I grew up on a diet of ‘traditional’ superheroes. Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, Aquaman... you know, the obvious lot. Naturally, I have seen almost every possible cinematic version there is, and for a while I thought that old-school was best.
Best of all is the question you will be asking yourself as soon as the movie finishes: What really happened there?- Ramona Depares
Then the new breed of superheroes showed up. They are not perfect and they sure as heck aren’t what we were used to from our heroes when we were younger. But I’ll say this, at the risk of being pelted with stones by all the old-school diehards out there – sometimes, they can be a lot more fun.
Take Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass, based on Mark Millar and John Romita’s eponymous graphic novel. I haven’t read the novels and I confess I was first attracted to the movie because of actress Chloë Grace Moretz’s hair, a bright purple for her role of mini-vigilante Hit-Girl. Not the best of reasons for watching a movie, of course, but coupled with Millar’s and Vaughn’s names it was a deal-clincher.
The story couldn’t be more unlikely: your garden variety, totally unspecial teenager (Dave, played by Aaron Johnson) decides he was meant to become a superhero and restyles himself as Kick-Ass.
Even more improbably, things actually don’t go too badly for him – until he bumps into two other superheroes: Big Daddy (played brilliantely by Nicholas Cage, despite the fact that I’m not that fond of him as an actor) and Hit-Girl.
It’s soon obvious that the two have a rather more pro approach to their heroes’ duties than Kick-Ass. Moretz’s character is the winner in the whole production and she does a pretty good impression of an 11-year-old tornado.
More than in the action sequences, the genius of the film lies in the hilarious and only-too-human interaction between the protagonists. The parts where Dave is creating the whole Kick-Ass persona are particularly hilarious.
The action bits are not to be scoffed at however; there will be blood and it will be graphic, however it is the sort that makes you wince and laugh at the same time.
The final scene is a tension-filled, ‘oh-no-they-didn’t’ fest, with enough bodies falling to keep the action freaks happy.
Oh yeah, there’s a sequel planned for later this year but – as with all sequels – I’m not holding my breath that it will be as awesome as the first film.
A tad more depressing and introspective, but equally memorable is James Gunn’s Super. The movie begins with what must be the lowest point ever in our hero Frank’s (Rainn Wilson) eyes.
Dumped by his former junkie girlfriend in favour of a drug dealer, Frank’s life is fast going down the drain. Suddenly, he has an epiphany in what must be one of the weirdest Eureka moments ever.
Critics hailed this as the crowning glory in the movie but I found it dragging and not as funny as it should be, even though the presence of Nathan Fillion (of Firefly and Castle fame) as the Holy Avenger improves it somewhat.
Happily, the movie picks up momentum shortly after; more hilarious superhero transformation sequences follow, as Frank becomes a rather unappealing Crimson Bolt. As do some rather eye-popping scenes where Frank pretty much loses his cool and delivers some rather unhero-like beatings to various supposed miscreants. Things take a turn for the psychotic when Frank encounters Libby (Ellen Page).
As soon as Libby’s character is introduced, things get extremely surreal. Yet, miraculously, Gunn keeps tight control on his plotline and, despite all the odd moments, the end result is one that catapulted the movie into my list of favourites.
Incidentally, Super also includes one of the saddest and most pathetic sex scenes (non-explicit, of course) I have ever seen in a movie. Page and Wilson bring an incredible amount of pathos to the scene, and somehow this remains one of the strongest points of the film for me.
My third choice related to this theme is more childish, but possibly it is the most entertaining of all. Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs The World is another surreal action-fest, the kind that is technically aimed at teens but which in reality everyone will find entertaining.
This movie is possibly the geekiest of the lot and ticks a lot of boxes. But best of all is the question you will be asking yourself as soon as the movie finishes: What really happened there?
And yes, this is one of the few times when the question is sign of a good movie.
rdepares@timesofmalta.com