This week I happened to watch 2 movies that feature young women kicking some serious ass. Both are trained to kill from a young age. The 2 movies are incredibly different and are both films I found quite enjoyable and a little different from the standard mold. They are Kick-Ass and Hanna.
First up, Kick-Ass mostly because it was released first. The character of Hit Girl is undeniably the most awesome part of the movie. She has been analyzed to death on the internet over the past year for everything from her violence (and enjoyment of said violence) to her crude language to the implications of being raised to kill and exact someone else's revenge. However, in a superhero movie, it is great to see a girl kick ass.
The movie asks the question of why no regular person has tried to be a superhero. It goes from there and ranges from hilariously comic moments to the darker side of humanity, and of trying to be something that only exists in comics. It is actually a rather interesting take on the question and quite funny in some parts. It is also very violent. What I liked best was that a superhero movie finally featured a strong, ass-kicking young women. The downside, this movie is ultimately about a young man who is rewarded by getting the hot girl. Hit Girl is a secondary character. She just happens to be considerably more interesting than the main character.
Now to 2011's upgrade on the teenage girl kicking ass: Hanna.
I first saw a trailer for this movie at the end of last year and have been eagerly anticipating it since then. It stars Saorise Ronan as Hanna, a young woman who was raised in isolation by her father, trained to kill. The difference is that Hanna fights and kills for survival. People are out to kill her. She is on her own to protect herself. And this film delivers on all of my expectations. Hanna kicks serious ass. She defends herself. And while her father is also looking for some revenge, Hanna's violence is pretty much all in the context of her survival. She is not accustomed to being in the world and around people. She displays a very human level of curiosity and very little judgement. She is unprepared for life out in the world, but very prepared to live through any and all attempts by the CIA at her capture. This contrast provides an interesting story throughout the film.
This film is genius. It is unlike any other mainstream movie that I can think of. Hanna is the main character. This is a story about her. And this girl is not some lame-ass female lead like we often find in terrible romantic comedies. She is not looking for love. The one scene where a guy does try to kiss her shows in a highly entertaining way that Hanna is not after love. She is out to survive. And Cate Blanchett, one of the best actresses out there, shines in her role as the CIA agent after Hanna and her father. She is pure brilliance as usual.
This film is exceptionally well acted, has an incredibly well written script, and has a very interesting directing style. I have not seen any of director Joe Wright's other films, but I found Hanna to be strikingly different visually than a lot of other films. Maybe it was because the film was not shot to view Hanna as a sex object. Maybe it was the beautifully used scenery. Maybe it was the action and violence without being gratuitous. I am not sure what it was, but it all came together and worked to make what is one of the best films that I have seen in recent years. I suggest that any of you out there go see this film as soon as possible.
So, these 2 films I have mentioned are quite different and I feel quite differently about them. Kick-Ass was fun and was a baby step in the right direction for action/superhero films, but will probably never become a favourite film of mine. It was good, but not spectacular. I only bought the DVD because it was on 4 for $20. I like it, not love it. Hanna I do love. I will definitely own the DVD regardless of price. It will have a lasting impression, and currently has an excellent chance of being one of my top films of 2011. So far this year it is right up there with the best I have seen. I hope it signals a trend that Hollywood is ready to tell interesting stories about complex and fascinating female characters. I hope to see more films like this one again. And I hope Hanna gets the recognition that I feel it deserves from people other than myself, from people with greater influence.
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