Hancock Review

Woot! Finally get to watch movies properly in a proper cinema during the semester break in Kampua Town. So anyways here's a movie starring Will Smith (as John Hancock), about how life can be not-so-great-as-seen-in-other-superheroes-movies.

The movie doesn't focus much on how Hancock power and how he learn to cope with it, rather it shows how shitty his life is being hated and unappreciated for the 'heroic' deeds he has done (mostly involving wrecking properties in L.A. worth millions of dollars in the process). Eh, woops spoiled some plots there, too late.

SPOILER WARNING! FLY AWAY! TELEPORT! TURN INVISIBLE!!!:
We are given a short intro that gives a first impression on what type of person Hancock is; a drunken sloppy vagrant-ish dude with anger management issues who could not care less about the people around him, but TRIES to utilize his abilities to good use (with million dollars collateral damage). Basically he's infamous and been around for quite some time. Kids love him and adults love to hate him due to his apathic and haphazard attittude.

Anyways one day he managed to save a PR dude whose car was stuck between traffic on the middle of the train tracks. Hancock flew in and saved him by flipping his car, and accidentally(?) stopped the train, which later caused the rear cabs to derail (more millions of dollars gone). The PR dude, Ray, just lost a job bid decided to become Hancock's PR and adivse him on how to change negative his public image. He managed to persuade Hancock to abide the law and went to prison for all the collateral damages he's done during his free-of-charge heroic duties. By doing so the people will realize how much they needed Hancock to keep their city safe.

After a while in prison Hancock was asked to help the city once more. He obliged and helped thwart an armed bank robbery (without causing much damage to properties and people), which earned him a good opinion from the public once more. Yay :D

After a night out celebrating the success Hancock discovered that Ray's wife, Mary had super powers as well. Curious, Hancock decided to have a talk about it at his place at the city's outskirt the next day. The talk turned nasty and emotional after Mary revealed she is Hancock's ex-wife and they broke up 80 years ago for their own safety's sake. Well, in short the two of them are the last two of an ancient race with superpowers (never grow old as well), but will lose the powers and become mortal if they get close to each other. After an attack that nearly killed Hancock when the two were going out pak toing in 1920s, Mary decided to go away as far as possible from Hancock so that he can regain his superpowers and live.

Anyways the emotional talk ended up with a quarrel and the two are locked in a fight in L.A. after Hancock decided to tell Ray about his wife's true identity. Ray found out anyways in the end from the uber fight everyone was WTFBBQed.

Later that night Hancock went to get some booze from a liqour shop and ended up being shot by the shop robbers. He was WTFBBQed because this time he bleeds from the gunshot, and was rushed to the hospital. Hancock was losing his power and was turning into mortal because of his proximity to Mary.

At the hospital, Mary visited Hancock, and so did some bunch of criminals (who was sent into jail because of Hancock) who have just escaped and now wanted to settle the score. Guns were ablazing, and Hancock used whatever powers he had to fight off the thugs. Sadly he and Mary got shot as well. Mary was mortally wounded and Hancock was shot I dunno how many times by the boss of the angry thugs. Before the finishing shot was administered, Ray whacked the boss out for good.

Mary's dead. Hancock's down to 1% of his HP. Hancock then thrown himself out of the hospital balcony and into the streets below, and kept doing it as a clear sign that he wanted to get away from Mary as far as possible. He succeeded, and flew off into the distance, causing Mary to regain her powers and revived back into life.

In the end Mary still lived happily with Ray, and Hancock was settling down in New York to become the next new superhero. END.

Plot:

The story is fresh (for me). Really different from all the typical Hollywood movies you see nowadays (e.g. Fantastic 4, Superman, Spider-man etc. repetitive storyline showing how they got their power and progesses by showing their villains and how they win in the end). This movie shows a slightly 'real' perspective of having super powers and responsibilities. Not everyone will like you flying around town beating bad people up while destroying cars and roads in the process. And finally, a 'human' attribute given to a hero (?), showing Hancock having drinking problem, short fused, socializing issues etc. in contrast with most movies showing the heroes having perfect lives living as smart rich scientists, handsome/pretty, perfect hygiene and anything else audience can't relate to.

Graphics:

The intro with Hancock flying around L.A. chasing some Asian hoodlums on the highway blew me away. He might don't have colorful laser-eyes or summon heavily generated CGI storms (but Mary can conjure one :P), but all the fight scenes, heroing scenes and others are ok, nothing to complain about.

Sounds/Music:

Typical American hero theme song. Catchy and patriotic. All the sound effects fit the mood and events in the movie, again nothing to complain.

Ham's Rave:
Besides the graphics and frest plot, there's nothing more to praise about. It's a very good weekend movie, and a sequel would be appreciated (perhaps a sequel of Hancock fighting for turf with the likes of Spider-man in NY?). Plus I would have to agree to Schembri who said the movie is refreshing, fun, fast and savvy. One of the few movies that makes me XD barely 5 minutes into the story.

Ham's Rant:
Yes this is a rant about the movie's rant, not the movie itself. I don't see much as to why the critics dislike the movie so much. I don't feel the movie's plot being rushed or chaotic as what they have claimed. Perhaps the idea of a hit black superhero movie blows?



Links:
Official Site