Flat- Why did they put the entire opening sequence in one of the trailers?
Up- Having never read the comic I really liked how Kick Ass's first outing went. It made it realistic and added to the reality of the idea.
Down- Nick Cage really stunk the movie up. What the **** was up with his West/Shatner Big Daddy voice? Was that supposed to be funny? A joke about Bale? I didn't get it, or it wasn't funny.
Up- Kick Ass telling the three thugs why he was protecting the guy he'd never met brought a tear to my eye. The whole rest of the movie could have been Cage's nonsense and it still would have gotten a 5/10. I had no idea how they were going to verbalize this for Kick Ass, every Hero movie does it somehow, and I had a feeling that this movie would top all others, and it delivered.
Down- I did not like Hit Girl at first, not because of the whole "foul mouthed little girl being violent" crap, but because she was too violent for a hero, she killed people who were running away and/or unarmed. Big Daddy did it too, but that came later. This is not how a hero is supposed to act in my opinion. To me it almost makes Kick Ass less of hero for not saying/doing anything(just like the guy in the window). I am referring mostly to the stoner in the apartment, but there were others that I think were too close for a "hero".
Up- I had no idea who Red Mist was from the trailers, that was a very well-written and acted part of the movie, a pleasant surprise.
The Loop- The [thing with the Gatling guns] was really weird, I don't know if it is cheesy or funny, it is just the loop.
Overall, I'm happy I went for the ride, and would recommend others go on it too, but once is enough for me.
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Couple other things:
I was originally drawn to the movie because of Damien Walter's involvement, but Kick Ass didn't really do anything that looked at all like what Damien does, if I had known Hit Girl was who he was coordinating it would have decreased my interest.
I thought for sure that the climax scene was setting it up for Marcus to dawn a suit and go War Machine/Steel and save the day or clean up the mess. I think that actor would make a good John Stewart eventually, he had a hero vibe about him.
Did anyone catch what movie was playing in the beginning? That was a joke right?