rantinghuman

We watched the better part of Hollywood's latest pile of filth called "Kick-Ass", before its mindless, gratuitous violence drove me from the theater before it ended. As we went up the aisle to leave, I stole a glance at the dark faces in the theater and wondered if any of them chuckled in a similar manner when they saw videotaped beheadings of abductees in Iraq, where men screamed for prolonged periods of time because it took that long to saw through the bones in their necks. For many of all ages, this has actually become entertainment. Would it take something tragic like this to happen to someone in their own lives before they snap out of their misdirected notions of entertainment? People have become so insulated from reality that they've lost the concept of what torture and killing actually are.

I never for a moment understood the appeal of slasher movies and I quit watching commercial TV because it is so permeated with jaded rot, but we all know about today's crime shows that depict the most gruesome killings imaginable, and a wildly popular show that actually glorifies serial killing. Hollywood even made a slasher musical that passes itself off as "serious" and "artful". But even a repulsive film like "Sweeney Todd" had some originality and cinematic virtue, endless scenes of slit throats and splattered blood notwithstanding. But "Kick-Ass" had none of this. "Kick-Ass" was just adolescent pap that laughs at torture. Nicholas Cage was nothing but a poor portrayal in a used Batman suit. Even more repulsive was corporate Hollywood's device of using a cute, trash-talking hero girl to draw in younger audiences (like my daughter, which is why we went). What it did instead was inspire my daughter to pledge to sell her Playstation 2 and its equally mindless depictions of violence. Not wanting to let a good thing pass by, I handed her instead a pick-axe and safety glasses, and she made the sparks fly off that piece-of-crap "toy". She made me proud.

It is perplexing how otherwise intelligent and kind people that I know, love and somewhat respect, can be so easily misdirected into believing that moronic filth like "Kick-Ass" is entertainment.

One of the best films ever: the power of myth, the tenacity of culture, a prophesy fulfilled, the quintessence of human heroism, and the satisfaction of a child's need for her family's love. The unswayable force of one girl's destiny. This film has it all, and is powerfully delivered by a child actor with virtually no acting experience. She is a realistic hero, and the milestones of her heroism can be delightfully measured. If you have a daughter, you must share this film with her. These sorts of films do not come along often.

If this film interests you, you might want to see Broken English. Also set in New Zealand, it also contains Maori culture.