Super

Follow @empiremagazine

Forum Home

Register for Free!

Log In

Moderator Tickets

FAQ

Users Online

Super

Logged in as: Guest

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Film Forums] >> Favourite Films >> Super

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Super - 14/8/2012 1:33:31 PM

pseudocreme

Posts: 15
Joined: 14/8/2012
From: Liverpool

Shut up, crime!

I know this movie got some pretty tepid reviews when it came out, but I always thought it was a sort of misunderstood classic. It had that tonal shift motif that I'm predicting to be an upcoming cinema trend, where one minute it's all fluffy and light, the next absurdly violent. 2011's Drive did the same thing and to be honest, I thought that was sheer class as well.

So I get why people panned Super. It's an uncomfortable experience - you're lulled into a false sense of security with the first act, and then the movie proceeds to completely pull the rug from underneath you. As a result, you don't know who to root for for a minute. But to me, the greatest kind of hero is an antihero, and you can't deny that Rainn Wilson's character is an antihero, admittedly to the concept's uppermost extremes.

Anyway, I thought Super was a hidden gem of a movie, that never really got a chance to shine as a serious movie, because serious critics generally despise anything related to superheroes.

I'll shut up now.

_____________________________

The Mission is never over...

Post #: 1

RE: Super - 14/8/2012 1:42:58 PM

Whistler

Posts: 2346
Joined: 22/11/2006

It had its moments, and I wanted to like it, but in the end I just couldn't help but feel it was a worse version of Kick Ass. And I just can't stand Rainn Wilson's face. It's irrational and ridiculous, but I can't help it.

_____________________________

"And my straw reaches acrooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake. I...drink...your...milkshake!"

My Film Reviews
Now You See Me, Man Of Steel & more

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 2

RE: Super - 14/8/2012 5:35:22 PM

pseudocreme

Posts: 15
Joined: 14/8/2012
From: Liverpool

I see your point. But to me, Kick Ass asks and answers; 'What would happen if there were a superhero in our reality' - 'He'd be limited by his humanity'. Whereas Super asks and asnwers: 'What would happen if there were a superhero in our reality' - 'He'd be fucking bat-shit crazy'. I can see the similarities in the two, but I think the overall message was different.

_____________________________

The Mission is never over...

(in reply to Whistler)

Post #: 3

RE: Super - 14/8/2012 11:12:59 PM

kumar

Posts: 5092
Joined: 2/10/2005

I enjoyed Super a lot more than Kick Ass. Maybe im biased towards Rain Wilson but I generally thought it was hilarious and as you say, the serious switch in tone catches you by surprise but at that point I was hooked. The end scene with the villain of the piece is.... I couldnt really sum it up. I was surprised really, but cottoned on to the insanity of it all by then. Kick Ass was just "meh" all the way through. Mclovin was not that funny and the secret weapon at the end was shit.

Havent seen defendor yer, it looks like a similar piece to those 2. Super is great though.

_____________________________

"Darth Silas - I love Craig as Bond too. Genius. "- Jackmansgirl 15/7/2008

Last films watched:

The Road - 4/5
Chronicle - 4/5
Twilight Breaking Dawn p1 - 1/5
Warrior - 5/5
Super 8 - 5/5
Paranormal Activity 3 - 3/5
MI 4 - 2/5

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 4

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 1:11:34 AM

vad3r

Posts: 4285
Joined: 3/9/2010
From: Close to Mod HQ

Super >>>>>>>>>>> Kick-Ass.

Please watch The Office with Rainn Wilson.

Shut up, crime!

_____________________________

Single Virgin

Mod Candidate 2013

quote:

ORIGINAL: horribleives
To paraphrase the great man himself:

Vad3r won't go anywhere near this.

(in reply to kumar)

Post #: 5

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 8:39:16 AM

pseudocreme

Posts: 15
Joined: 14/8/2012
From: Liverpool

I do watch The Office actually, I'm a fan of both the UK and US versions. I actually quite like Rainn Wilson, I think he's got quite a unique delivery and he's good in everything i've seen him in. Glad I'm not the only one who thought Super was bad ass. I'll be following James Gunn's career with interest from now on I think.

_____________________________

The Mission is never over...

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 6

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 9:20:55 AM

Timbzy

Posts: 183
Joined: 30/6/2012

I liked Super a lot. Heaps better than Kick Ass.

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 7

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 11:38:33 AM

pseudocreme

Posts: 15
Joined: 14/8/2012
From: Liverpool

Defendor is great. Nowhere near as violent, and has a hugely different tone. But I really did enjoy it. It reminded me more of Special Rx, which is also a great, unique 'real world' superhero movie, that I'd whole-heartedly reccommend.

_____________________________

The Mission is never over...

(in reply to vad3r)

Post #: 8

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 12:34:26 PM

jcthefirst

Posts: 4113
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Bangor

I...liked Super. For most of the film it was just alright, but during the last act I found myself incredibly emotionally engaged especially during the fight between Super and Kevin Bacon's charatcer. With Frank screaming in his face; very powerful scene and it caught me completely off guard, as did the very sweet final moments.

_____________________________

@Jonny_C85

My Movie Blog | My Other Various Rantings Blog

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 9

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 12:44:51 PM

pseudocreme

Posts: 15
Joined: 14/8/2012
From: Liverpool

That's what did it for me too dude. From the moment Boltie get's done in and The Crimson Bolt assaults Kevin Bacon's house, my heart pounded harder than it has in years at a movie. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the horrific death of Michael Rooker's character, maybe it was the obscene violence in general. That last act had me by the stones though.

_____________________________

The Mission is never over...

(in reply to jcthefirst)

Post #: 10

RE: Super - 15/8/2012 2:43:31 PM

ElephantBoy

Posts: 7401
Joined: 13/4/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: pseudocreme

I do watch The Office actually, I'm a fan of both the UK and US versions. I actually quite like Rainn Wilson, I think he's got quite a unique delivery and he's good in everything i've seen him in. Glad I'm not the only one who thought Super was bad ass. I'll be following James Gunn's career with interest from now on I think.

You should watch his first film Slither its even better.

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 11

RE: Super - 16/8/2012 1:22:04 PM

great_badir

Posts: 4206
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle

I've yet to see Kick Ass (I have it to watch, just haven't got round to it), but I thought Super was okay and had its moments. What prevents it from being a great, or even consistently good, film is the indecisive tone - it can't make up its mind whether it wants to be a stupid knock-about (verging on spoof) comedy, or a semi-serious look at what could happen in a real world situation.

It tries both, but basically fails.

In my opinion.

_____________________________

FAVE FILMS
BO BOMBS

(in reply to ElephantBoy)

Post #: 12

RE: Super - 16/8/2012 1:39:22 PM

Super Hans

Posts: 2307
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Watford

It's a little while since I watched it, but I really enjoyed Super. Sort of a more adult, realistic (in context, like...) version of Kick Ass I thought. I can understand why the big shift in tone might be a bit jarring for some, but I thought it added to the film, gave it a lot more substance.

_____________________________

"Its staring at you in the face Mark, there's only one more sex to try..."

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 13

RE: Super - 17/8/2012 2:20:02 PM

pseudocreme

Posts: 15
Joined: 14/8/2012
From: Liverpool

Oh I saw Slither, and I loved it sir. But good shout!

_____________________________

The Mission is never over...

(in reply to ElephantBoy)

Post #: 14

RE: Super - 17/1/2013 4:51:26 PM

robertg.02

Posts: 6
Joined: 17/1/2013

I remember buying this the day it came out, and despite seeing that brand new and on blu ray it was still only �8, I bought it and loved it so much and was so surprised by it, that as soon as it finished I started it again. And after coming across this thread I will probably go home tonight and dig out and watch it again. A very good yet misunderstood film.

_____________________________

We're going to need a bigger boat.

(in reply to pseudocreme)

Post #: 15