Jason KingHancock ($13-)
July 3rd 2008 23:15
Hancock ($13-)
There are heroes… there are superheroes… and then there’s Hancock (Will Smith). With great power comes great responsibility – everyone knows that – everyone, that is, but Hancock. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock’s well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough – as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn’t the kind of man who cares what other people think – until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock’s greatest challenge yet – and a task that may prove impossible as Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), insists that he’s a lost cause. --© Sony Pictures
I was amazed and surprised by this film. After reading reviews from the US with a majority of critics despising it I cannot understand why!!! The film only scores a 36% on www.rottentomatoes.com with an average score of 5.2/10. Personally I preferred this to The Incredible Hulk and even found it more fun than Iron Man. It does not take itself seriously and has done what many Hollywood bigwigs have been avoiding for years. It presents an original film story. Hancock is my new favourite Superhero! He is honest, he is real, he has issues. He is just like us except he is invincible and can fly. LOL. OK - he's nothing like us but he is played by Will Smith and he's damn funny!! Smith as usual is brilliant and has the knacky ability to become each and every one of his characters and to do it across such a broad range of roles. I believed and supported him as much in this film as I did in The Pursuit of Happiness or Ali where he plays more drama riddled characters.
Jason Bateman and Charlize are also amazing in the film and no acting can be faulted by any of the characters. There are a few things I keep reading about that are apparently why people have disliked this film. 1) They say the "so not secret" twist in the middle makes the film fall on its ass and change direction from a comedy to a dramatic film. I completely disagree. I think that while Hancock was a comic fool who drinks too much and despises himself and does all this non caring damage driven heroics in a way that makes the audience laugh that this is part of his life troubles. He is dealing with his inability to know who he really is plus the fact he is isolated and no one really gives a hoot about him. And to do this he does some very sad things. We, as the audience see it as humor. 2) It has been mentioned that as a superhero he needs a nemesis. And that this is what disappoints the last half of the film. I can see a nemesis in a sequel but this is a superhero that can barely look after himself in this film. He has been developed and grown with maturity and the public finally like him by the end of this one. Now I think a sequel would be a much smarter way to introduce an evil powered freak. I do agree the "bad guys" they introduced were slightly on the lame side. But I didn't care, this was all about Hancock and his personal development. 3) The film turns a bit into a Romeo and Juliet based story that came about weirdly. Disagree disagree disagree!! I thought it was all believable and the actors turn it into something great. Hancock was the first superhero I actually felt for, similar to Superman in the originals. When he had Kryptonite around his neck and was growing weaker you felt sad and internally pleaded someone would help him!! Hancock might be a Klutz but he manages to help himself.
It has some awesome big screen, big budget action and the shooting style of mostly hand held cameras may prove annoying (don't worry, it is no where near as extreme as Cloverfield and I don't think their will be any in cinema vomiting) to some but I found it suited the film and presents more realistic viewing. Your head isn't strapped to a tripod so neither should the camera. It brings you further into the film. The film also keeps pace. At a short 90mins I found no time where I was bored or looked at my watch. I had heard that the original film was much longer and initial responses from test screenings said WAY TOO long and with much lacking. If so, then well done on the re-cut.
Trivia: 1) The script, originally titled 'Tonight, He Comes', floated around in Hollywood for over a decade. 2) Warner Bros. passed on the chance to make the film. Sony then stepped in.
3) The train wreck scene was filmed in San Pedro, CA, in conjunction with Pacific Harbor Line RR. PHL SD18 diesel locomotive #40 was changed by the movie crews to the fictitious Southland & Western RR. 4) The movie was shown at a US military base in the Middle East the week before it opened in the United States - it was free to all US military personnel on base.
While many critics may not like this film I think the public will and it's a perfect holiday film that will make a motser and provide much needed incentive for studios to make a sequel. The film at times may seem a bit over the place but Will, Charlize and Jason bind the entire film with honesty and credibility. It smoothly goes into different genres with originality and I honestly believe this is one of the better more recent action films. Will rocks!! Worth $13-
There are heroes… there are superheroes… and then there’s Hancock (Will Smith). With great power comes great responsibility – everyone knows that – everyone, that is, but Hancock. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock’s well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough – as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn’t the kind of man who cares what other people think – until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock’s greatest challenge yet – and a task that may prove impossible as Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), insists that he’s a lost cause. --© Sony Pictures
I was amazed and surprised by this film. After reading reviews from the US with a majority of critics despising it I cannot understand why!!! The film only scores a 36% on www.rottentomatoes.com with an average score of 5.2/10. Personally I preferred this to The Incredible Hulk and even found it more fun than Iron Man. It does not take itself seriously and has done what many Hollywood bigwigs have been avoiding for years. It presents an original film story. Hancock is my new favourite Superhero! He is honest, he is real, he has issues. He is just like us except he is invincible and can fly. LOL. OK - he's nothing like us but he is played by Will Smith and he's damn funny!! Smith as usual is brilliant and has the knacky ability to become each and every one of his characters and to do it across such a broad range of roles. I believed and supported him as much in this film as I did in The Pursuit of Happiness or Ali where he plays more drama riddled characters.
Jason Bateman and Charlize are also amazing in the film and no acting can be faulted by any of the characters. There are a few things I keep reading about that are apparently why people have disliked this film. 1) They say the "so not secret" twist in the middle makes the film fall on its ass and change direction from a comedy to a dramatic film. I completely disagree. I think that while Hancock was a comic fool who drinks too much and despises himself and does all this non caring damage driven heroics in a way that makes the audience laugh that this is part of his life troubles. He is dealing with his inability to know who he really is plus the fact he is isolated and no one really gives a hoot about him. And to do this he does some very sad things. We, as the audience see it as humor. 2) It has been mentioned that as a superhero he needs a nemesis. And that this is what disappoints the last half of the film. I can see a nemesis in a sequel but this is a superhero that can barely look after himself in this film. He has been developed and grown with maturity and the public finally like him by the end of this one. Now I think a sequel would be a much smarter way to introduce an evil powered freak. I do agree the "bad guys" they introduced were slightly on the lame side. But I didn't care, this was all about Hancock and his personal development. 3) The film turns a bit into a Romeo and Juliet based story that came about weirdly. Disagree disagree disagree!! I thought it was all believable and the actors turn it into something great. Hancock was the first superhero I actually felt for, similar to Superman in the originals. When he had Kryptonite around his neck and was growing weaker you felt sad and internally pleaded someone would help him!! Hancock might be a Klutz but he manages to help himself.
It has some awesome big screen, big budget action and the shooting style of mostly hand held cameras may prove annoying (don't worry, it is no where near as extreme as Cloverfield and I don't think their will be any in cinema vomiting) to some but I found it suited the film and presents more realistic viewing. Your head isn't strapped to a tripod so neither should the camera. It brings you further into the film. The film also keeps pace. At a short 90mins I found no time where I was bored or looked at my watch. I had heard that the original film was much longer and initial responses from test screenings said WAY TOO long and with much lacking. If so, then well done on the re-cut.
Trivia: 1) The script, originally titled 'Tonight, He Comes', floated around in Hollywood for over a decade. 2) Warner Bros. passed on the chance to make the film. Sony then stepped in.
3) The train wreck scene was filmed in San Pedro, CA, in conjunction with Pacific Harbor Line RR. PHL SD18 diesel locomotive #40 was changed by the movie crews to the fictitious Southland & Western RR. 4) The movie was shown at a US military base in the Middle East the week before it opened in the United States - it was free to all US military personnel on base.
While many critics may not like this film I think the public will and it's a perfect holiday film that will make a motser and provide much needed incentive for studios to make a sequel. The film at times may seem a bit over the place but Will, Charlize and Jason bind the entire film with honesty and credibility. It smoothly goes into different genres with originality and I honestly believe this is one of the better more recent action films. Will rocks!! Worth $13-
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My urge to see it mainly stems form the fact I was on Hollywood Boulevarde when they were shooting stunts from the film last year. The trailer looked Ok compared to his usual Bad Boys, I am Legend crap, but I will proably wait till DVD.
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JohnDoe, did you not even like "Pursuit Of Happyness"? if i see another film with Will Smith in it being chased by a swarm of CGI creatures im gunna scream! lol
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JD: I can't remember Six Degrees of Seperation - I will have to check it out again. But I enjoy most of his films. Independence Day I absolutely loved when it came out. Reason probably stems from the fact we installed the SDDS digital sound system for it at the time and I was working at George St Hoyts in the day and the hype surrounding the film was out of this world. We had queues down George St and were playing it our four biggest cinemas. I got to meet Will Smith at the premiere of Men In Black and he was SO cool. At the after party he got up on stage with the MIB dancers and sung the song. I was totally starstruck. I have to say I really liked Bad Boys 1 but I do know what you mean by the cocky action films. I really liked I am Legend until the last half hour although rumors of a different ending in the directors cut have got me interested. But Pursuit of Happiness and Ali were just brilliant. I will never watch Pursuit again because I balled like a baby who is deprived a bottle.
Morgan: Funny you mention that - a friend walked in towards the end of my screening and said "Super Ex Girlfriend much". So you may not like this one. I did not see S.E.G because I just thought it looked totally CRAP. But from what I remember of the story I don't think this is much like it at all. But I can assure you there are no CGI creatures. This has been one of the complaints actually that he does not have a real juicy "out of world" enemy. But like I said - all for the sequel.
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Comment by Rix