Tag John Romita

The movie Kick-Ass was quite possibly the greatest comic book, turned movie that I have ever seen. It sets the bar for the new age superhero films. This movie was a refreshing break away from the conventional superhero story. It gives the audience everything that they want in a movie ; action, comedy, suspense, sadness, and so on. Kick-Ass manages to awaken all types of emotion throughout the film. This movie will have people cheering, wincing, laughing, and maybe even tearing up at times.
The story is a fantastic adaptation of the comic created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. They tell the story of Dave Lizewski, a regular kid who rises above the norm and becomes a superhero in real life. As someone who puts on a costume, and who has gone out to fight crime and help people; I have to say Dave Lizewski’s/Kick-Ass character was fantastic. His character had a lot of parallels to what it is like to be a superhero in real life.
The cast they chose gave a very strong performance; including big film actor Nicholas Cage to the new up and coming Aaron Johnson. Chloe Moretz gave a memorable performance as Hit Girl. While I did find this movie to be entertaining, it is not a film to take younger children, that is why it is rated R. The movie at times was quite violent, mostly in the scenes with Big Daddy and Hit Girl. If you are looking for an action packed film this is it. Personally, what I loved most about this movie, was the idea of becoming a real life superhero; the idea that one person would be willing to stand up to help and protect others even at the risk of their own life. The Kick-Ass character really brought this idea to light in the movie.
There was one scene that I felt was extremely powerful; however I don’t want to tell too much, but it honestly sums up and demonstrates why many real life superheroes do what we do.
This movie is fantastic. I loved it. I can’t wait to see it again.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/popcandy/post/2010/03/kick-ass-your-new-favorite-superhero-movie/1
Originally published in USA Today
As you know, I’ve been psyched about Kick-Ass since I saw the film’s thrilling Comic-Con presentation. (It prompted a standing ovation, and that rarely happens at the Con.) The film, based on the comic-book series by writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita Jr., is something of a cross between Spider-Man, Freaks and Geeks and Kill Bill: It follows an introverted high-school kid (Aaron Johnson) who decides to don a spandex costume and become a straight-up superhero. The results are hilarious, twisted and shockingly violent.
What’s to like about Kick-Ass? Aside from the hardcore fight scenes, there’s the cast: Young Chloe Moretz is riveting as the young and spry Hit Girl, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse is funny (and refreshingly not-so-McLovin-esque) as Red Mist. Best of all, this may be the flick that reconnects audiences with Nicolas Cage; the actor is engaging and disturbing as Big Daddy, a weapons-obsessed father who tops his heroic deeds with a killer Adam West impersonation.
Millar and Romita attended last night’s New York premiere, presented by our friends at UGO. Afterward, they discussed the challenges of adapting the comic for the screen and shared a few tidbits about making the movie. (Fun fact: Romita initally wanted Mark Wahlberg for Big Daddy. Millar wanted Zac Efron as Red Mist.)
“The movie is horribly autobiographical,” Millar told the crowd, referring to some of Kick-Ass’ geekier moments. “I almost cringe watching it.”
When director Matthew Vaughn and the gang screened scenes at Comic-Con, the film still didn’t have a distributor. However, Millar and Romita said he never gave up.
“Matt got turned down by every studio, and he said, ‘OK, screw you. I’m gonna finance it myself,” Romita said.
Added Millar: “We thought we had the Pulp Fiction of screenplays here, and everyone hated it.” (Eventually, Lionsgate picked it up.)
Near the end of the evening, an audience member raised his hand. He stood up. Underneath his jacket, he was wearing a costume.
“I’m a real-life superhero,” he announced.
Sure enough, the guy was living just like Kick-Ass. He said he called himself the “Dark Guardian.” For seven years he had been fighting crime, “doing charity work” and committing other acts of good.
Perhaps at other venues, the Dark Guardian might’ve received some strange looks. Here, however, Millar and Romita beckoned him onstage. He was applauded.
And that’s the message of Kick-Ass: You don’t need to be bitten by a spider or born on another planet to save the world. If you’re willing to get your a– kicked every once in awhile, you, too, can be a superhero. And hey, shouldn’t that be celebrated?
Kick-Ass opens April 16.