I may not be able to make comic book movies, but I can kick your ass. I am a big comic book fan and read Kick-Ass a while back and really enjoyed it. That being said I was extremely nervous and excited about seeing this movie’s translation from comic book to movie. Well the time finally arrived for me and I got to see another one of my favorite comics on the big screen.
Now that I have seen the movie I have to say I really enjoyed it overall. One thing that stands true for most adaptations to film is that not everything translates perfectly from print to the big screen. As seen with Wanted a couple years ago this is nowhere near a straight translation from print to screen. The movie started production when only four issues of the comic had been written.
There will be people upset by the changes but overall they make sense for a big screen version of the story. I really hope people come into the movie with an open mind. I am sure that anybody with a chip on their shoulder from Wanted will probably not enjoy the movie as much as it should be enjoyed.
Well enough small talk let’s kick ass and start up a little SPOILER TALK about one of the most action-packed movie of the year so far.
Below are my spoiler filled thoughts on the movie Kick Ass. Don’t forget to add your spoiler filled thoughts at the end of the post in the comments section.
SPOILERS
WARNING: If you have not seen Kick-Ass, do NOT read any further. There will be SPOILERS below.
-We start off the movie with an introduction to our Jesse Eisenberg and Michael Cera-like actor, Aaron Johnson, who plays Dave Lizewski in the movie.
-Wow Dave you really don’t have that high of a standard. Your teacher may have big boobs, but she is not that good looking. Then to top it off National Geographic? Come on, Dave, step up the level of lady.
-Awesome shout out to Atomic Comics. Atomic Comics has a lot of Hellboy posters and ad material. It is pretty cool that Marty (Clark Duke) is reading Runaways.
-I am not sure Christopher Mintz-Plasse was a good fit for Chris D’Amico.
-Can you say Irony? I am sitting in the movie watching Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong) talk about movie snacks and thinking, man I could really use some popcorn and Twizzlers right about now.
-Am I missing something or is there no bullet hole in Mindy Macready’s (played by the wonderful Chloe Moretz) jacket? All those feathers or fuzz from the jacket and I didn’t even see a hole anywhere on it. I really enjoy the intensity of this scene though. How many times can you say that you watched a 10- or 11-year-old gets shot in a movie and been excited to see what comes next?
-Can someone explain to me why these idiots are breaking into a PT Cruiser? I mean there are some much nicer cars around yet you choose a PT Cruiser? Idiots. Even weirder is how did the injuries take place? He didn’t land on his face and the only place the car made contact with his body was the legs. How did the injuries occur?
-Frank D’Amico could not be any more obvious with his gangster ways. Two huge paintings of guns plastered on your wall. It’s a good thing you bought off one cop and that solves any problem you have.
-Happy birthday to Mindy with the coolest knives ever made. Wow and look at how awesome all that John Romita Jr. art is!
-Wow did someone order some Russian food? It might be a little overdone, but if you scrape it off the microwave walls it will be ready to serve!
-Thanks for reminding me of how excited I am about Scott Pilgrim Kick-Ass!!!
-The best part of this whole scene is the look on the thugs faces when Hit Girl starts slicing into them. Watching Hit Girl work is like art.
-Damn people sure do explode easily in this movie. Poor Cody exploded in like less than a couple of seconds.
-I wanna buy a copy of that comic book cause the art is so good!
-Wow Frank can definitely pull of a roundhouse kick like no other. Why the heck does he have a stupid jewel sitting on his desk? Is that some sort of fashion statement or him showing off how rich he is? It is kinda freaking ridiculous.
-Lots of Apple product love and Pepsi love in the movie.
-Good Lord Kick-Ass did you learn anything, don’t open a door during a fire!
-“We have to get over it, on top of it, and in it.” That’s what she said.
-I can’t believe they would leave that expensive car. I love that Kick-Ass is worried about finding out what happens for the end of Lost. Now we get to the two final fight scenes with the most awesome person in the movie, Hit Girl. I really want one of those strobe lights to connect to my pistol. My good lord that was one of the most well shot action scenes ever. Then we get to the second one with the friggin’ bazooka.
-A jet-pack? Seriously? Can you explain to me what possessed anyone to think a jet-pack tops everything awesome in this movie? I am sorry but the jet-pack is totally the lamest part of the entire movie. The gatling guns are really cool but the jet-pack just fits as well as ketchup in a fruit salad.
-Wait until they get a load of you? Seriously? A new mask and dying your costume orange and we are supposed to be shocked?
Your turn… What do you think of Kick-Ass? How does it compare to the comic? Did you think the jet-pack was the best part of the movie? Did you think this was the best movie of the year?
yes Hit Girl stole the movie, but who’s idea was it to make Big Daddy so Adam West in this? Yes Miller should that Big Daddy comic like a standalone issue before Kick-Ass part 2.
Comment by Matt — April 16, 2010 @ 11:18 pm
I believe it was Nic Cage’s idea
Comment by Vactor — April 16, 2010 @ 11:48 pm
I loved it. Obviously I loved the comic more, as it was quite the read, but this was everything I wanted it to be. Of the things that bugged me about it, the two biggest ones were the terrible bluescreening for the jet pack, and that he got together with the girl. I liked in the comic where he got his ass kicked (PUN) for lying to her and all that.
This does make me want to be a superhero, though.
Comment by Guy — April 17, 2010 @ 2:18 am
I definitely agree on both of those counts Guy. I totally prefer the relationship in the book more. It made me laugh more than anything else in the entire story so to see it changed did throw me off but I do agree I really did enjoy the movie overall even with the odd casting choices.
Comment by Guy_Jen — April 17, 2010 @ 2:40 am
I think most people who loved the comic had the alot of the same gripes. The change of the relationship with the girl of his dreams (it didn’t really add anything to the story, just made the audience feel like he wasn’t a COMPLETE loser who ends up with nothing in the end) and the jet-pack.
Not making Big Daddy some random comic fan made sense, so I can understand them changing that.
It was a great movie and I loved it just the same. I did notice that the theme was stand up and be a hero, rather than being some random, bored comic book guy who wanted to be a superhero.
Comment by kwame — April 17, 2010 @ 7:33 am
I think to make this a successful hollywood movie, they had to make the changes they did in the film. Having him get the girl is one of them — think about it, you risk your life to be a hero and you don’t even get the girl? You can end it that way in a comic book, but not in a movie (at least not with American audiences).
The jet-pack? Yeah, super over-the-top. But, by the time you got to the end, you’d already seen everything — there were machine guns, knives, swords, explosions, etc. There was even an uzi (or was it a rocket launcher, can’t recall, but something outrageously massive). What else is left for the finale? And let’s face it, everyone loves a hero who can’t fly off into the distance.
I also liked that they made his grudge against the mob for a true emotional reason — that he’s an ex-cop who’s wife was killed by the mob and he went to prison and that’s why he raised his daughter the way he did. Think about what this movie would be like if he was just a bored comic book-collecting accountant that wanted some excitement. Can you say child abuse? Yeah, this fun, superhero flick would have become something else entirely. Like I said, what you can get away with in a comic book is not always what you can put onscreen.
Better to treat the two — the film and its source material – as two separate stories and just enjoy them both that way.
Comment by Empress Eve — April 17, 2010 @ 8:09 am
Why couldn’t he not get the girl? Is an American audience so simple that they can only comprehend a happy ending? I disagree with that whole heartedly. If the point is realism then him not getting the girl makes sense. Especially the type of girl that she is supposed to be. I also think that the jet-pack isn’t the problem in essence it was the bad blue/green screen. If you are going to put the jet-pack in the movie with a ton of well done fight scenes then make sure that the scene with the jet-pack look good as well. And the change in Big Daddy’s story is fine but I don’t by scrawny Nick Cage as an ex-cop who buffs up to get revenge. But that is just me and minus that odd casting choice and my small nit picks with the movie it was a great movie.
Comment by Guy_Jen — April 17, 2010 @ 1:38 pm
jet pack soooooooo nearly ruined it for me. For once didnt mind the other changes tho
Comment by Dr Blitzgeek — April 17, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
I liked the jet pack finale, in a movie where a child is shot by her father and can kill 20 people I felt it was a perfect compliment to the insanity, although I’ve never read the comic, also was it me or as they fly away can you see a sliver of the original twin towers
Comment by Max Freeman — April 18, 2010 @ 8:53 am
It’s fairly possible Max it was as said before the worst green screening in quite a while.
Comment by Guy_Jen — April 18, 2010 @ 2:22 pm
The Jet pack really ruined it for me… iwas expecting Kick Ass to go Rambo on those Motherf****** but we had a Jetpack…..The movie felt realistic at the entire movie but then it became (MEHZ)…I didn’t mind the other changes an d i got lucky i nmy country it’s R13 and i was able to watch this movie,Hit-Girl Really stole the entire movie,I ended up having a crush on her (im only 13)
Comment by PAOLO — April 19, 2010 @ 3:42 am
Up until the jetpack came into play KICK-ASS had been keeping its action beats somewhat grounded in reality. No one actually had any superpowers and that was one of the themes of the film-ordinary people trying to make a difference even at the potential cost of their lives. Granted there was a lot of over-the-top violence in the movie but it was in a sense plausible. Plus when Kick Ass is first seen in the jetpack it plays too much like the scene towards the end of the original MATRIX where Keanu Reeves suddenly shows up in a helicopter with a gattling gun (just like the damn jetpack) to save Larry Fishburne. Up until that moment KICK-ASS was a well-crafted melding of teen comedy and ultraviolent comic book spoof. Maybe in time with repeat viewings I’ll learn to love the jetpack, because that will definitely take time.
Comment by BAADASSSSS! — April 20, 2010 @ 10:30 am
Very well said Baadasssss!
Comment by Guy_Jen — April 20, 2010 @ 1:54 pm
It was a little over the top but jetpacks do exist in real life ya know. In fact there are personal ones you can buy off of the internet.
They just have horrible fuel efficiency and they don’t fly as high as the one in the movie. But as far as suspension of disbelief goes if you are aware of real jetpacks then I don’t think it’s a stretch.
Comment by jay — April 26, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
I have to agree with all the jetpack comments. It was the only thing that bothered me as a jetpack that size could not fly that high, or for that long without running out of fuel. You can get a jetpack that will fly a lot longer than the old 30 seconds ones, but it has a massive fuel canister on the back.
Oh and I definitely felt the Matrix reference, more than one as well.
Comment by Damo — April 27, 2010 @ 7:56 am
the reason we had these problems was because they came out with the movie too quick (for profit) We should make a petition for the creators to re-release the movie with all the fixes
1.Kick-ass loses his new girlfriend and beats off to the picture of her with another guy
2.NO jetpack
3.The goofy way they handeled hitgirl beating up the school kids
4.Red mists new costume (and take out that stupid smash cut of him shooting the gun. Why would he shoot the gun at nothing?
5. in the end red mist didnt sear revenge on kick-ass!
just fixes these problems and re-release it
lets petition people!
Comment by IClaudeI — April 30, 2010 @ 8:32 am
What was the music when Kick ass was flying away with Hit girl at the end?
Comment by David — May 5, 2010 @ 11:30 pm
Just commenting about the Jetpack. Because I am a huge nerd, I am quite knowledgeable about jetpacks. They DO exist, they cost a lot, around $100,000+ and the autonomy is around 30 seconds to 50 seconds MAX, and in that time you can travel from 500 to 1500 feet approximately. There is a company that claims that they have a 9 minutes flight time and 11 miles of maximum distance but the cost exceeds the $200K.
You can go high as in the movie but you must be aware of the limited amount of hydrogen peroxide (or jet fuel) you can have in the tank, otherwise you might not have enough left to a safe landing.
In any case, considering that she has 3 million dollars just for her… I think it is totally plausible that they bought a prototype of the next gen jetpack.
And just FYI, prototypes of Jetpacks existed since WWII. Yes, the Nazis flying with jetpacks is not a fantasy, it was a real research project.
Comment by dan — June 5, 2010 @ 6:37 am
As Mindy and Damon are purchasing the jet pack on Ebay, it is clearly stated that the price is actually $300,000.00. So take that as you will.
In the comic, the equivalent of the jet pack seems to be a flame thrower Hit Girl carries, which also comes from Ebay.
Comment by Kensei — June 25, 2010 @ 5:27 am