Super.Ordinary
08-19-2010 The other night, I watched "Kick-Ass" on dvd. Why I didn't watch it when it came out in movie theatres is beyond me. What I really love about this movie is the character, Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass, innocence. His curiosity of being a superhero has been thought by many many teenagers (and even adults). "Kick-Ass" is probably one of the most realistic (i said most not "definitely") comic book movie that is out right now. The story is based on real life situations. Meaning, crime boses, thugs, guns, knifes, a bunch of weaponry out the hoo haa, blood, bruses, cuts, bullet woulds, sex... the list goes on.
Most people do not know that this movie was from an actually comic book. Slightly different (okay, pretty much way different) but the comic book had the same violence, blood, and whatever I listed before. Although, no matter comic book or movie, the theme was always strongly present... being a superhero. What this movie displayed was the issues of what might or most likely, WILL happen if you become a superhero. Unlike Batman, Kick-Ass has no hand to hand combat skills, a cool costume with amour or bullet proof padding (since he has no superpowers), and deadly weaponry (well, if you count two police battons (I think) and a little taser). Not putting into account that he'll ever get injured, during the movie, Kick-Ass gets a taste of his vulnerability...by getting stabbed in the stomach by local car jackers. A dose of realism on his part and even to the audience who is watching this scene. Even though we all believe in movie magic, where no one get seriously injured, a movie like this will remind you that NO ONE is invincible. Later in the film, Kick-Ass finds out that he is not alone in the crime fighting crusade. Highly skilled individuals, two actually, are in the mix. A father and daughter team...Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and Hit Girl (Chlore Moretz). Both are masters of hand to hand combat, has cool looking costumes with bullet proof padding amour, AND carry deadly weaponry...lots of it. This conflicts with Kick-Ass and admits to himself that these two individuals are the "real deal" and he is a joke that wears a green wet suit. This film also includes Big Daddy and Hit Girl's origin by the way which makes the movie more interesting to get into. Honestly speaking, there are no "borining" scenes. The movie didn't drag. It was simple enough to understand which made it more enjoyable to watch. However...I love superhero movies but every story is some how predictable. Kick-Ass is no exception.
It goes like this:
- Origin story in the beginning
- Superhero establishes him/her self into the city
- Bad guys recognize who the superhero is
- Bad guys want superhero dead
- Personal problems conflicting with superhero problems
- Bad guys get the best of superhero
- Superhero gives up momentarily
- Bad buys wreak so much havock superhero gets back into the game
- Bad guys and superhero duke it out in a big end fight
- Happy ending.
Why people take attention to this movie so much, besides the ass kicking and the flips from Hit Girl, is that character "Kick-Ass" is just like you and me...a human. We seem to like to watch ordinary human beings get hurt and rise above the pain and suffering (another element I forgot to list). It makes me shake my head that we are attracted to realistic violence (well, most of us) and eager to see gun blazing, blood splattering, bruses, cuts... the list is never ending. Maybe I'm wrong, there is probably a hint of movie magic in this film. After all the beatings and stabbings, Kick-Ass is still alive to tell the tale. What I didn't get was that NONE of these bad guys (except the mob boss and his henchman of course) did not carry a gun. You can use your imagination to know what I'm talking about.
















