I know you -- please agree or disagree with me, or perhaps just...y'know. Do whatever it is that you do.
When watching films, a lot of nonsense and random ideas and thoughts pop up in my head, and I never have the chance to write them down -- so it seems like a bloody good idea to jot them down somewhere and I really don't fancy writing it down -- so I'll blog.
I'm not too bothered if people don't see it, but it'll help me organize my own thoughts.
In fact, perhaps I'll be the only person to ever post on here. That's kinda' scary -- right now, I'm just talking to myself. It's eerie, and it echoes. Quite frankly, it makes me seem a tad sad as well. Especially as I thought of all this a good paragraph ago yet have continued to write....
Enjoy...
If you do stumble across, or if I know you -- please agree or disagree with me, or perhaps just...y'know. Do whatever it is that you do.
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