Review: Dear John

There is a moment, a third of the way into Dear John, where Sgt. John Tyree, having recently fallen in love while on shore leave and yearning for the end of his tour of duty, walks into a bar in the German town where he is stationed and watches the World Trade Centre collapse.

I thought that this would be a turning point for the film. Up until that point Dear John, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, was a perfectly acceptable tale of two young people falling in love one summer. It wasn't changing my life but I wasn't longing for the credits. The film plods along in a formulaic fashion, happily throwing out clichés with gay abandon.

And then, out of nowhere, it decides to tackle 9/11, and for the briefest of time it does an admirable job of it. Immediately after the attack John returns to the base and without hesitation requests to extend his tour. His decision isn't rational or thought out and its not presented as a gung ho call to arms. It's born out of fear, doubt, confusion and at the same time a powerful need to do something.

Review: Kick-Ass

When I began this blog I decided that I would try to post real reviews. Reviews that would be as professional and well thought out as possible. They would be considered, thorough and above all else would not descend into crass, nonsensical hyperbole.

With Kick-Ass such restraint isn't possible. It will literally melt your face.

Just as Mark Millar's already classic comic book series was a giant love letter to comic books, Matthew Vaughn's adaptation is an ode to comic book movies. It is a comedy but it is never a parody, never a spoof. It is a bonefide superhero movie, homaging, borrowing from and celebrating what came before it.

And it Kicks Ass.

The story (gleefully aware of how familiar it is) is your typical superhero origin story, but it begins with everyteen Dave Lizewski asking a question; Why aren't there superheroes in real life? It's a good question. So good in fact that Dave directly challenges the audience, demanding that you admit you've either thought about it or indeed fantasised about it. Tired of waiting Dave tries it himself and after quickly and painfully finding out EXACTLY why people don't fight crime in spandex, simply carries on and discovers that he may not be the first to try it after all.