Not to sound like a complete prude, but it does kind of amaze me that Hollywood has released a movie called Kick-Ass. I ran a search for “ass” on the Internet Movie Database and while there are certainly films that have used that word as part of their title, I can’t think of a single movie as high profile as Kick-Ass to promote the colloquialism so prominently.
Even though I never read the original graphic novel on which the movie is based, I’m looking forward to the movie a great deal. The trailers make it look like colorful, sadistic fun. How ironic that the use of Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” for the marketing campaign is so much more effective than “Cherry Bomb” was for The Runaways.
Aaron Johnson plays the film’s hero. I have no idea who he is. He has a fairly extensive resume, so I assume his performance will be pretty good. Although, honestly, I’m surprised the role didn’t go to Jesse Eisenberg. I guess there wasn’t enough sensitive longing in the character.
I’ll be doing comics about Kick-Ass all week, so I don’t want to say everything I have to say about the movie right now. Right now I’m getting ready to leave for C2E2 on Thursday, so I’m also trying to work ahead on the comics a little bit.
Usually I run guest comics when I go to a convention. But I thought, for once, maybe it would be a good idea to have some of my OWN work on display for people who see me at the convention and later check out the site. First impressions and all that. I’m sure you understand.
So, needless to say, it’s going to be a busy week.
If you’re going to be in Chicago this weekend and would like to say “Hi” you can find me here using C2E2’s interactive floor map. I will be at table WC-N in Webcomics Pavilion. I’m sharing the same area as Brat-halla, Shortpacked!, Erika Moen and Lucy Knisley. So if you see any of those artists, you’re in the right neighborhood!
My friends Joe Dunn from Joe Loves Crappy Movies and Gordon McAlpin from Multiplex will be there as well and I’m really looking forward to seeing them. You should be sure to stop by their booths and say “Hi” as well.
That’s it for now. If you’re going to be at C2E2 this weekend, let me know! If you plan on seeing Kick-Ass this weekend, leave some comments and let’s talk about it!
Cheers!
What do you mean?
Thirty years ago, the house on The Brady Bunch didn't have a toilet because of censorship. But now people can get away with anything!
What will movie titles be like thirty years from now?
Penis Patrol? Vagina Force?
I love it when you talk dirty!
...Moron!
Ass is a word used in the Bible. I realize that the context is a bit different, but there it is. I personally think it’s no big deal but some people are going to get their [female undergarments] in a wad over this.
@Edrondol,
“[female undergarments]?”
Your language SHOCKS me, Edrondol!
Because it wasn’t made by Hollywood? The movie was independently produced and made. They never found a studio to take the film, so they made it themselves (the director/writer used his money and did some fundraising, and he used his personal crew to make the film). They got to do whatever they damn well please.
@Kris,
I guess I figured because it was being distributed by Lionsgate, that was the reason why they threw convention out the window.
I didn’t know it was independently produced.
woot indie filmmaking!!
I won’t be able to see this on the weekend, maybe early next week. The reason? There’s this crazy sport called “Buggy” at my school, and I’m busy making a documentary of it. It involves pushing a torpedo shaped vehicle up and down a hill. Did I mention there’s a person inside too? See cmubuggy.com or /fringe.org/Racing/
What about JackAss? I’d have to say that that was just as, if not a bigger profile movie then Kick Ass, but maybe that just my opinion.
Also, the song in the trailer just makes me think of “Freaks and Geeks” (which used it as their theme song) every time it comes on…so I don’t know if that’s helping it, or hurting it for me. Still wanna see it though.
@Wombat,
I completely forgot about Jackass. Maybe because I consider Jackass one word and Kick-Ass is hypenated? Weird, I know. But yeah, equally high profile and no one raised a fuss. Very likely I’ve dredged up a non-issue for today’s comic! ;D
@Tom, I remember when Jackass was in theaters most places had the marquee like JACKA**.
It was sort of a thing and definitely not a movie for kids, which kick-ass looks like.
@Tom, wasn’t there a comic about this by either you or the Movie Punks guy? Where the sign is changed for Jackass? Or maybe another movie?
Haha! Great comic. It so reminds me of some conversations that my wife and I have.
Its actually not that odd now, considering we had jackass the movie, now when that came out I think was was crazy.
Jackbutt the movie was pretty high profile.
Tom, are you old enough to remember the hullabaloo that surrounded the movie “Oh God!”? A lot of newspapers (remember newspapers?) wouldn’t carry the ad for the movie.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to listen to music on my Victrola.
Any movie with McLovin’ gets a big thumbs up from me and, more importantly, my money! 🙂
@Andre,
I am truthfully amazed that McLovin has been able to sustain a career beyond Superbad. I thought he was the reincarnation of Jason Biggs for a while…
@Tom, I’m as amazed as you that Christopher Mintz-Plasse still gets work but to be fair he was pretty good in Role Models.
@Binkley,
I think he’s been great in nearly every role he’s been given. What I find amazing is that he was ever given *the opportunity* to get more work.
@Tom, I totally agree with you. I really thought we’d never see this guy again after Superbad, but am very happy he did. He was great in pretty much a co-lead role in Role Models and was also great in Year One in an extended cameo, I’d call it.
Unless he starts doing bad movies, all of his future movies will get money from me. Him and Michael Cera. I really like them both. They have an “every-man” quality where they don’t look like Hollywood-types, they look like people you’d see at your neighbourhood school, plus they’re great at doing what they do.
Actually, when Jackass came out my theater did get a few complaints from parents who felt the title was too inappropriate to be shown on the marquee.
I on the other hand was disappointed that WB changed the original title of “Cop Out”.
I mean, a cop comedy called “A COUPLE OF DICKS”? That’s just awesome.
I happen to work at a theater and asked about this … turns out, none of the theaters are allowed to post the marquee saying ‘Kick Ass’ … instead ‘Kick A’ .. which is kind of ridiculous to me. But since most marquee signs (I guess – unless they’re digital) do not have $$ or ** as options … I guess that’s the closest they’re willing to allow.
It seems silly to me – when so many TV shows these days get away with so much … it’s not like it’s the F word, but ‘ass’ seems so harmless. We all have one. X)
I completely agree with Cami.
It seems to me that the media does not care at all about censorship for the younger population anymore and I think it’s not helpful to the young teens. Especially sexual references. I believe that sex should be talked about and certainly not oppressed, but it’s still a private manner between the individuals. Sex and sexual imagery has become too publicized. Anyways, I’m ranting, but that’s my feeling on it.
As far as the title goes, I think it’s just trying to relate to young audiences. The studio executives probably said, “Kick ass, that’s what kids today are saying right? We’ll go with that.”
@LeAnna, the movie is actually based on a comic of the same title, so studio execs would’ve had little to do with it. I
If you’re going to be in town this weekend, perhaps a Kick Ass night may be in order. And maybe we’ll even go to the movies! 😛
Get ready to feel old in 3…2…1…
Brady Bunch is 40 years ago, not 30.
@Kelly,
For real?
For some reason I still think it’s the 1990s.
You americans so funny when it comes to naughty words. Poo and Bottom to you all!
@rocket_101,
I see you’re email address comes from Australia. Of course you guys are awesome. Your country was founded by criminals! Ours was founded by puritanical nut jobs!
America definitely got the short end of the British colonization stick.
Devil’s Advocate here: the difference is that “Jackass” is an accepted term for a donkey. “Kick-Ass” refers to a “vulgar” term for a “dirty” body part.
That said, I don’t think it’s particularly offensive, because I subscribe to George Carlin’s belief that there are no such things as “bad” words. Bad thoughts, bad actions, and…words. Besides, any kid who sees this title has already heard the term “kick-ass” and worse…on their first day of Kindergarten. Little kids swear for the same reason adults swear: because it’s fun.
Saw the movie on Saturday night here in NZ… loved it. It got an R18 rating here funnily enough. But yes awesome movie, and the partner and I are planning on seeing it a second time, maybe next week.
The graphic novel the movie is based on is pretty awesome too.
I saw it on Saturday here in AU, thought it was great. Everyone else who saw it with me either hated it because of the violence or because they changed too much from the comic.
It probably was for the best i saw the movie before reading the comic
I’m from australia, where ass is barely a swearword (we spell it arse) and some of our, slightly controversial, government advertisments have included “Don’t be a dickhead”(in regards to not talking on the phone while driving) “drink, drive, bloody idiot” and “Australia: Where the bloody hell are ya?”(tourism). So this seems pretty tame to me, and i’d say most kids have said far worse words by the age of 7 or 8.
I saw an interview with the writer\diector in (I believe) “The Miami Herald.” They said that the graphic novel was based on the screenplay (not the other way around as stated above), but it was released first because they couldn’t find a studio to produce said screenplay and thought that it push the project along.
I have every intention of seeing Kick-Ass because it looks like the kind of ridiculous comedy that I love. The fact that it’s a ridiculous SUPERHERO comedy is the icing on the cake. Having Christopher Mintz-Plasse in it is the sprinkles on the icing.
I don’t agree with Cami. I feel that the censorship in America is still a little ridiculous. I know it’s loosened up over the last few decades (my thesis was a content analysis of movies originally made in the 50s and 60s and remade since 2000, and a comparison the amount of sex, violence and profanity in the pairs of movies). But the things that we censor on television (for example, some regions don’t air shows that feature homosexual couples) have a lot to say about American society, and the things that need to change.
Aaron Johnson’s biggest resume item – hooking up with 43 year old director Sam Taylor-Wood on the set of Nowhere Boy back when he was a wee 18 year old. They’re now engaged and she’s pregnant! Oh boy!
Let us not forget “The Dinner of Schmucks” which is a way more obscene title than the original French film, “Le dîner de cons” which translates to The Dinner of Idiots.
Careful there Penis Patrol and Vagina Force have likely already been made into pornos, lol.
I read all eight issues of the comic, and the film is a more or less faithful translation*- with one major exception, the ever-reliable Nicholas Cage, who has the genuine super power of stinking in any genre; he is the male equivalent of Catherine Zeta Jones/Douglas. I’ve never seen the male lead before- he carried the role well. I particularly enjoyed the subversion of traditional superhero tropes from the outset. *less gory than the comic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Now, let’s see a film version of The Unfunnies…