Kick-Ass: Vol. 1 Reviewed

A little bit ago I reviewed the movie adaptation of Kick-Ass, and the reason I saw the movie was that I caught a glimpse of the book beforehand. So after the movie I decided to grab the book to compare.

If you read my Kick Ass the movie review then all you need to know from that is that there is a similar premise established, a kid goes to to be a real life superhero, so what I won't go into those details again. Instead I will try to focus more on what is different, and what I prefer better. Warning, potential spoilers in this review.

Story: Again. Basically the same although there's less focus on Red Mist, the mafia, and the other characters and more on Kick-Ass.

Characters: Overall is the same lead cast with some differences in the smaller background and supporting roles. The biggest thing between them is that their motivations, at least Red Mist's, seem more clearly define in the book than in the film, the turn around is that we get more insight into his life than in the book too - weird both mediums have a similar problem in their own way. Big Daddy and Hit Girls origin, turns out in the end, turns out to be a sham, although at first they are virtually identical between book and film, this twist isn't really addressed in the book so you're either looking to believe it or it might have been a ruse, but given the cast overall, I would believe the twist cause it seems more likely. I actually like the Hit Girl in the movie better for some reason, and their portrayal of her and her dad's relationship. Kick-Ass pretty much remains the same although in the movie he's a little less of the loser type.

Events: A lot of similar events take place between both mediums, although what's really happening, or why it happened, varies between the two. The book has more going on while Kick-Ass learns the ropes, where as the movie is a stripped down, a tad more Hollywood polish, to it's own version. Really what this comes down to, as you'll again and again with 'trying' to compare the two, it's all down to preference and what you liked better.

Artwork. Mark Millar is not unknown to the comic world and his deception of these characters is well done and just comic book-y enough yet realistic enough to work. Believe it or not, the film's costumes look more super heroic than the book, whereas in the book it's much more simplified.

Violence/Sex: The movie was super action pack full of violence, but the book takes it further in it's depictions of decapitations and testicles on a skillet action. The book also, to my memory, has lots more sex, although there was sex in the movie, there was lesser nudity. No complaints here.

The Verdict: Like I stated before, you have to take the movie and the comic book in their own element and cannot compare because, overall, there are several key differences. So it really comes down to preference, and for me I feel I connected with the movie a lot more, probably because the performances were so well done. But the book a lot more is going on, where as the movie seem almost overly linear.

Truth: I can't chose, I chose movie for a number of reasons, cause that's my medium, but I could just as easily chose the book for another number of reasons. Honestly, stop reading this and pick up the hardcover compilation of the first eight issues, and go see the book, or vise versa, and decide for yourself. If you're a comic fan or an action fan, I don't think you'll have much to regret. Go. Do it Now!

Movie Review: Kick-Ass: The Movie

Going into this I had a general idea of what it was about; a dude decides to try to be a superhero in the real world, and inspires others to do it too, while getting in trouble with the Mafia, and chaos and superhero-esqe things ensue.

I'd been putting it off because of the vastly mixed reviews and my sad lack of interest, until the night I saw the movie I happend to pick up the first volume of the comic and read random bits out of it, and seeing how that was I decided to finally give the movie a try.

Story: It's a bare bones origin story that's brutal and has a quirky sense of humor. It's pretty straightforward if you pay attention and the telling of it is pretty good. But somewhere in the gut it feels a little chaotic, maybe it was the way it was edited, or there's the occasional loophole in logic (sublte but still there), or sometimes I feel the motivations of the characters are really shallow, that is until it becomes something more than getting the bad guy, and that's when it gets really good.

Production Values: This movie was well cared for from costumes, to setting, props, the works. It showed a love for the type of movie that was being produced. Although some of Hit Girl's fight scenes were a tad matrix-y, they wren't nearly as bad as I first thought, so I was pleased.

Acting: The quality of the acting was top notce, and I think my sentiment is the same when I say that Hit Girl just about, if had not, stolen the show from the main protagonist, Kick-Ass, and I look forward to seeing her do other things. Nick Cage was oddly charming but yet had this deep layer of hatred and insanity underneith that fatherly face.

Comic to Movie: This is where things greatly differ, and probabily center around where the film gets the most critizism. The book, oddly enough, was being written as the movie was being produced, and to keep a simple narrative had to cut out and change a lot of things from the book (i know some of these thigns because I glanced at the book before seeing the movie). Here's the kicker, take each medium by itself and you're fine - trying to compaire them is like compairing apples and oranges in most ways - the same skeletal story exists but is told in a different way.

Final Verdict: Kick-Ass was a fun action pack movie, and although most find the tender moments to be a little out of synic with the rest of the film, you have to do some critical thinking and look beyond the moment to pull in the seriousness of what's been going on in thse peoples lives, and once you do that, you get the emotional core I think they were going for. It's not Oscar winning script material, but I think the performances and production values make it a worthwhile flick in a sea of flicks that takes themselves too seriously.