Mark Kermode reviews Hancock - BBC Radio 5 Live

[RaikenXion]

I like the Ideas and take with Hancock, but once him and the beautiful Charlize Theron get together and all thats revealed I just think the film was downhill after that, I think it just didnt need it. So I agree with Mark on that also.

[Tomanistanumerouno]

"We just agreed about something. You must be wrong."

[smalllions]

The mid-point twist was awful, the first half was really great, but it goes frrom being a potentially great film to a bad one in the space of one scene.

[Deavi783]

Well, Mark that's what is generally going on in comic books. People hitting each other. Big fight scenes. And superhero movies can't avoid that.

[gaetanekuzma]

enjoy enjoying that entire edition of this kind of video in a+v+a+t+z.net remove +

[orkavorn]

Where are they, Wimbledon?!

[TheHappydead]

marks right Hancock was a good idea just fucked up by the hollywood machine as per usual. Ironman was good but the ironman fights werent done well enough they need to stylise the violence more make it more like the comic books similar to sin city or 300 or casshern, trying to legitimise comic book movies with realism is dumb it worked with nolans batman movies because nolan is a great director but jon favreux doesnt do the action justice

[felixdraait]

completely agree

[DontTouchMyVicodin]

I wanna see a Tarantino-like superhero movie - all great dialogue and emotional tension between the characters, with sudden violence that ends as fast as it has begun.

[mackychloe]

@DontTouchMyVicodin i'd watch that!!!!!

[adamwakeling]

1:58-2:08...exactly my thoughts too.

[wonderfulwomp]

Simon and Mark look like they're on a date :L

[pb806]

At 1:10 whats with the eagle? Its clearly not in the film

[thesnowdens]

Kermode is Briliant, he's never ...ever ...said anything about a film I haven't agreed with. I just hope the BBC give him "Film 2011".

[TheDensley7]

He was wrong about Breaking The Waves.

[dilmao]

I appreciate Kermode's argument against super hero-movies in general, but I think there is an emotional investment in the beat em up-sequence of Hancock. I liked it more than Fantastic Four, Spider Man 3, Wolverine and even Iron Man. The former three were pure rubbish of course, and lthough Hancock turns out to be a popcorn flick, I liked it!

[skinwalkerxxx]

I agree that super-hero movies needs to be more than just the basic stories.

[BRm2008]

@skinwalkerxxx no. it dont

[skinwalkerxxx]

@BRm2008 compare Batman Begins/Dark Knight to the other super-hero movies.

[BRm2008]

@skinwalkerxxx not everyone wants overly involved movies. i like fantastic four, i bet u think that sucks. i liked it..

[skinwalkerxxx]

@BRm2008 I want great movies. Not just be satisfied just because they're punching each other. I'm a comic fan AND a movie fan. Not just a comic fan.

[BRm2008]

@skinwalkerxxx i thought hancock was mediocre .yes. i like superman movies above most comic book movies.. excl superman returns and The crow.. was good.. sin city.. watchmen..

[madammao]

I really wanted to see this as it sounded a bit differerent ,but nope same old story

[Flipflopab]

I found this film bo-ring. I can't believe I'm saying this, I love Will Smith

[mr1mills]

Ok, I loved this film. I can see where this review is going with the specal efeects and twists, but I was very entertained throughout and liked all the performances and the direction.

[DodgerRiley]

with Hancock, the superheroes fighting each other was just a tool. The real story was Hancock finding his identity and affirming his heroism, especially with Theron's character. When you take that into account, it's a really good movie.

[mmatycoonDOTcom]

I completely agree - I think this review is way off. What's the point of the film at all if there is no redemption or explantion as to why he was a bum in the first place? That's the point of the second half, INCLUDING the fight between the two superheros, because that's how they illustrate the exasperation and humanity of the two people.

[iamtheblackcrowking]

they dont say anything about the strange creatures in the editing of the wirlwinds in hancock!

[DrCruel]

Kermode is never "spot on" in a review. In fact, he has a genius for being diametrically opposite to whatever "spot on" happens to be at the moment.

Kermode seems to have a genius for being wrong about practically everything. One would think even a complete fool would be right occasionally, if only from random chance. Yet he somehow manages to never be right. Never ever ever.

Never ever ever ever.

Like an idiot savant, sans the savant bit. He reminds me a little of Deuce Bigalow.

[supertuber97]

So how do you explain his highly respected critical reputation. The man breathes films and has probably forgotten more than you know. You may not agree with his views, but saying he's wrong and a fool just makes you sound like a twat.

[DrCruel]

Well he shouldn't have forgotten the good bits, because what's left is pap. As for his reputation, all the people thus far who have stepped up to defend him have been wankers. I'm not impressed.

Given what I've seen of his commentary, he's a bone-headed idiot. If you can't see why, that's your myopic misfortune.

[supertuber97]

bone headed idiot? ... you're a waste of time

[DrCruel]

Or I'm entirely correct, and you're just being a troll. Depends on one's perspective.

If you really believe your time is being "wasted", feel free to bugger off at your leisure. I'm certainly not holding you here.

[dickphair]

he is spot on with his review

[Neonman78]

Where are they? What's going on in the background?

[DanielMumby]

My guess is Wimbledon

[lightsanime]

It was a total bore, because here's the truth, I haven't seen any trailers for this movie, so I went in not knowing what I was gonna watch But t that movie was just so damn predictable, I knew exactly what was gonna happen before it happened, I knew that lady was a superhero, if you could not have seen where the whole thing was going as you watched it then you're not very smart, sorry.

[gothicgeezer333]

yeah, hancock was a great dissapointment really

[troyh2012]

you have that right.

[Vash1202]

Since he mentioned the Hulk I'd just like to say that the Hulk actions scenes were probably the best you're gonna get of giant monsters beating each other genre. They also incorporated elements of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu into it which really made my day lol

[aikighost]

Really? The hulk doing a triangle Choke? Sounds like fun :D

[Vash1202]

LOL yeah he took the mount and pounded the bigger/stronger Abomination. He wasn't winning the fistfight so he eventually took the back and choked out the Abomination. Seriously!!!

The Incredible Hulk had the most dramatic, most technical gigantic monstrous beings fighting each other and there was no cop out BS where the main character won by chance. He won cause he was the better fighter.

[Riccardo181985]

For everyone who is a Kermode fan and hasn't seen the vid on my page please click on my name and watch and enjoy!

This is from when he came to my uni and gave a "Kermodian" talk at its finest to a room of salivating film students, eager for no holds barred Kermode opinions on the good, the bad and the ugly of all things filmmaking.

Please commment and rate!

Enjoy!

[dorknight25]

I do respect his right to have very passionate opinions, but he`s wasting his time being so passionate about superhero movies. "Lets just have two superheroes punching each other" like thats a bad thing. Granted theres a world of cinema devoted to character development done very well, but i`ll say this to Mr Kermode, "If you watch a superhero movie, dont expect them to settle their differences over a nice cuppa." That said, Watchmen should break the norm. x

[parkviewmo]

Yes, dorknight25, you don't expect them to settle their differences over a "nice cuppa" but . . . if 1) you absolutely don't care what happens to the characters and 2) the action doesn't make a difference in the story, then who cares anyway? It's just boring.

[TulseLuper]

You still have to tell a good story. I was just watching The Terminator and what struck me was how much I cared about the characters. Therefore the action sequences actually meant something. I don't expect Shakespeare or Chekhov from action movies but I do expect an attempt at good storytelling. Explosions and car chases aren't enough.

[Alfrunk]

You're easily impressed. He's a very unintelligent, simplistic reviewer. Then again, film "students"...lol

[auroraginga]

Snob.

[Neonman78]

Wow, a video that I can watch.

I've got Hancock on DVD, haven't seen it yet. Sounds alright.

[wolvoleke]

He's right

[EchetusXe]

Good review, basic failure of the film at the half way point, very dissappointing. Half a good movie there.

[markharper87]

completley agree with Mark, this film started quite well but just took a complete U turn and ruined what occured previously. I too am hoping Dark Knight will be awesome, it just has to be surely?? there has to be at least one good blockbuster this summer??

[ellbo2]

@markharper87 I agree with him as well, good start, U turn in the plot. Blah Blah Blah

[SandBarAndYou]

@markharper87 "Good blockbuster" is redundant.

[gilesmic]

SPOT ON review there, my thoughts exactly.

It's just such a terrible shame because it had GREAT potential, it could of been soooo good, but then they had to go and RUIN it with their STUPID "twist".  UGH.

Just a shame.

[PurushaDesa]

"The last half hour, which I think is there to sell the movie to the popcorn crowd, does get a little bit grating".

It was your one beef with Begins Mark and you're wrong. Usually 140m is too long, but not here. It seamlessly moves into a political zombie movie and the villain's defeat is deliberately set on the monorail. It's completely rooted in character as the main artery of Wayne Family goodness still triumphs over evil.

Perhaps Hancock, etc. copping out, have made you appreciate it more.

[PurushaDesa]

The 500 words limit prevented me from saying that that was the only flaw in an otherwise wonderful and glowing review of the film.

If your film critic urge to find a flaw kicked in you should have done what the rest of us did and take it out on Katie Holmes who was perfectly competent in an underwritten role but clearly outclassed.

Maggie Gyllenhaal will be fantastic though as her successor.

[dogspawn]

I do not trust Woll Smoth, his eyes are too small.

[dorknight25]

You embody what I love and loathe about Youtube commentators. x