Kick Ass (2010)

This movie is high paced from the first frame to the last. Mathew Vaugh (Layer Cake 2004) directs this 'R' rated super hero flick you always wanted Daredevil, X-Men, Spiderman, and Batman to be. It's violent, it's gory, it's profane, it's great. The story revolves around a high schooler who decides to put on a green scuba suit and try to help strangers in danger. Basically he wants to be a superhero and so he becomes just that. However he mostly just takes a serious beating throughout the whole film and eventually meets some other people like him that are after more than simply helping Grandma cross the street, this is where the story get's interesting so I'll leave the summary behind and let you figure the rest out for yourself.

The film itself is shot wonderfully. In addition to some clever (though rather transparent) cinematography the movie is amply amplified by some fantastic graphic design and comic book cut scenes. The characters are not the typically flat hero or predictably redeemable anti-hero that plague the comic movies as of late (a crime in itself ironing out the kinks of comic heros that make them so interesting). They have depth, darkness, and development throughout the film and keep you invested in the story which does slow from time to time. Nick Cage in particular does a good job as a semi-psychotic but loving father with some seriously messed up ideas of how to prepare one's child for the harsh realities of the world. This leads to comedic scenes of tenderly violent lessons juxtaposing hand guns and hugs to a wonderful effect. Mise-en-scene adds a lot to the overall feel of the film without being to obvious in its allusion to the comic book basics from which the film was built on.

The final battle scene is one for the record books as well. I can't say much without giving it away but the choreography is phenomenal and Chloe Moretz's unique manner of handling herself while going up against men over twice her size and almost punching the bullets out of her gun (and lots of them) is jaw droppingly awesome as well as gives rise to a few laughs along the way.



All in all this film is worth a watch and I think that if you see it once you'll find it slipping into the front of your Que for a re-watch before getting to some of those more obscure films you've been putting off for the last month, which is in no way a problem. Though be warned the violence is graphic and if that doesn't float your boat it may get in the way of this great film for you.

Enter The Void (2009)

This is the strangest movie I've ever seen. Even the opening credits blew me away because of how strange and how amazingly good they are. The whole movie is depicted from the point of view of the main character. By this I don't mean that the cinematography represents the main characters viewpoint I mean it's as if the camera is exactly what he is seeing and the sound, what he is hearing. This might sound like it could get boring but it doesn't, trust me. I went into this movie experience knowing absolutely nothing about the film except that I had heard it was weird. I think that was a good way to see it so I don't want to elaborate a whole lot on the film because not being informed definitely impacted my viewing of it in a good way. That being said I'm going to apologize for any vagueness.

The main character is an unorthodox protagonist for a film. He's not really a hero but neither is he an anti-hero, if you met him in real life you might not want to be his friend but I don't think you'd find him particularly appalling either. If this film had been done much differently it would have been as boring as that sounds, but it's not. At times I wanted to stop the film and put on Jersey Shore just so I had something else to watch, but I couldn't. It pulls you in and leaves you in a stupor for the rest of the day. The script is sparse and light but the story is heavy and dark. The characters intertwine in ways neither you nor they are aware of or expect. A large amount of the film is psychedelic video art that reminds me of an exhibit I saw by Nam June Paik last year which made me rethink the boundaries of art. At times the movie does such a good job of this that it almost feels as if you are on copious amounts of hallucinogenic drugs wandering through Tokyo (something I've never done but I can only imagine it's something like this film). The rest of Enter The Void tells the life story of one person, from their point of view, in a completely non-linear fashion. I'm going to repeat myself, there is no succinct timeline for the film... at all, and the psychedelic scenes are mixed in with these already mixed up bits of life.

There are numerous reasons for why I shouldn't have liked this film but I did. The images and sounds are incredible, graphic, and vibrant; the story is unique, heartfelt, and disturbing as are the characters. The whole thing is incredibly sexual, violent, and surreal all at the same time. It leaves you wanting more and needing to shut down your brain at the same time. To conclude, you should see this, but do so knowing that it is going to take something out of you, you will be disturbed, and I can only hope you like it as much as I did, though I understand any body disliking it. It's not a movie that can described in any accuracy but must be seen to be understood.

WARNING: This movie contains a great deal of bright flashing lights and other visual effects that may induce an epileptic seizure.

Bronson (2008)

Not only does this movie have tons of bloody, savage hand to hand violence, visually compelling and colorful cinematography, a mercilessly enthusiastic and breath-taking performance by British actor Tom Hardy (who you may have seen in Inception), and a bizarre and exciting screen play based on a true story, but its also gonna make you laugh your ass off. Charles Bronson is known as Britain's most violent prisoner. First imprisoned on charges of robbing the store he worked at in his early twenties, Charlie goes on to spend 35 years in prison, most of that time spent in solitary confinement. Why?



Because Charlie likes to beat up guards. And he beats the living hell out of them. Just as Charlie's psyche is unpredictable and sporadic, so is the narrative style of the film, cutting between scenes of real life and some kind of alternate universe where Charlie performs maniacal monologues to an auditorium full of people. I highly recommend this film if you're looking for a violent and visually stunning dark comedy with some really impressive acting.