Tag: Kick Ass

Even over the phone — and across the Atlantic – you could hear the slump in Matthew Vaughn’s shoulders when he talked about the theatrical run of ”Kick-Ass.“ “It was disappointing to see that ‘Kick-Ass’ didn’t do the kind of box office we hoped for,” said Vaughn, who was director, producer and co-writer of the April release that pulled in $96 million worldwide, a number that felt like a letdown after so many industry observers had circled the film as a sensation-in-waiting. “Challenge and opportunity always go hand-in-hand, don’t they?” As he spoke, Vaughn was fresh from the set of “X-Men: First Class” in London, where he is immersed in his first big-budget studio production. That gives the 39-year-old filmmaker plenty of reason to look ahead instead of backward, but “Kick-Ass” has just arrived in stores on DVD and Blu-ray and he would love to see the movie become a home-video success story. “Sure, I ...

“Kick-Ass” is going the home invasion route. The film hits Blu-ray on Aug. 3 with a two-hour documentary — yes, that’s right, a two-hour documentary — on the making of the film. Above is an exclusive peek at a segment from the epic “A New Kind of Superhero: The Making of Kick-Ass.” It just occurred to me that we should do an edgy/fun midnight screening for next year’s Hero Complex Film Festival. Maybe “Kick-Ass”? Thoughts, requests? – Geoff Boucher   RECENT AND RELATED Matthew Vaughn: ‘Kick-Ass’ broke every rule Nic Cage baffled “Kick-Ass” cast with Adam West routine REVIEW: “Kick-Ass” hits the spot ‘Kick-Ass’ cheered in Austin, but one critic wonders why Adam West, back in the Batmobile 24 FRAMES: “Kick-Ass” may be a pop-culture moment  VIDEO: “Kick-Ass” cast at Hero Complex screening Bryan Singer discusses his return to ‘X-Men’ Clicking on Green Links ...

  “Kick-Ass” has given Nicolas Cage one of the quirkier films roles of his career — and that’s saying something — but the 46-year-old actor brought plenty of his own to the part of Big Daddy, including the idea of imitating Adam West and his stiff, staccato version of superhero speak. Cage plays a revenge-crazed ex-cop whose life is destroyed when a local crime lord frames him for a crime that leads to hard time. After his release from the penitentiary, he dons a mask and costume and goes after the mob boss with a young sidekick — Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz), a sweet-looking 11-year-old who talks like a longshoreman and fights like a ninja. Cage arrived on the set of “Kick-Ass” with a plan to imitate the kooky diction of West, the star of “Batman,” the ABC series that practically defined 1960s ...

  Nursing a nasty Jack Daniels hangover, director Matthew Vaughn spent Wednesday morning doing the same thing he’s been doing for weeks: defending “Kick-Ass,” his ultra-violent and deliriously profane superhero film, which opens Friday. “Awkward conversations? Oh, yeah, are you joking? It’s every day. It’s every day. And, of course, the people that do complain, 99% of them haven’t seen the film. I tell them, ‘Go see the movie and then call me up after and I’ll chat as long as you want, I’d be interested in your opinion.’ And a lot of those people call up and tell me, ‘I don’t know how to say this, but I loved it.’” Love it or hate it, “Kick-Ass” is one of the most audacious films of the year, a sort of loopy R-rated mash-up with the loser-turned-hero mythology of “Spider-Man,” the ...

“Kick-Ass” finally reaches theaters Friday, but a week ago we had a special free screening for Hero Complex readers in Hollywood. After the movie, I interviewed some of the key people behind the audacious film — four of the young stars in Chloe Moretz, Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Clark Duke as well as screenwriter Jane Goldman  and comics artist John Romita Jr., who drew the Marvel series that shared its name with the film. It was a lively conversation. Here are some highlights.   – Geoff Boucher RECENT AND RELATED ‘Kick-Ass’ cheered in Austin, but one critic wonders why ‘Predators’ on the loose in Texas — the hunt is on Bryan Singer discusses his return to ‘X-Men’ Christopher Nolan breaks silence on Superman film 

Do it fast, do it now — the seats won’t last long. “Kick-Ass,” the sensation of South by Southwest, hits theaters on April 16 but here’s your chance to see it early and for free. The Hero Complex, the Los Angeles Times and Brand X are presenting a screening of the Matthew Vaughn film at 7:30 p.m. on April 5 at the Mann 6 in Hollywood. Hero Complex blogger Geoff Boucher will interview Vaughn and other creators and cast members live on stage. Sign up right here.  RECENT AND RELATED  ’Kick-Ass’ cheered in Austin but one critic wonders why VIDEO: ‘Kick-Ass’ on the carpet ‘Predators’ on the loose in Texas — the hunt is on Bryan Singer discusses his return to ‘X-Men’ Christopher Nolan breaks silence on Superman film  “Kick-Ass” photo: Lionsgate

  Over at our sister blog 24 Frames, reporter Mark Olsen sends in a dispatch from South by Southwest where he sat down in the dark with director Matthew Vaughn’s “Kick-Ass,” which has been hailed by some as the best opening-night film in the history of the Texas festival and conference. Olsen heard the cheers but did not feel the love. Here’s an excerpt… The independently produced “Kick-Ass,” which Lionsgate will release in five weeks, feels somehow at once lean and bloated. Some of the effects underwhelm, and the whole thing has a light, cardboard-y feel. While set in New York City, much of the film was clearly shot in Toronto. And Aaron Johnson doesn’t quite have the charisma to pull off the lead part of the teenager who adopts the role of a superhero, leaving something of an empty hole at the ...

Over at 24 Frames, our sister blog, Amy Kaufman writes that “Kick-Ass” doesn’t need to worry about “Defendor” stealing its thunder… At the Oscar nominee luncheon earlier this week, Woody Harrelson was asked about the status of a dark superhero comedy he has coming out titled “Defendor.” “Yeah, I did this movie called ‘Defendor’ and I was really excited because Sony picked it up in Toronto, and it’s a wonderful movie,” he said. “I love the movie. I get the feeling it’s not gonna get much play, though.” We just saw the trailer and sadly, we’re going to have to agree with Harrelson: It just doesn’t look like a winner… THERE’S MORE, READ THE REST – Amy Kaufman RECENT AND RELATED Queasy Woody Harrelson’s takes a rare trip into horror GALLERY: David Strick’s set photos from “Zombieland”  “Zombieland,” keeping the undead ...

Screenwriter Jane Goldman talks about “Kick-Ass”: Clark Duke and Christopher Mintz-Plasse interview each other: Director Matthew Vaughn: