DAVID ANSEN

The Wounded Superhero

In 'Hancock,' Will Smith attempts to deconstruct the superhero genre, to sub-super effect.

By David Ansen | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 1, 2008 | Updated: 12:25  p.m. ET Jul 1, 2008

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  • Posted By: dcs042696@msn.com @ 07/07/2008 10:03:33 AM

    Mr. Ansen is entitled to his opinion. However, I think the initial take was $60 million for the weekend, so I guess it wasn't that bad. We saw it yesterday. I'd recommend it. The movie was packed. We loved the movie. Heck, I have always enjoyed Will Smith. He said in an interview that as a child he liked a comic book character, whose name escapes now, that was sort of an anti-Superman, and used it as a basis for his portrayal. The plot twist was pretty clever, although we spotted it early. Based on the epilogue in the final credits, I see a possible sequel coming. Now, what in God's name does race have to do with this movie? Have you all lost your minds? ObamaYesWeCan: get a life, man! It's a movie! Geez!

  • Posted By: solidstate @ 07/02/2008 10:43:09 PM

    Great. Criticize a movie and you're ipso facto a "racist bigot" and a "white supremacist" (sic). I hope I'm wrong in fearing that we just witnessed the preview of another (possibly) coming attraction: an Obama presidency. I wonder how Hancock would save us from a citizenry that regards criticism of its leader as automatically race-based? More likely, we'll have to save ourselves.

  • Posted By: solidstate @ 07/02/2008 10:40:04 PM

    Great. Now simply not liking a movie makes one a "bigot" and a "white supremacist" (sic). I hope I'm wrong, but I fear we just got a sneak preview of another (possibly) coming attraction: an Obama presidency. Makes you wonder how Hancock would save us from blindly devoted citizens who equate criticism of a leader with racial hatred. But I suspect we'll have to save ourselves.

  • Posted By: Michael Sheridan - Sacramento @ 07/02/2008 12:48:46 PM

    I saw it yesterday (yes, I know it was supposed to open today--I guess the theater jumped the gun). I'm really sorry, but it was junk. I liked the actors and the special effects were fine, but there was no story. There wasn't even a villain. So much material was cut out of the movie that some of what played in the trailers didn't make it to the screen. I was really looking forward to this movie and I don't have particularly high standards for superhero flicks, but this was no blockbuster. Trust me--it wasn't even worth renting.

  • Posted By: nimodahooligan @ 07/02/2008 12:46:18 PM

    wow, a little overboard eh on the bias eh? and im not trying to be biased but commercially speaking, will smith is one of the most lucrative actors to have in a movie no matter what the movie is about or if the plot line is good or not. hes will smith. and will smith has a blockbuster movie anytime hes in one with a leading role, which is always, because he is will smith. ive had the pleasure of working some benefit concerts with him and his brother and there is a reason he is who is who he is, hes charismatic, charming, honest and loveable, and on top of it, some stars are so damn wealthy they dont have to worry about ticket sales, or story lines, he could have done it purely for fun. and to support will smith i would say hes done a multitude of different roles and succeded in most of them. from "Men In Black" to "independence day" to "Ali" to "Hitch", hes one of my favorite actors. but i also grew up watching "Fresh Price of Bel Aire".

    and how, tell me, do you get off trying to dictate how an entrire genre needs a "makeover" if your not even a fan of superhero flicks? ive had a somewhat extensive comic collection and hav seen every superhero movie to date and i feel they were all done justice by the writers and directors. plus the other directors and writers had a wealth of information and established characters within the comic books and morning cartoon shows that i grew up reading and watching. now hancock, dont know that ive ever heard of the actuall comic book "Hancock, drunken superhero" but it would seem its more difficult to build a character from scratch than it is to step into a character that has been in existance longer than the actor whos playing it (Fantastic 4, Hulk, X-Men, Superman, Iron Man, Spider Man...). those have all been around 30-40+ years, with extensive background story and history on the characters down to minute details. bottom line, its easy to make a movie with the whole story already thought out, and all you have to do is pick actors and special effects team. its much more difficult to do it all from scratch on top of puttin a twist on the genre AND within the movie. maybe it will be a hit or miss with the target audience, but im guessing, it will be at worst a minor hit. but in the end, will smith will make a butt load of money, make more movies, and be a successful man. you will remain a movie critic on newsweek.com with little no no fan base, as well as a minor fraction of will smiths monthly income as your yearly payment for writing these articles.

    hope your next movie review doesnt suck...

  • Posted By: cgreen2001 @ 07/02/2008 11:18:59 AM

    Ansen, your track record has proven that you really don't like this type of movie. I would much rather read the review of a critic that goes into this genre and to an extent, action overall without a negative perception. Plain and simple, this is a summer popcorn flick that reinstates Smith's status as not only the serious drama, bio-flick, romantic comedy star, but keeps his street cred with the younger crowd that enjoys a good action movie without needing to drastically overthink all of the plot developements. In other words, sometimes you need to sit back and enjoy a movie for what it is and not look for the movie to revolutionize an entire genre just because you think that's the direction the script or director should have taken. Also, when you write and direct an superhero/action movie that you think will be entertaining and will redefine the future of this aspect of movie making culture and can be a commerical success to boot, let me know. One question, how did you review Ang Lee's disasterous take on The Hulk a few years back? My guess, you loved it or at least thought it was one of the best superhero movies you'd ever seen.

    Corey

  • Posted By: Fort Begay @ 07/02/2008 2:31:13 AM

    I'm a Will Smith fan, but as a fan I have to remind myself that Smith like anyone of us has to feed, cloth, and support our famly, so that opens him and us to do things that we may not totally believe in, like making movies that we don't believe in. Of course, the rest of us just work for a living. Still, sucessful and popular actors on screen do not have the soul or talent to make a living on Broadway or on the Shakespearean stage. Though I have more respect for those actors, Will Smith occupies a special place in my movie-going pocket. I'll watch this and chunk it with the other so-so Will Smith films, I Am Legend, I-Robots, and Happyness.

  • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 07/01/2008 4:49:35 PM

    Ahh yes, David Ansen. Aren't you the one who wrote that the Star Wars movies, Indiana Jones movies, and Independence Day were horrible as well?

    Go watch the Horse Whisperer and English Patient over and over again and stay in your little artsy fartsy world that most people don't care about.

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