Posts tagged Michael Rispoli
Pain & Gain – Movie Trailer
May 14th
From acclaimed director Michael Bay comes “Pain and Gain,” a new action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. Based on the unbelievable true story of a group of personal trainers in 1990s Miami who, in pursuit of the American Dream, get caught up in a criminal enterprise that goes horribly wrong.
“Kick-Ass” Surprisingly and Thoroughly Enjoyable
Apr 21st
Surprisingly and Thoroughly Enjoyable
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
KICK-ASS is a surprising little gem that will knock your socks off with entertaining enjoyment if you just allow it to.
It is based on a comic book, but in this case the comic book was being written at the same time the movie was in development, and so you can cut it some slack as far as source material goes.
Also, even though comic books are pretty much directed toward a young, unsophisticated audience of teenage geeks, nerds, and dweebs, and even though this movie looks as if it is directed toward that same audience, it is actually a very sophisticated tongue-in-cheek send-up of such superhero movies that are based on comic books, or even “graphic novels,” about superheroes, which, after all, are imaginary, remember?
When the movie begins, we meet young Dave Lizewski, a teenage boy who tells us that he was the last person to expect to be a superhero. He says that his only super power is that he is invisible to pretty girls, and we see an embarrassing example of that at his school locker.
Dave is just a regular guy, and he asks his two buddies, “How come nobody has ever tried to be a superhero?”
Dave is reminded that superheroes exist only in comic books, but that doesn’t stop him from achieving his dream, because he believes that just the perfect combination of optimism and naivete is all it takes to become a superhero.
Not to be daunted, Dave creates a secret identity of Kick-Ass, but his first two attempts at stopping crime end disastrously.
Meanwhile, we meet Damon Macready, played by Nicolas Cage in his best role and movie in years. Damon is an ex-cop who was unjustly sent to prison, he is out now, and he has revenge on his mind.
Damon has an 11-year-old daughter, Mindy, whom he is training in being an expert in martial arts and weaponry. Together they make up their own version of a dynamic duo of crime fighters with the secret identities of Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, who is a little sweetheart.
Yes, there is violence and strong language, but the violence comes with laughs and even brings tears to your eyes, sometimes with joy.
KICK-ASS is a real kick in the–well, you know where–and I surprisingly and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
Kick-Ass – Movie Trailer
Apr 16th
Adapted from Mark Millar’s hyper-violent comic book of the same name, director Matthew Vaughn’s (Layer Cake) vigilante superhero film tells the tale of an average New York teenager who decides to don a costume and fight crime. Comic book geek Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) may not have good coordination or special powers, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a fully capable crime fighter. After purchasing a flashy wet suit on the Internet, Dave starts busting up baddies with nothing but brute force. He calls himself Kick-Ass, and he can take a beating as good as he can dish one out. Before long, Kick-Ass has become a local sensation, and others are following his lead. Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) are a father-daughter crime-fighting duo who have set their sights on local mob heavy Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong). They’re doing a decent job of dismantling Frank’s sizable underworld empire when Kick-Ass gets drawn into the fray. But Frank’s men play rough, and his son, Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), is about to become Kick-Ass’ very first arch nemesis. When Chris assumes the persona of Red Mist, the stage is set for a superhero showdown that could spell the end of Kick-Ass once and for all.
