Hancock

[JTrotter]

I have watched all of the trailers and some behind the scenes stuff but I am just not getting it. Is it an action/comedy-a serious action piece-or is it just a movie they have no idea how to market. I know one bad way is to put HANCOCK in a faux-X_MEN Movie Costume and have him save the world. It just doesn't seem like anyone is on the same page with this. I genuinely enjoy Smith's movies besides I AM LEGEND but I cannot make heads or tails of this movie. The effects look kind of silly so far and the press conference scene telling the world he "needs to be a better hero" sounds ridiculous. I just don't want to fork over $10 for a movie about an alcohol dependent Superhero who changes into some of the worst Comic-Book Movie duds that I couldn't stand the first time around. I would love to be proved wrong, so let me know your thoughtsss....

Best-

JTrotter

DVD Aficionado

[Monterey Jack]

Yeah, the trailers and TV spots for this are all over the map. The early spots were all wacky sight gags (throwing the whale into the ocean, ect.), then there were the stirring "I will be better" ads, and now they're pushing some weird "mysterious past" angle with Charlize Theron. Yeah, it's Big Willie and the 4th, so I guess they can do anything they want and still have people show up, but still, pick one angle and stick with it.

[Pirate]

It seemed fairly obvious to me: the first act will be drunken sight gags. The second act will follow with detox and superheroing-up. And the third will showcase a potential-reaching climax with a possible twist with Theron’s character.

Looks like a Will Smith comic book film. Looks like fun.

[Astrakan]

I'm with Pirate. Seems like a pretty straightforward super-hero action comedy to me. Live-action The Incredibles with a twist.

KM

[Rileydog]

Yep, I agree with you 2, pretty obvious what 3 Acts this movie will have.
My complaints:

The commercials and trailers have shown way too friggin much.

The rumors about the reshoots concern me, especially if they are true and being so close to the release.

I want this to be great, but I have a feeling it will get trashed and while it may make some decent opening money on the holiday, I think it will drop off quick.

I am gonna wait for the reviews to cement my excitement for this film.

[ganthc]

It's a Will Smith movie, so I'm sure there is some hope for an MIB type sequel concept. All movie studios want a successful movie that can spawn sequels. I'm sure there is that hope for Hancock.

[SilentBob]

Well i like the trailers and look forward to seeing it when its out. I was expecting it to have a longer running time though (93 minutes) and might of been a lot cut to get it down to a PG-13 rating (was sent back with an R rating twice)

[Rileydog]

WOW, only 93 minutes?

Thats gonna be a big deterent for me- big summer blockbuster on the 4th of July Weekend clocking in at 93 minutes? Something is way wrong on this.

[Iguana Man]

After watching a couple trailers on you tube, looks like a pretty good time will be had in those 93 minutes.

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by SilentBob

was expecting it to have a longer running time though (93 minutes) and might of been a lot cut to get it down to a PG-13 rating (was sent back with an R rating twice)

Bah. I guess I can start looking forward to a director's cut alraedy.

KM

[firestorm]

I'd like to see this. And I might even like that it's 93 minutes. It seems like all movies, except epics and such, were 1.5 hours up until 10-15 years ago. With a lot movies, when I watch them the 2nd time, or the 3rd time, etc... on DVD, I could pick out a lot of garbage I personally could do without. That's just something that has crossed my mind more than once. I guess I would rather have it cut short and leave me wanting more than fluffed out to get a 10 minute CGI enhanced fight scene in. e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean DMC. Enough with the damn water wheel!

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

Bah. I guess I can start looking forward to a director's cut alraedy.

KM

By this do you mean you wont see it in a theater? And/Or you wait for the DVD but wait further if you suspect a directors cut?

[sub780lime]

i am really looking forward to this and have not been at all confused by its marketing. Not sure what there is to be confused about. Essentially they have told you the whole story in the marketing as it has progressed from early-his a drunk, middle-coming into his destiny, and finally-full blown hero. If anything, they might have given you a reason not to see it, but not a reason to be confused.

[Monterey Jack]

I really miss the days of the 105-minute movie. I'm sure The Dark Knight will be a fine movie, but do we really need 150 minutes of it? Save that shit for the extended DVD cut, please.

[SilentBob]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I really miss the days of the 105-minute movie. I'm sure The Dark Knight will be a fine movie, but do we really need 150 minutes of it? Save that shit for the extended DVD cut, please.

Take that back and YES! YES IT DOES!!!!

[Rileydog]

First reviews are in at RT, and as I thought they are negative. Even the quote from one of the positive ones sounds negative. "Should you spend the money? Sure, if you have it." I read that as if you can afford to waste some money go for it. If you have to be selective as to which films to blow your wad on, wait.

While I loved the movie cause I understood it when I was going in, it usually is never a good thing when it is compared to Last Action Hero. At least to the fickle public who remember that movie as the most expensive flop up till that point in time.

So, maybe I will give it a chance as I found LAH clever and funny and still full of action.

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

By this do you mean you wont see it in a theater? And/Or you wait for the DVD but wait further if you suspect a directors cut?

Nah, I'll probably see it in the theatre.

I was just voicing my displeasure at them cutting a movie for the sole purpose of getting a lower rating, and in the same breath voicing my approval that these days we often get to see the original cuts anyway because of DVD.

KM

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by Rileydog

it usually is never a good thing when it is compared to Last Action Hero.

Death sentence right there.

[ganthc]

I love LAH. I'll probably like it more than Hancock.

[Brikar99]

Originally Posted by ganthc

I love LAH.

It has it's flaws, sure, but I've never understood some of the intense hatred of it that I've seen. The kid is annoying, and the third act in the real world doesn't have the same energy as the first two-thirds of the movie but overall I thought it was a great satire of the Hollywood action pictures Schwarzenegger himself is known for.

[SilentBob]

Well heads up to Canadian board users. For some weird reason as of the eve of July 1st (Canada Day) our theaters get to start playing the movie. So no matinee shows but evening shows of Hancock on July 1st

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by Brikar99

It has it's flaws, sure, but I've never understood some of the intense hatred of it that I've seen. The kid is annoying, and the third act in the real world doesn't have the same energy as the first two-thirds of the movie but overall I thought it was a great satire of the Hollywood action pictures Schwarzenegger himself is known for.

annoying kids tend to ruin movies for me...whether in the theater or on screen.

[Brikar99]

Originally Posted by sub780lime

annoying kids tend to ruin movies for me...whether in the theater or on screen.

I'll take them on the screen over in the theatre, though. That and the elderly.

[Pirate]

I’m not sure what to do with this film. The best I can say for it is that it’s an entertaining underachiever. They really don’t do much with what is actually an interesting concept. And then they overcomplicate it with semi-interesting side plots. The film was obviously shaved down and as such its story can’t really breathe, so it all felt very rushed and stitched together. And it is painfully predicable.

Perhaps in better hands (Michael Mann was a producer), Hancock could have been a great film, but Peter Berg just doesn’t cut it for me. I’ve never cared for his direction, and he strikes me as a one trick pony visually. He goes from aggravatingly bad handheld shots to almost punishing close-ups that really don’t serve the story. And his wide shots seem haphazardly thrown together, as if he didn’t know he was shooting that angle that day.

Honestly, if it weren’t for Will Smith’s ability to carry a bad film, I’d probably warn against seeing it. However, there is enough here to make for an entertaining matinee, or a rental down the line.

I guess.

[iluvalex]

I’m not sure what to do with this film. The best I can say for it is that it’s an entertaining underachiever. They really don’t do much with what is actually an interesting concept. And then they overcomplicate it with semi-interesting side plots. The film was obviously shaved down and as such its story can’t really breathe, so it all felt very rushed and stitched together. And it is painfully predicable.

Perhaps in better hands (Michael Mann was a producer), Hancock could have been a great film, but Peter Berg just doesn’t cut it for me. I’ve never cared for his direction, and he strikes me as a one trick pony visually. He goes from aggravatingly bad handheld shots to almost punishing close-ups that really don’t serve the story. And his wide shots seem haphazardly thrown together, as if he didn’t know he was shooting that angle that day.

Honestly, if it weren’t for Will Smith’s ability to carry a bad film, I’d probably warn against seeing it. However, there is enough here to make for an entertaining matinee, or a rental down the line.

gudenouforme...

I'll rent it.

[cherno]

Just got back from seeing it and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Much better than the new Hulk imo, which I liked.

It seemed to make sense for what you would expect. Are all superheroes pristine, do they never get in trouble for breaking all the shit when they try to help. This seemed very human and I liked it. I thought it progressed naturally and fluidly and didn't really feel distracted by any "sub-plots"

[Brikar99]

It was fun. Nothing mind-blowing, but good solid entertainment.

[Niki]

My husband and I saw it last night and really liked it. We'll definitely be getting the DVD.

[Astrakan]

Don't listen to Pirate.

#1 Peter Berg is a fine director. Witness The Kingdom.