Movies are supposed to be fun, right? At any rate, if you don’t really dig the story, you should at least be entertained while they’re telling their story. But then why is it so hard for me to enjoy some of these mindless action flicks? I mean, I love copious amounts of violence, and movies like Sin City or Inglorious Basterds fit that bill perfectly. But it definitely doesn’t need to have a compelling story to be fun. Some of my most favourite movies to watch over and over are movies like Jackass or Ong-Bak, where the story takes the backseat to fun and interesting action scenes. I’ve found that my enjoyment really hinges on one thing: how seriously the movie takes itself. If the movie is serious and you feel drawn to the seriousness, then it’s obviously enjoyable. A movie that’s brain-numbingly simple, as long as they’re not trying to pass it off as serious, also works when everyone involved is in on the joke. But where does Kick-Ass fit in on this scale?
It’s got a ton of blood, and a ton of violence. In the trailers you can see a katana slice through a shin, a pistol being fired at someone through someone’s cheek, and someone tied up as to shoot themselves through the face. All of this comes from a 13-year-old Chloe Moretz’s character Hit-Girl which just helps quell the bloodlust I expect in a movie. Ultra-Violence, that’s a huge plus.
Does it take itself seriously? The movie and the main character are both named Kick-Ass. He only becomes a superhero so that girls will notice him. He can’t actually fight, and spends more time spitting up blood on the floor than actually kicking ass. The movie has Nicolas Cage – that enough should be proof that the movie should pack up any hope at seriousness and just go the self mocking route. One trailer has him firing a few rounds of bullets into his daughter in order to reward her with a trip to the bowling alley and a sundae. Also bonus points for giving him one of the dirtiest moustaches in recent history.
And who is this relatively no-name director – Matthew Vaughn? Besides being married to 90s supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Vaughn has a small, but relatively impressive movie directing career. His first movie was the 2004 small hit Layer Cake. This movie was also known as the movie that made Daniel Craig the new James Bond. His only other movie was a the relatively quiet movie Stardust, a Fantasy movie with a massive cast that turned out really enjoyable. Without boring you with the details, this guy knows how to direct, plain and simple.
Will I go see Kick-Ass? Most definitely. Should you? You bet. This movie strips The Watchmen movie of the self-indulgent Zack Snyder crap, and leaves you with what the aging comic book nerds want. Incredible, brutal fight scenes and a hilarious plot. I’m certain that Kick-Ass will not fail to disappoint. This movie hits the theatres on April 16th, right in time for you to not be studying for exams.
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