Escape to the Movies: Kick Ass 2

[Nurb]

So the movie changed the core message of the books to "optimism" over ultra-violent vigilantes? That's kind of a bummer, because that's how they painted "God Bless America", where a dude goes on a cathartic rampage, killing everyone we find really annoying, without consequence with a little girl sidekick to seems to enjoy it (theme starting to develop I guess).

I enjoy the movies but those nagging intentions behind the movies kinda bug me.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Meh, didn't watch the first one, not going to watch this one.
Also was the age gate reeeeeeeally necessary??

 

[Alar]

"A good movie to end summer with"? Well, summer's not ending anytime soon. (The individual weeks before January, April, July, and October are season transitions, technically.) Even if you consider "summer" as "summer break", even colleges like mine still have a couple of weeks left of summer break.

Could someone explain to me why Bob and other people in such industries consider seasons to happen earlier, including the "Christmas season" lasting throughout December and arguably dragging winter back with it?

I have no idea, but winter seemed to last forever here in the Mid-west of the United States. It WOULD NOT DIE until Summer was pounding away at it and Spring was broken and whimpering somewhere in the corner.

This might be a good watch if I can justify the expense!

 

[DSK-]

Didn't like the original, so won't be bothering with the sequel :S

 

[arigomi]

If Kick-Ass 2 is just more of Kick-Ass then what's with the sudden drop in ratings...

When you get more of the same, both the strengths and flaws are repeated. The strengths lose their luster while the flaws become harder to ignore.

Kick-Ass was never intended to work as a franchise with sequels. The premise is too thin. The sequel comic was only made to cash in on the success of the first movie. As a deconstruction of superhero comics, there is only so much material you can tear down before there is nothing left to explore.

 

[tardcore]

Haven't see the film yet and most likely won't go see it in the theater so don't have much to add on the actual movie.

However I think Movie Bob fucking nailed it with the self loathing comment about the comics. I can't stand the books as they are so grim and unhappy, with the protagonist Kickass being as much of an emotional punching bag as a physical one. However I found the first movie absolutely fucking hilarious as unlike the books it decided to lighten the fuck up a bit and have a little fun. The Kickass franchise reminds me a bit of the Pat Mills and Keven O'Neil comic Marshal Law from the late 1980's, as they are both a pastiche and parody of what is illogical about the idea of costumed super-beings living within the constraints of every day crime fighting morality.

I have to say I'm kind of surprised Bob didn't mention anything about Jim Carrey's change of heart over the amount of violence in the film. Not that talking about it is necessary to review the film at all, but it was a big enough story on its own that it seems odd to have gone unmentioned.

 

[SomebodyNowhere]

Saw it today. I enjoyed the movie for the most part, but the first one just felt like a much more solidly assembled movie.

 

[Symion]

Personally: I hated Kick-Ass and anyone who couldn't tell the original author had a slanted and twisted hatred for his characters needs to take Lit 101 again. His vitriol is spilled in the pages under a patina of trope deconstruction but its always been there and is apparent even in the movie.

Hit-Girl as a draw was a sad gimmick of the "Gawk at the freak-show!" variety that was tiresome to watch. I understand a generation who hasn't watched Portman's excellent performance in (Leon) The Professional falling in love with the character but people Bob's age I expect more from. Moretz did well for the lackluster direction she was given though.

Labeling Kick-Ass as "unpredictable" is an insult to the sensibilities of anyone who has read a few comic-books. Its twists were telegraphed in the first act and every beat subsequent was textbook. The sole thing that took me was how Kick's power-set came together and only because of how monumentally stupid it was. For those who don't know: There's a very good reason Logan has regeneration tied to his adamantium frame, ask anyone who has had nerve death and metal installed after an accident and they'll tell you how much worse off in a fight they actually are.

I rented the original and drafted a buddy to come over and tear into its rampant awfulness, think I'll do the same with this entry as well.

 

[SpaceGhost]

Oh hey look, another person on the internet taking a pop at Man of Steel for no good reason. That's what you became for a moment then Bob. Not a respected member of a field, another person on the internet.

This. Bob should totally have, like, done a video review for the movie...and maybe even another video to argue/explain his opinion!

And if he didn't want to be just another person on the internet, he should have posted these videos on a major popular culture website!

Shame on you, Bob!

p.s. And get a nickname, Bob! Don't you understand branding???

So having your opinion stated over and over again on a "popular culture website" makes you something other than just another guy on the internet?

That must be why you post here.

Point. Missed.

Estimate: Country Mile

Also Identified: Straw Man, Ad Hominem

 

[xaszatm]

Cracked.com wrote an article about why superman does not work in the modern world. You MovieBob should read it (AngryJoe too). Basically the only way superman can survive and not become some anachronic character is to change. Times changes as people do. So does the conception of what a hero should behave. Also the movie was not that bad.

Plus some heroes just age better than others. Batman for example have never HAD to change that much because A) his origins were always very simple and free of any age and B) his character is timeless: he's a vigilante who operates outside the law due to the red tape that at times keeps justice from moving forward. Furthermore, Batman's refusal to kill makes sense; he knows that society thinks of him as a lunatic and is well aware that his morals are one of the few things separating himself from those he brings in. Furthermore, again, he deals with the criminal justice system and to respect that he makes sure those criminals are brought to trial no matter how heinous their crimes are.

Superman...has no excuses. The "do not kill" thing makes sense only up to a point with him. There's a difference between psychos on the street and galactic threats that could wipe out all of humanity. Superman should operate like classic mythical heroes such as Hercules, Gilgamesh, Beowulf, etc.

I VERY much have to disagree with you there. Both characters are timeless for a reason. Superman is supposed to represent hope to us. Also, ironically, studies have shown that Superman is more popular around people who have little to no income while Batman is more popular around people who are middle to rich classed. I believe this perfectly demonstrates the reason Superman doesn't change. It isn't because the creators hate change (look at any other superhero in the DC universe), but because of what Superman represents. Superman is supposed to be the "ideal" man. The man, in a world of cynicism, who doesn't sink into the despair of reality, but rises above it.

Besides, in the comic universe he lives in? There ARE ways to contain world conquerors. There is a intergalactic police force, there is the Phantom Zone, which serves as mankind's prison for super powered world conquerors. Hell, he isn't even the biggest brick in the series as Superman still has a lode of weaknesses (magic, red sun, green kryptonite, etc.) while other heroes have his powers but none of the weaknesses.

Also, Man of Steel has a boatload of problems with its character as well. The main reason people have a problem with the "Zod Death Scene" is not just because he kills Zod, but because the movie makes the very idea of Superman killing to be a very dramatic point. This point is moot, however, if you like back on the previous fight scenes (especially the ones in Smallville where he could have moved a fight into an open field), he is carelessly smashing the villains into buildings and most certainly causing damage and loss of life. Yet it is only at that specific point in the movie when the directors suddenly remembered "Oh, yeah, he tries to avoid killing." It feels put in there for necessary drama. If the movie shows him going out of his way to save people, even to the detriment of himself, THEN showed that scene, I would have liked it. But it is such a different contrast to the rest of the movie that I thought it was horrible.

I guess I'm not the best person to explain why the character of Superman doesn't need to change but I do know of other people who did. Kingdom Come to comic book and Superman vs. the Elite the animated movie perfectly demonstrates why Superman is Superman better than I can.

EDIT: Forgot to talk about the OP

OP: While I am a fan of Kick-Ass, I don't think I'll be seeing the sequel. While it probably won't do the things in the comic, the comic of Kick-Ass 2 left such a bad taste in my mouth that I won't be seeing it.

 

[MB202]

Age Verification? I wonder what's the deal with this episode... Wait, really, that's why? Because Bob says the word "Mother Fucker"? Half the people... or at least Yahtzee and Jim Sterling have no problems saying that word at all, why say it here? I say this because Jim pretty much forced the Escapist for CREATE the age verification thing because he made an episode way more explicit then simply saying "************".

Wait, JIM CARREY?! Really?! Jim freaking Carrey is in this movie?! I've seen dozens of trailers and ads for this movie and never caught on that it was Jim! I guess he really can be versatile and not just be "Jim Carrey" in all of his roles.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Anyone else think Mother Russia kinda looks like Kurt Russell?

 

[Drake Barrow]

Buyer's remorse about movies is a fine and reasonable thing. MovieBob has his take on things, and he can change his mind if he feels the need. With that being said, comparing a film about hyper-violent vigilantes and killers to Man Of Steel and stating that they act more like Superman than Superman (as depicted in Man Of Steel) is nonsensical and troll-like. Bob, we expect better than that from you.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Oh thank the Elder Gods, you liked it.....

I really hate disagreeing with these reviews and it's nice to wholeheartedly agree.

I loved this movie completely and I'm glad you mentioned the Tone/Content mismatch, because I knew there was something about the tone that drew me in, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

In some way, I actually enjoyed this one more as the first was a bit padded towards the middle of the film. The first is probably still objectively better what with Nic Cage.

Side Note: Probably best to stop bringing up Man Of Steel. At least 70% of these comments are arguments about it.

 

[Jacco]

The theater I'm going to see this at today is listed as Kick A 2 because the dude who owns the theater chain is a mormon and there is total separation between church and state in Utah.

I fucking hate Utah. It's full of judgmental hypocrites in every level of society.

That being said, Church and state don't factor into how someone who privately owns and operates a movie theatre decides to advertise the movies they show.

I do like that he's willing to show it and make money, but isn't willing to post the full title.

 

[Safaia]

The theater I'm going to see this at today is listed as Kick A 2 because the dude who owns the theater chain is a mormon and there is total separation between church and state in Utah.

I fucking hate Utah. It's full of judgmental hypocrites in every level of society.

That being said, Church and state don't factor into how someone who privately owns and operates a movie theatre decides to advertise the movies they show.

I do like that he's willing to show it and make money, but isn't willing to post the full title.

This is the same state that stopped showing Hannibal on the local NBC channel because it was too gory. Whatever. The fact that the poster was up and the screen on the theater was still listed as Kick Ass 2 I wonder what the point was for changing it on the website and ticket stub.

 

[tarnim80]

I probarbly would have liked the first movie more if it infact DID hate it's own characters, because I did. Neither Kick Ass, Hit Girl or Cage (don't remember the name) where remotle likeable. They where psychotic maniacs who belonged behind bars or in a mental hospital. Hit Girl killed unarmed fleeing people in cold blod and Kick Ass called that being heroic. If the movie would actually have acknowledged that they where de facto villains instead of heroes I could have seen some point to it. But it didn't and I ended up disliking the movie as much as I disliked the characters.

Up front, I just want to say I am not replying to agree/disagree with your opinion. You are, of course, able to hold any opinion you wish, and many people will probably agree with this one.

I just find it funnily ironic that four of your badges you have set to represent yourself to the Escapist community are, in fact, killers. And your avatar is from a show that was almost banned from TV for its own depictions of violence.

Anyway, thanks for the smile on a rainy day.

It's only ironic or funny if you look at the world only in pure black and white instead of greyscales. I didn't make an general extrimist argument against violence in movies and I find it strange that you would jump to that conclusion.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

After seeing MOS again its not THAT bad. For the most part its 2 films with a lot cut out and jumbled together. The whole ZOD thing is a bit overblown IMO. The jumbled together part is what people should focus on.

 

[Ashley Blalock]

I liked the little dig at Man of Steel at the end. Having Superman not be the ultimate good in good guys was such a bummer that I hope people keep ragging on the studio until they learn people want a little hope and optimism not just how can every hero be more like Batman.

Sadly they aren't showing Kick Ass 2 locally so I guess it's going to have to be on my rental list.

 

[Sejborg]

How didn't Superman act as Superman in Man of Steel?

snip

Meh. This was his origin story. He must first learn to step into the light, and learn to be the symbol before he can have the humans join him. Superman saves lots of lives in Man of Steel. In fact he saves the world from total destruction at the end. He saves all the kids in the bus as a kid. He saves all the people at the oil platform. Not just two people.

The movie is as much about Superman getting ready to take on the role, as it is of humans being ready to accept something like him amongst them.

Eh, he still lets his father die when he could prevent it, still causes billions of dollars of property damage and likely kills thousands of people himself accidentally in the Zod fight, straight-up kills Zod himself (that whole deal made no sense; can Zod, like, not just turn his gaze slightly to the side? Why are those civilians not even attempting to get out of the way? Can Superman not just, I don't know, yank him away or fly away with him like he does in tons of other fights?)... Superman didn't feel like Superman to me...

Then again, I am a purist. I'm the same person who was pretty pissed that Batman lets Ra's Al Ghul die in Batman Begins, gets fooled by literally every villain (seriously, stop getting duped), is the world's worst detective, can't fight worth a damn, growls like a chain-smoker gurgling gravel, and has the subtlety of driving a tank on rooftops. But I guess Batman: The Animated Series spoiled me.

He did as his father told him, and he kept doing it for a very long time. He went into hiding and so on. And he had to fight Zod. Sure there might have been casualties, but what could Superman do? Just stand by and watch them kill ALL the humans because of the likelihood of property damage and casualties? Nah. That would make no sense.

And I am sure Zod would have killed them if he could. But he was still learning the powers, and Superman had him locked. I could be wrong but I seem to remember the civilians being pressed into a corner. I guess Superman could have just tried to lift him of the ground and fly him away, but that would also release Zod of the headlock. And Zod was never going to stop. He would keep coming, so Superman wasn't left with much choice.

It seems to me that you have a very specific way of how you want (or demand) Superman to be, and even how fights should play out. I however don't mind different takes on Superheroes. Some of them I like, others I don't. I wouldn't call you a purist. Batman TAS is not at all the only take on Batman or even the first. Before Batman the animated series there was other versions. One of them the Adam West version for instance. Batman TAS version is NOT the pure version. It is just one of many versions. Superman likewise.

You might not have liked the Man of Steel version of Superman in contrast to some other take on the character, but saying he didn't act as Superman is baloney.