KICK-ASS 2 Review (Spoiler Heavy)

Here's my review for KICK-ASS 2 starring Aaron Taylor Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz Plasse and Jim Carey. It opens August 14 and is distributed locally by Solar-UIP.

So Kick-Ass 2 has finally reached our shores and I must say that it's definitely a great movie. Much like how Percy Jackson went with their own story, the same thing has happened here in Kick-Ass 2. Rather than sticking word for word from the source material, I could warrant around 80 percent was retained from the second volume of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s seminal title.

Still Kick-Ass 2 is a pretty nifty flick. There's a good amount of teen angst plus bloody battles, out and out beatings and laughs here and there.

Rather than focus more on the life of Kick-Ass and his alter ego Dave Lizewski (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) this sequel focuses more on the life of Mindy McCreedy aka Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz). The angst is present there. Seeing those scenes was like sending me back to the time I first caught "Mean Girls" with a non coke snorting Lindsay Lohan.

It might seem like Johnson is doing anything but he's POV focuses more on the growing 'vigilante' trend that Kick-Ass inspired. Joining Lizewski on his 'quest' for Justice is a rag-tag team of vigilantes who call themselves "Justice Forever" led by Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey). Those segments were fun and all hero-y. Too bad though that it lasted only so long. Still the big 'final battle' gets us our kick for masked vigilantes and caped crusaders.

Massive props to Jim Carrey who seriously fit the role of the Colonel. Too bad though that his role is very, very short much like how Carrey's participation in promoting the film was short-lived.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse brought the laughs in this movie. His "Motherfucker" was spot on. Too bad though that his version of the character came off more as whiny rather than the motherfucking asshole that he really is from the source material.

Mintz-Plasse as THE MOTHERFUCKER

The great thing about KICK-ASS 2 is the fact that they deliberately took liberties on some places and scenes that might not be OK for the squemish. Some of them include the death of Colonel Stripes and the attack on Night Bitch. *The book portrayed the brutal rape of Kick-Ass' supposed girlfriend Katy as well as the violent shooting in the neighborhood* Those scenes would've unsettled viewers; hell I would get this unsettling feeling if I saw that adapted on the big screen.

The action and dialogue was great, a bit gritty and dirty but it's still great. What would you expect from a  movie entitled "KICK-ASS". Cool moments and a wicked, twisted finale as well. Oh and if you're looking for easter eggs, there's a buttload of them here in the film. Same goes for comic book references. And keep your eyes peeled for the next movie adaptation from Millar's KAPOW COMICS; it'll make an appearance and it's also going to feature one of our great comic book artists.

KICK-ASS 2 is now showing! Special thanks to SOLAR-UIP.

Here's the Official KICK ASS 2 Synopsis

In case you live in a rock and you don't know that they decided to make a sequel/ adaptation-to-the-comic book sequel stilled based on a book by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.

SYNOPSIS: Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for the follow-up to 2010’s irreverent global hit: Kick-Ass 2. After Kick-Ass’ (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, led by the badass Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), our hero joins them on patrol. When these amateur superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse)—reborn as The Mother F%&*^r—only the blade-wielding Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) can prevent their annihilation. When we last saw junior assassin Hit Girl and young vigilante Kick-Ass, they were trying to live as normal teenagers Mindy and Dave. With graduation looming and uncertain what to do, Dave decides to start the world’s first superhero team with Mindy.

Unfortunately, when Mindy is busted for sneaking out as Hit Girl, she’s forced to retire—leaving her to navigate the terrifying world of high-school mean girls on her own. With no one left to turn to, Dave joins forces with Justice Forever, run by a born-again ex-mobster named Colonel Stars and Stripes. Just as they start to make a real difference on the streets, the world’s first super villain, The Mother F%&*^r, assembles his own evil league and puts a plan in motion to make Kick-Ass and Hit Girl pay for what they did to his dad. But there’s only one problem with his scheme: If you mess with one member of Justice Forever, you mess with them all.

"Kick-Ass 2" is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Review

The last magician movie that I saw was "The Prestige" and that, borrowing what Steve Carell's Burt Wonderstone stated early on in the film, 'blew my mind'. It's not so much because it's a magician versus magician movie but because of the spellbinding tricks done by Wolverine and Batman. Warner's Burt Wonderstone on the other hand tells the opposite, it's magician rivalry mixed in with themes of friendship, wonderment and a bit of love. 

So this flick tells the story of two magicians, Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton, played by Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi respectively who are suddenly upstaged by a brash new upstart street magician (played by Carrey). There's also a subplot about the budding relationship between Steve Carell's character and that of Olivia Wilde's character Jane. Another subplot here is the falling out and subsequent mending-of-fences between Burt and Anton. 

THE GOOD:

- Olivia Wilde is such a darling to watch here. We've got a lot of different looks for this beautiful woman I am crushing on. Watch out for that scene where she wears a luchador mask as well as her 'final form' which makes her resemble DC heroine Zatanna. (Hey Warner, if you want a Zatanna for the Justice League movie, then the delectable Ms. Wilde should be your best bet.)

- Steve Carell is back with his hijinks and his awkward moments. From spazzing out inside the hot box to acting like a gigantic douche, Carell is interesting as a Las Vegas magician. 

- Alan Arkin's appearance here gave this flick more pedigree. I tell you the guy can play funny old men perfectly and more aptly than other actors. The guy is also sparse when it comes to quips and does a pretty convincing old magician. 

- If there's another reason to watch "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" it's got to be Jim Carrey and his take on the whole street magician fad that took over the world last decade. Taking pointers from the likes of David Blaine and Criss Angel, Carrey is an entertaining street magician. 

- Watch out for the funny bits towards the end especially the final trick the duo concocts to win back this new contract, a cameo appearance by legendary illusionist David Copperfield and much more. Also 'Burt Wonderstone' was an eye opener in answering this important question - "How do magicians have sex?".

THE BAD:

- I loved Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) here but I'm disappointed by the really short appearance he made here in the film. I'm not looking for the real co-starring role but the script could've done it so that there's solid screen time for Buscemi.

- I was really hoping for a good 'showdown' between Jim Carrey and Steve Carell but I was sorely disappointed in that front. Based on the fun factor in that 'showdown' scene, I was really expecting that they would top it off at the end with something similar to a 'fliptop' battle. Instead we get treated to a whimsy albeit disgusting finish for Carrey's character. 

- Some scenes in the film creeped the heck out of me. I'm talking about Carell's use of spray tan. Ugh. Also while we're on the subject of Steve Carell, the guys routine ranting and raving is starting to get old. I hope he gets to inject something new in his next movies. 

Overall, 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' is a nice way to pass the time and have a good laugh. Don't expect too much from Jim Carrey and Steve Buscemi nor anything substantial from Olivia Wilde and Alan Arkin. Just laugh hard and sit back. 

Special thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone opens March 20,2013.

New Poster, Red Band Trailer and Images for Kick-Ass 2

A lot of cool stuff coming from "KICK-ASS 2" starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse together with Jim Carrey. The film is an adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s "KICK-ASS 2" mini.

I was expecting a really grown up Chloe Moretz here in this new movie but it seems like that's not the case. I remember talking to Mark Millar about this and him telling me and the rest of the Flipgeek's crew that there are some liberties taken from the source material and the film adaptation including the challenge of Ms. Moretz 'growing up' during production and in between the two movies.

Anyway, regardless of that, watch the red band (meaning rated R) trailer for the KICK ASS 2 after the cut.



It's nice that they have Jim Carrey here but knowing what will happen to the guy in the middle makes me sad. Also, is it just me or is the violence tapered down. I kinda remember the cemetery scene to be more.... bloody. 

Also I suddenly remember that there the Motherfucker and his gang of psychopaths did a shooting spree in Katie's neighborhood and did something horrible afterwards. Will that bit make it into the big screen adaptation? 

Check out some of the cool images coming from the trailer as well:














KICK ASS 2 Synopsis:

Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for the follow-up to 2010’s irreverent global hit: Kick-Ass 2. After Kick-Ass’ (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, led by the badass Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), our hero joins them on patrol. When these amateur superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse)—reborn as The Mother F%&*^r—only the blade-wielding Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) can prevent their annihilation.

When we last saw junior assassin Hit Girl and young vigilante Kick-Ass, they were trying to live as normal teenagers Mindy and Dave. With graduation looming and uncertain what to do, Dave decides to start the world’s first superhero team with Mindy. Unfortunately, when Mindy is busted for sneaking out as Hit Girl, she’s forced to retire—leaving her to navigate the terrifying world of high-school mean girls on her own. With no one left to turn to, Dave joins forces with Justice Forever, run by a born-again ex-mobster named Colonel Stars and Stripes.

Just as they start to make a real difference on the streets, the world’s first super villain, The Mother F%&*^r, assembles his own evil league and puts a plan in motion to make Kick-Ass and Hit Girl pay for what they did to his dad. But there’s only one problem with his scheme: If you mess with one member of Justice Forever, you mess with them all.

Jim Carrey Pushes Magic to the Limit in "Burt Wonderstone"

Comic superstar Jim Carrey plays guerilla street magician Steve Gray who’s out to dethrone Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) as Las Vegas’ king of magic, in New Line Cinema’s envelope-pushing comedy, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.”

In the film, magicians Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas Strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other.