Kick-Ass - Awesome Superhero Film - Trailer inside...

[grim_tales]

I doubt her parents "approved" specifically of the swearing, but in interviews I read she seems very grounded and mature. She seems to understand she's just playing a role thats OTT and crazy (maybe thats why she wanted to do it), and said theres no way she'd say those things in real life otherwise she'd definitely be grounded. Maybe she thought the script was great, (she seems very enthusiastic) but always says the character isn't her. Maybe she consulted with her parents, we don't know.
According to the BBFC the word is used in a throwaway way, not explicitly sexual even though it is a very strong word.

[romerojpg]

Just go see it and see for yourself, its a good film, but damn people are going over the top about it.

[Markgway]

I doubt her parents "approved" specifically of the swearing, but in interviews I read she seems very grounded and mature.

Parents have to approve those scripts. They saw the language and the violence and they didn't care. What I wonder is where do you draw the line? If the script called for a nude scene would that be OK? I mean as long as you film it it's fine seems to be the consensus here. Sometimes the lack of standards shocks me. What kind of adult thinks a little girl saying "cunt" is funny?

She seems to understand she's just playing a role thats OTT and crazy (maybe thats why she wanted to do it), and said theres no way she'd say those things in real life otherwise she'd definitely be grounded.

I'm sure she's a great kid. Well-adjusted, smart and all that. But that isn't the point. The point is that her parents shouldn't be allowing her to perform that kind of material. If she called a teacher "a cunt" she'd get expelled. Saying it on camera doesn't change the fact that she's still using very strong language. Adults should not be encouraging this and then complaining when kids do it in "real life". It's gross hypocrisy. I don't accept the "it's a character" argument.

Maybe she thought the script was great, (she seems very enthusiastic) but always says the character isn't her.

Maybe the script is great. Maybe it's fucking awesome. That doesn't matter.

Maybe she consulted with her parents, we don't know.

She would have to because she's too young to sign a contract.

According to the BBFC the word is used in a throwaway way, not explicitly sexual even though it is a very strong word.

It's used agressively though and that's bad enough. When The Exorcist was made a double was used for scenes felt unsuitable for Linda Blair. So that's not her yelling "lick my cunt" or whatever. I guess now they'd just have Blair say it herself. But that's OK. I mean it's only a movie, right? Fuck standards.

Just go see it and see for yourself, its a good film, but damn people are going over the top about it.

Which is exactly what the filmmakers want. They court controversy to generate a crowd. Why would I encourage them by giving them money. That makes me just as guilty.

[grim_tales]

How do you know her parents didn't care? The character is so OTT and meant to be a parody of comic characters (I'm guessing), maybe they accepted it in the context of the role. Just because you wouldnt allow your daughter (should you have one) to accept such a role, the actresses parents shouldnt be condemned for doing so IMO. As long as she (Chloe Moretz) can tell fantasy from reality, I dont see the problem. Blame Jane Goldman, she wrote the script.

[romerojpg]

How do you know her parents didn't care?

Who cares if they did or did not? they got paid shitloads of cash!

Many people will sell their kids into porn and slavery for far far less.

[grim_tales]

I'm going to see it just to annoy Mark
BTW, I dont think nude scenes with children (ie sexualised nudity) would or should be allowed.

[Shingster]

How do you know her parents didn't care? Just because you wouldnt allow your daughter (should you have one) to accept such a role, the actresses parents shouldnt be condemned for doing so IMO.

well that's the important distinction to make here. Mark's never raised a child, he just thinks he knows better than the people who have (ie: salty).

[Markgway]

How do you know her parents didn't care?

Because they said 'yes'.

The character is so OTT and meant to be a parody of comic characters (I'm guessing), maybe they accepted it in the context of the role.

Maybe they saw the $$$ signs.

Just because you wouldnt allow your daughter (should you have one) to accept such a role, the actresses parents shouldnt be condemned for doing so IMO.

Yes, they should.

As long as she (Chloe Moretz) can tell fantasy from reality, I dont see the problem.

Then we disagree.

Blame Jane Goldman, she wrote the script.

Oh, I do.

I'm going to see it just to annoy Mark

More $$$ in their pocket...

BTW, I dont think nude scenes with children (ie sexualised nudity) would or should be allowed.

Why? As long as the parents say it's OK and as long as the actress knows it's fiction what's the problem?

[Markgway]

How do you know her parents didn't care? Just because you wouldnt allow your daughter (should you have one) to accept such a role, the actresses parents shouldnt be condemned for doing so IMO.

well that's the important distinction to make here. Mark's never raised a child, he just thinks he knows better than the people who have (ie: salty).

Lol... you really think actually being a parent makes an adult automatically more qualified to judge what's better for children than non-parents? Come on. There are millions of fucking useless parents in the US and the UK. The only qualification for being a parent is knowing how to use your dick. Now, clearly I'm not talking about Sam, and I'm sure despite his protests he wouldn't have let his daughter at age 11 take on this role. But do I think I have a better set of parental standards than many parents out there? Absolutely.

[grim_tales]

Because there are laws in the UK to protect children (eg Protection of Children Act). Would it be acceptable if she called the villains "assholes" or something instead? I had planned to see the film before, now I really want to see it. That doesnt mean I think Chloe swearing in real life is acceptable.

[grim_tales]

Hopefully seeing it on Friday

[grim_tales]

Kick Ass: 4.5/5

Really enjoyed it More than just a superhero spoof but also an exciting (and very funny) action film. Hit-Girl is brilliant - definitely the best character, I also liked the way Big Daddy spoke like the 1960's Batman
However, I did notice the tone is uneven at times, switching between goofy comedy (I thought it was going to be more a teen comedy at the start), and McLovin (Red Mist) is funny as well, and violence which is obviously more comic-inspired Hit Girl's enterance to the Banana Splits theme is fantastic , to more gritty and realistic violence which can be quite jarring eg when Kick Ass is stabbed
Chloe Moretz gives an assured performance veering between normal sweetness and pure badassness, its actually really cute in places, that
despite she hasnt had a real childhood because of her father's quest for vengeance, she wants to be a normal kid too, and go bowling and stuff, and she still loves her father - I kind of accepted her fathers actions easier because of her sad backstory
The film was even moving and sad in places.
The ending was a bit like Spider-Man 1 (2002) IMO.
Don't listen to the Daily Mail - great film It shows that though the "idea" of being a hero is cool - those ideas - if taken to extremes can have terrible consequences. IMO anyway

[grim_tales]

Anyone else seen it yet?

[gasteropod]

No but friends keep posting on Facebook that it's 'awesome'.

[grim_tales]

Go and see it, its great

[grim_tales]

The director defends Hit Girl/Chloe Moretz:

http://movies.sky.com/vaughan-defends-k ... -actor-row

[Markgway]

Well THAT was a balanced discussion. NOT!

[Yi-Long]

All this bullshit is about a kid uttering the word 'cunt' on-screen!? Wow...(!)

[grim_tales]

It's a strong word, but jeez.. I mean she's not the first kid to be in a film intended for an older audience than her. Natalie Portman, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Connelly, even Haley Joel Osment have all done it.
I was initially more surprised (at first) by something else she says because I wasnt expecting it, but then it didnt bother me TBH.
Anyway, its a really fun movie. Hit-Girl is supposed to be 11 in the comic and is an important character.

[Markgway]

The actual film bothers me less than the fact that so few seem to be bothered. Why does it have to be the extremists? So either you're facist who wants to ban everything or you think everything is OK as long as it's done for the camera. I love violent movies. I'm not in favour of censorship. Yet I do feel that these filmmakers have crossed an invisible line. Strangely I appear to be alone on this despite having what I feel is a perfectly reasonable balanced viewpoint. I make a point about it being wrong (IMO) having a preteen girl coarsely swearing and graphically killing on camera and you'd think I was Mary Whitehouse! Like I'm the one obviously in the wrong? I always expect people to disagree with me... but have standards slipped so much that I'm now the one who's a hardliner on movies?

[grim_tales]

I don't think "everything is OK" though, eg animal cruelty and sexual images of children are wrong, theres a reason why theyre not shown on film (its against the law). In fact some of the grittier violence in Kick-Ass and an exchange where HG tosses in an F-word got to me at first, or at least surprised me. But I think I accepted the other violence because its so unbelievable/OTT.

[Yi-Long]

The actual film bothers me less than the fact that so few seem to be bothered. Why does it have to be the extremists? So either you're facist who wants to ban everything or you think everything is OK as long as it's done for the camera. I love violent movies. I'm not in favour of censorship. Yet I do feel that these filmmakers have crossed an invisible line. Strangely I appear to be alone on this despite having what I feel is a perfectly reasonable balanced viewpoint. I make a point about it being wrong (IMO) having a preteen girl coarsely swearing and graphically killing on camera and you'd think I was Mary Whitehouse! Like I'm the one obviously in the wrong? I always expect people to disagree with me... but have standards slipped so much that I'm now the one who's a hardliner on movies?

It's a movie, Mark. It doesn't have to be politically correct. And TBH, I don't really mind swearing in real life either. Yeah, when it's aimed at someone in particular and it's intentionally hurtfull and vile, obviously that's 'bad', but otherwise I couldn't really care less.

I haven't seen Kick-Ass yet. Don't know if I'll love it yet, but looks promising. I do like the fact that they at least had the balls to throw in a character like this, and if she's well written, it's just a plus

[Markgway]

It's not against the law for a child to reenact violence, nor should it be, but what I'm talking about is the glamourisation of violence involving children. Is that morally acceptable? When does it become unacceptable? If a child shooting someone in the face is shown to be a good thing I really can't think of a scenario that would prove unacceptable unless we got into the areas of sex or sexual violence.

[grim_tales]

Some of the language HG says got a big laugh (or at least it did in the cinema I was in). Maybe we laughed because it WAS shocking to hear her say that (though I just said I wasnt "offended" by it).
I guess violence with children isn't really "acceptable" and it can be hard to watch but some of her scenes are done in a really OTT way and not meant to be taken seriously and she's fighting drug dealers etc, obvious "bad guys". But she was also used by her father, so she's not really behaving in a "normal" way anyway
Maybe it depends on the tone of violence in a film. In Battle Royale, some children (well, young teenagers) kill each other, and while this is "satire" its done in a much darker way, some elements of that are very scary IMO.
What about the young girl who plays WFH in Iron Monkey?

[Markgway]

Battle Royale - a dark satire that contains lots of violence but does promote or condone it in any way. Also the characters are teenagers and the actors all 16 or over.

Iron Monkey - a moral film in which young Fei-Hung actually learns life lessons and most tellingly doesn't indulge in murder

If the Nicholas Cage character in Kick-Ass turns his daughter into a killer then is he not guilty of grotesque child abuse? Is this ever shown to be a negative thing? Or are we suppose to glow at the perceived father-daughter bonding?

I'm not referring to individual scenes - at one point Cage shoots his daughter point blank to test a bullet-proof vest which is obviously farcical - but the absence of a moral core in their relationship.