My 'Take' On: Kick-Ass The Film...As Seen On DVD Plus Photos From the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con! 
- Above Top Photo: The Kick-Ass Film Banner As Seen At the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con! - At the Top Right: The Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con Logo. - Second Right - Michael D Hamersky Standing In Front of the Mist Mobile As Seen On the Exhibit Floor of the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim. - Third Right: The Mistmobile In Total! - Fourth Right - Inside the Mist Mobile. - Bottom Right: Just In Case You Were Thinking of Making This Car Your Own...You Notice That It Belongs to the Red Mist!
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TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3230: This is the time of year that the Big Blockbusters of the Summer are over, and we are waiting for our
Favorite TV Shows to return, or waiting for new shows that we previewed at the San Diego Comic Con International to appear on TV. So we turned to Red Box last night, (yeah, we sold our Blockbuster stock a couple of years ago), and there was nothing there that we really wanted to see other than 'Kick-Ass' that we both knew was on DVD. I've had the thought of renting this DVD for a while now, but Tina and I have been so busy, that we haven't rented it. Plus Tina figured it wouldn't be appropriate for when we had Vinnie with us to view this DVD. So last night was perfect to view it. Besides, as you can see by the above photos on the right of this blog post, I had some interest in checking out the Mist Mobile in the film, after seeing it in person at the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con! So here's 'My Take' on the film, after a promo blurb on what the film was about per publicity accounts: DVD Blurb: “How come nobody’s ever tried to be a superhero?” When Dave Lizewski – ordinary New York teenager and rabid comic-book geek – dons a green-and-yellow Internet-bought wetsuit to become the no-nonsense vigilante Kick-Ass, he soon finds an answer to his own question: because it hurts. But, over coming all the odds, the eager yet inexperienced Dave quickly becomes a phenomenon, capturing the imagination of the public. However, he’s not the only superhero out there – the fearless and highly trained father-daughter crime-fighting duo, Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, have been slowly but surely taking down the criminal empire of local mafioso Frank D’Amico. And, as Kick-Ass gets drawn into their no-holds-barred world of bullets and bloodletting with Frank’s son Chris, now reborn as Kick-Ass’s arch-nemesis Red Mist, the stage is set for a final showdown between the forces of good and evil, in which the DIY hero will have to live up to his name. Or die trying… So...the above basically tells you what the movie is about. I'm not going to say more about the actual scenes, as it would be giving away the whole film, and I don't want to put a 'Spoiler Alert' here! Based on the trailers that I saw on the film before it came out on the Big Screen, and by hearing what was being said about it at the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con back in April, I knew that this was one film I would probably end up renting on DVD. I only drag Tina to comic book movies that I know the history of...and 'Kick-Ass' wasn't a series that I read. Even though I do like John Romita Jr.'s art style in some other comics series.  So other than seeing the car above at Wizard World, and picking up a few Wizard Magazines with Kick-Ass featured on the front cover to resell, as seen in this link to our online store, I waited till a 'slow time' for us to view this.
Yeah, I appreciated seeing all of the comic book references in this film. To name just a few: The Spirit 3 Film on the theater marquee - Runaways comic book that is being read - Scott Pilgrim mention - 'Tony Romita' the Crime Boss - X-Men mention - Fantastic Four mention - Sin City mention - and several others that I didn't write down. I also enjoyed the storyline that the film took. This was a well written and well directed film. It kind of reminded me of the Peter Parker Saga in the early days IF Peter took this road to superhero status without super powers. So for an origin story film, this is the real deal. The line that Dave says at the beginning: "Like most people my age...I just existed". That sums it up for Dave's life to that point. I also liked how Dave mail-ordered his 'superhero' outfit. Kind of reminded me of the early Marvel Comics days... However the only problem in the storyline is that the setup of the characters in the film is a little slow in developing. But that is offset by the language that is used by the characters. Yeah, 'language'. That's what kept me from renting this when Vinnie is with us. I'm okay with 'action films' for the most part, but the 'language' is something I'm not comfortable in sitting with others to listen to. This film is definitely aimed at a target market other than myself. If it hadn't been so heavily promoted and showing its comic book roots, I probably wouldn't have made the effort to see it, great looking car or not!  Talking about the car...I teased you with the photos I took at the Wizard World Anaheim in the top portion of this blog.
To the left are Kick-Ass and Red Mist inside the Mist Mobile in a scene from the film. I understand that the car features a Rich Evans Design Body Kit, a 550 hp Supercharged 4.6L Motor, with Scissor doors, and custom rims. Plus it also features two nitrous oxide tanks with remote capabilities which actually purge from the hood to create a smoke-filled ambiance for 'Red Mist.' Great Car, Great Character...that's for sure! Back now to my 'take' on the film...Every character in the film had a good to great origin story. Especially Big Daddy and Hit Girl. I appreciated that the film was placed in a 'real city', that of New York City. Made the film more 'real' for me. One more quote from the film, as it was so good...Kick-Ass says: "With No Power comes No Reponsibility. But That wasn't true". Great changing of the world famous line written by Stan Lee for Spider-Man. Now here's where it gets a little rougher. I've already mentioned the 'language' used in the film. I don't get it...maybe it's my age...Maybe it's my upbringing. But I just don't need that kind of language in the films I want to watch and then buy for my collection to replay later. I just don't need that, nor want that. The storyline was really good without all that language. I would have rated this film much higher than I will post here in a little bit... And the last thing that bothered me in this film. It's Hit Girl, who is all of 11 years old, talking the way she does in the film, and being the most violent of all the characters in the film. Yeah, I understand...she's 'Hit Girl'. So she's a badass...Well I can see why some groups protested this film because of this role. Not the best role model in the world for younger children to watch and possibly emulate. And I saw several younger children wanting 'Kick-Ass' stuff at the Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con before the film even came out... Other than those two points, and they are 'Major' points to me, the storyline, character development, and the directing were pretty darn good. Again, I would have rated this film much higher if not for those two 'major' points for me. I'm giving this a Very Fine / Very Fine Plus (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. Plus suggesting highly that this is definitely NOT for the younger people. It is rated 'R' for a reason, folks! BTW, I was interested in what my wife, Tina, thought about this film. When we go to comic book movies at the Big Screen, we usually both have separate blog posts on our POVs of the film. So, since it's a review of the film on DVD, I asked her last night to write just a paragraph on her 'take' on the film, and for a comic book grade. Please note that she is NOT a comic book fanatic like myself. Other than being associated with me, and attending many comic cons and pop culture cons, she usually doesn't read comic books unless a creator personally asks her to, or she reads a good review elsewhere about a series or graphic novel. Here's Tina's 'Take':  "Kick-Ass is not your typical super-hero movie. This one actually 'kicks ass'. If Spider-Man existed in a wild alternative universe - this would be it.
A fun, wild, crazy ride with a great soundtrack, hysterical comics and pop culture references, ( I love a movie that references both Ugly Betty and LOST!), and surprising story. Loved it! Near Mint (NM) 9.4 comic book rating." Whew! Tina says a lot of what I thought about this film, but goes away with giving it a different grade, and a much better grade at that! However she doesn't agree on my take on the language / kid violence. She said afterward as we were shutting down for the night, that it's an "Adult Teen Movie"...Okay...There is a small age difference between us. She's at the tail end of the Baby Boomers birth years... Thanks Tina for your input! So that about sums it up here for this blog post!  Oh...We don't have any Kick-Ass DVDs for sale in our own online store, but here's a link to where we suggest YOU get a copy if you are wanting to purchase one! Kick-Ass the DVD!
PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,225 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog! BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app! I would appreciate that! ~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com  Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.
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| |  My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that!
For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL! My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'. So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!
 Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out! -------------------  Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review!
I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com  WEB PAGE NOTE: This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that!The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners. |
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RUNNER- UP PRIZE: $35 Prize Pack courtesy of Facebook Comic Con (FBCC)!
My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! 
Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review!
WEB PAGE NOTE: This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that!
Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review!
WEB PAGE NOTE: This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that!
I did mention that there was a booklet titled 'Little Red Riding Hood - Origin of a Huntress'. This book(let) was written and illustrated by Stephanie Forney, with the cover illustrated by both Stephanie and Sean Forney. 
Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review!
WEB PAGE NOTE: This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that!
Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review!
WEB PAGE NOTE: This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that!
