Sunday, April 18, 2010

Ebert Hates On Kick-Ass

Roger Ebert loved Carrie (3 1/2 stars), expressed boredom with Children Of The Corn and says about Orphan: "You want a good horror film about a child from hell, you got one."

But he's suddenly pissy about the violence in Kick-Ass?

Calling the flick "morally reprehensible," Ebert takes issue with the all-too-real violence carried out in the film by a girl dressed as a super-hero. To fanboys who think the movie did the comic book justice, Ebert snorts: " You know what? You inhabit a world I am so very not interested in."

Somebody must have forgotten to add butter to Ebert's popcorn.

His reaction reminds me of my Dad's inability to understand my affection for Kurt Cobain, and my Big Band-era grandfather who thought Elvis was of the devil.

Ebert's review just made me want to see Kick-Ass even more!

7 comments:

Steven Allen Adams said...

I'm looking forward to seeing it.

www.unsilentm.com

Hoyt said...

For a long time, I could rely on Ebert's reviews for guidance on what films to see. Over the past decade, though, I've learned not to rely on him because his opinions vary more than the weather. Example: He enjoyed the first "Jackass" film but hated "The Village" and gave the latter film "one star."

Ebert's explained that he considers films within their genre, and so a "four star" movie about zombies is not the same as his awarding four stars to a Merchant Ivory flick. I get that. But I agree with you that in dissing "Kick-Ass," Ebert displays an inability to appreciate today's youth culture and a hypocrisy that totally undermines his work as a critic.

Don't get me wrong--I still dig reading Ebert. But I'll consult you first before I check out a film like "Kick-Ass."

(Can't wait to see it!)

All Click said...

Do my eyes deceive me?? TFG is back!

I'm also looking forward to Kick-Ass. See you there!

Does Ebert forget that kids always imitate superheros whether they are grown men and women or kids themselves?

Woodrow said...

I just saw Kick Ass and i can honestly say its the most fun i have had watching a movie since maybe Zombieland. It's just a fun, ridiculous, smart, action-packed popcorn flick.

Spike Nesmith said...

I'm looking forward to seeing it too, but I find it odd that a guy who wrote Russ Meyers movies is representing himself as some sort of moral compass on anything.

So, I guess cartoonish violence from a young girl is bad, but cartoonish violence from a juveline/oedipal representation of what sexually repressed men wish women were like is.... good? OK, Rog. Just so we know.

Incidentally, read what he thinks is wrong with the R-rated "Kick-Ass" and follow it up with what he thinks is *right* about the NC-17 rated "Kids".

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19950728/REVIEWS/507280301/1023

It's ripsnorting entertainment to watch little girls to suck cock on screen, but have one punching bad guys in a movie that's supposed to be over the top and all of a sudden he turns into a Victorian Dad.

The Film Geek said...

All-Click and Hoyt: We should get together and see the flick this week!

Hey, Woodson: Thanks for the confirmation it'll be a fun ride. I'm eager to read what you thought of it on your blog.

Spike: Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls woulda made a lousy comic book.

Neurotic Atty said...

Bill and I saw it this weekend, and I have to say, we were a little bit disappointed. The Hit Girl scenes were pretty good, but the rest was a little "meh."

As for the "reprehensible" violence, it wasn't like they were splashing the screen with brain matter or anything. And the bloodiest parts were very comic book-ish. It really wasn't that offensive. I mean, you have to look at it in context. I guess Roger Ebert doesn't appreciate that.