When we asked our staff to vote on the best comic book movie adaptations, we were afraid the results would consist only of superhero films. While there are many superhero movies listed below, it is great to see a bulk of non-Hollywood films appearing on the list as well. We set out to compile a list …
It’s de rigeur to knock Hollywood for being out of ideas, but then along comes Father’s Day. It is Dark Horse’s four-issue miniseries combining two well-worn tropes: The hitman with a heart and the child as apprentice killer, as originated in the Lone Wolf and Cub manga series and repeated in so many action films (Luc Besson’s Leon/The Professional, Hanna, Kick Ass et al).
Unquestionably one of the principle elements that put fear into studio at the thought of financing Kick-Ass was the level of unfiltered violence featured throughout. Witnessing bullets ripping through flesh is nothing knew for anyone who has paid attention to recent action films, and experiencing the slicing and dicing of body limbs with a shiny sword should sound familiar to those who have seen the Kill Bill films, but it is the way the violence is handled at times in Kick-Ass that differentiates it from many other movies of the same ilk.
Kick-Ass, based on Mark Millar’s hilarious-but-brutal comic book, turns the superhero genre on its head. Nobody in Kick-Ass is technically a ‘super’ hero because it’s set in our world. Therefore the ‘super’ heroes are nothing more than costumed vigilantes who withstand a bullet as well as a bowl of fruit. It’s great to see …
[callout] Synopsis: Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for the follow-up to 2010’s irreverent global hit: Kick-Ass 2. After Kick-Ass’ (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, led by the badass Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), our hero joins them on patrol. When these amateur superheroes are hunted …
Anna Karenina Directed by Joe Wright Written by Tom Stoppard United Kingdom and France, 2012 Joe Wright is, at heart, a flamboyant showman, cut from the same cloth as P.T. Barnum, someone whose florid sensibility is present even in the most down-to-earth literary adaptations, like Pride and Prejudice or Atonement. As such, the deliberately theatrical …
Hick Directed by Derick Martini Written by Andrea Portes USA, 2011 There ought to be a place for films in which young children are graphically exposed to the evils of the world. The problem is that if those films are mishandled in the least, the average audience member will feel like a child pornographer just …
Hollywood needs a hit Actually, Hollywood needs a bunch of hits. Actually, Hollywood needs a bunch of big, fat, through-the-roof hits. And with the summer – and the year – half over, the time to come up with them is running out. The movie business finished 2010 with the second highest domestic box office on record: $10.2 …
Before we move on to the top three films of the year, I thought we should list off a few honorable mentions. The following films appeared on some of the top 10 lists from our staff, but didn’t receive enough points to make the final cut. 1- Carnancho 2- Certified Copy 3- Gasland 4- The …
With the unexpected success of Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass, there is expectation of a sequel despite its low box office performance. Well you are in luck my friends because light has been shed by Mark Millar, writer of the Kick-Ass comic. ForcesofGeek got a hold of a press release about the start up of a monthly …
Kick-Ass’ soundtrack contributes substantially to the tongue-in-cheek humor and applause-provoking action that has been making the blockbuster movie such a hit. The film’s lead teen takes his first superhero steps to the beat of “Stand Up” by The Prodigy. This British band’s punk rock style dominates the soundtrack, with their more anxious “Omen” blaring later …
Kick-Ass is approached with a keen sense of humor, surprising wit, and a delicate blending of virtue and filth in a way that turns the cookie cutter world of comics upside down. Kick-Ass Directed by Matthew Vaughn With the rapid succession of superhero movies to hit the theaters, distinguishing oneself from the masses is easier …