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I thought he was pretty cute too^^

I didn't expect to like this movie, I thought it would be the usual "lol intended controversy, not very funny" I was surprised that I enjoyed it.

Personally, I didn't like the movie much at all.

The movie seemed schizophrenic to me. Like it couldn't decide if it was going to be serious or comical, a character piece or a beat-em-up. For every realistic, gritty moment (like the main character's first failure as a super hero) there's a ridiculous one (where they buy a jetpack, he learns to operate it in short time, and kills a few baddies with it). They would follow up a sad moment (SpoilerNicolas Cage's death scene) with an over-the-top action scene where Hit Girl kills 20 henchmen to the tune "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett. In that particular scene, I watched it thinking how much more effective it would have been if they didn't do an emotional 180.

The romantic side of the story was wholly unnecessary, so I think they should have chopped that part out and devoted some more time to character development. Why do I know so little about the main character? I've heard people say that it's because he's supposed to be a nerdy "Joe Everyman." But I certainly saw a lot of room for development. Why does he seem to care more about the size of his Myspace friend list than actually helping people? Or perhaps give some more exposition on why he decides to become a superhero, to supplement the single scene that was there to provide motivation.

Overall, I just felt like it tried to be too many different movies, instead of just being one and doing it well.

Hm. To me it was just fun. It wasn't the kind of movie that I wanted or needed to spend a lot of time thinking about. I thought the love story was cute, the emotional scenes and the "over-the-top" action scenes were well done, and the characters were well fleshed out (as well as they need to be). Granted, it's been a while since I've seen the movie, but it made sense to have the "emotional" scene where SpoilerNicholas Cage died right before the action scene because... well, that's when it happened. And it makes sense that it triggered Hit Girl to go on a killing rampage. That happens in action movies all the time. It made sense that the main character wanted to become a super hero because he loves comic books and he wants to be cool and have friends and impress the chick that he likes. I'm not sure what more you wanted to know about the main character. All of your questions seemed to be adequately answered in the movie, to me.

Edited, Jul 29th 2010 12:54pm by Belkira

As far as that particular scene goes: I think you misunderstand, it's not that I have issue with the action going on, it's the music selection. "Bad Reputation" doesn't exactly lend itself towards tragic emotion. It's more goofy, fun action scene than agonized, loss-induced rage, y'know? Hence I feel it detracted from what would otherwise have been a sad, emotional part of the movie. Tough to really appreciate the sadness of the preceding scene when you're immediately launched into a completely different effect.



Well, lots of people feel that way. What makes this character different from all the rest? They don't really put that out there. Is it simply his drive to be popular and noticed? Or is he really altruistic? I'd lean towards the former, but I wish that the movie fleshed it out more. That'd be a movie I'd like to see...one that comments on teenage priorities, one that shows that our interest in superheros has more to do with a high school need for acceptance and love than a desire to help.

I don't mean to suggest that it was a "bad" movie. But after all the hype that I heard going in, I was sorely disappointed. I'd give it a 6/10, personally.

That's certainly possible. Perhaps I just require more cues to help get it through my thick skull : )

Is this on DVD already or are you pirating?

Edited, Jul 30th 2010 2:20pm by Kaelesh

I currently live in the desert in a third world nation. My options are pretty limited. Though, I will note that I enjoyed the movie enough to buy it on Special Edition DVD once I get back to civilization.

It's an 11 year old girl in a purple wig going all "Gun-Fu" on a horde of mobster goons. Personally I think trying to add pathos to the scene would have just made it ridiculous. Instead, it managed to be fun. No one needs emotional realism while watching a fifth grader running up a bookcase, firing twin pistols and dodging bullets.

Eh, to that I'd say "Then why have the sad, emotional scene prefacing it"? Plenty of pathos there, and if you'll recall, the 11 year old girl in a purple wig was going all "Gun-Fu" on a horde of mobster goons in that one, too. You can certainly disagree, but I just felt the whole thing was too up-and-down. It didn't know if it wanted to be a serious movie or a goofy movie, so it just ended up doing both half-assed.


EDIT: Since I'm apparently attempting to completely alienate myself with my dislike of this movie, I think I'll just dig my grave a little deeper. I found all of the characters, without exception, to be thoroughly unlikable and obnoxious.

Edited, Aug 15th 2010 11:20pm by Eske

Agree to disagree. I know that the particulars of why the movie didn't work for me aren't going to be shared by most folks.

I'm not sure I understand what scene you guys are arguing over (Joph/Eske).

*Warning: Following contains major spoilers to the movie's plot.*

SpoilerThe music selection for Big Daddy's death was excellent (and not goofy). The music selection for Hit Girl's vendetta was more goofy, but the scene wasn't exactly sad, so I don't see why it doesn't fit.

Is it because it's not like this scene every time?

Edit: Ah, upon re-reading the thread a couple of times, I see that those are the two scenes you're discussing. I agree that the music style is somewhat fluctuating in the movie, but I believe the second scene I linked was given that song to lighten up the movie after Big Daddy's death. When I first saw the movie, I didn't think that Bad Reputation (or at least that version) went very well with the scene, but I've grown to like it over time.

Edited, Aug 17th 2010 4:11pm by Mazra

Meh, I figured if people are following a thread about the movie, they're prepared to get spoilers anyway. Besides, I've never been a fan of the spoiler thingy since people have a tendency to just read them anyway, especially when you just blank out a couple of words in the middle of a sentence. It makes people curious.

But spoiler warnings added.