what i think about hancock the movie…
July 14th, 2008
First let me say, what a movie!!! Entertaining…YES! Did it make much sense to me…not so much!
These are the times when I really think my thought process leans more towards being a liability than an asset. As I sat in the crowded movie theater, I began to be just as intrigued in the crowd’s reaction as the actual movie itself. I couldn’t understand for the life of me why I was the only one that seemed to be bothered by some of the premises being shown.
I found myself lost in thinking, why is this working so well?  Is this an example of art imitating life? Is it totally acceptable that regardless of your innate “superness”, one still needs outside validation in order to embrace it? I find nothing super about this and that way of thinking offends me to my core!
And it really got out of hand to me when the Hancock character CHOOSE to go to prison to gain acceptance! Uhmm…couldn’t he have just gone to Cancun for a month or something?   Hell, he could’ve even gone to his jacked up trailer and did absolutely nothing for a month.   Think about it…Cancun, your crib or freaking prison…a easy choice for me!!!
Let me stop before I end up spoiling the movie for all those who haven’t seen it yet. Bottom line is my hat is off to Will for getting his dreams out. I really dug how he implemented his goal of changing the world into the story line. I know stuff like that most likely wouldn’t have happened if his name wasn’t on the producer credits.
Hmm…I wonder if the things that I found to be offensive are the very same things that enable them to get the green light for this movie? In any case, I leave you with this…BELIEVE IN!!!
Entry Filed under: Art, Think About It!
6 Comments
Add your own1. Tuesdai Noelle | July 14th, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I saw the movie “Hancock” also, on this pass Independence Day, and if we’d been in the same movie theatre, same roll, and I glanced over and look at you…you would have saw the same “expression” on my face as you’ve described, for Hancock was a TOTAL flop. It was the kind of a simi-flop on a slide order of “The Wiz”, great casting, wonderful music, but terrible script…not even Michael Jackson and Diana Ross starring as MAIN CHARACTERS could save that movie. Hancock had all of the making in and out of scenes during the movie, to redeem itself…PLENTY of time to do so. Instead, the writer and director spended (in my eyes) half of the movie protraying Hancock as a cruel junkie, rather than someone who could ever possibly become anything close to a hero. I wish I could GOOOOO DEEP about a FEW scenes, that left and HAD question marks surrounding ALL around it, from beginning to the ending, that being sooooo imcomplete, but I’d spoil it lol, like you said for others. But I reallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy want to do indepth with it lol. Bottom line the script was only slighty tight (if I can use that in that meaning) , but it wasn’t accurate enough for the direction they kept switching it back and forth from. Back to the drawing board Mr. Smith…I wonder if there’s a iRobot 2?
Side Bar: I am very much intrigued in seeing what “Dark Knight” is going to be…it looked VERY promising YET kind of like it might slightly fall in the vain of “a brush of cliche”…but only a tad, we will see
http://anothergoodthought.blogspot.com
2. leandra | July 14th, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Yeah…this movie just completely fell apart and was only successful in terms of box office figures, which I have to say are quite impressive. It seems as though the producers kind of knew they had a not-so-great film when you really examine the trailers, which did the job of generating interest and peaking curiosity, but had that kind of evasiveness you usually only find in bad film (think “The Forgotten” and Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s last film).
The movie is really top-heavy in terms of being good. They spend the first third building up the plot and then it sharply falls apart to become a cheesy, cliche family superhero movie. It’s disheartening to think that someone with as many resources as Will Smith couldn’t find a good comic book writer to advise the script. This was kind of like a Vanilla Ice version of a comic book movie, although unfortunately for that genre, it’s just now beginning to gain its credibility as a respectable artifact that should be treated accordingly.
3. Kevin Lucchino | July 14th, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I for one thought Hancock was an excellent film. Original and unpredictable the movie had me after I fully understood the symbolic eagle throughout the film.
Hancock symbolized America itself in the film, and I’m surprised many have not caught on to it.
The omnipresent eagle, the bum who has superpower and the name itself John Hancock. US is a superpower, the eagle is one of it’s most symbolic figures and John Hancock is known for his confident flamboyant signature that was first to be written on the Declaration of Independence.
So we have Hancock a superpower who feels it is his responsibility, because of his ability, to intervene in times of terror, but is perceived as arrogant, selfish and destructive, with no regard to anyone or anything. Huh….that sounds very familiar to the perception of the world on the U.S. and their foreign affairs.
Now visa versa, Hancock can be looked at as a big brother. Looking out for the lesser privileged and keeping order in LA. If done right, this could be the perception of the U.S. on a global level.
Any Rebuttals?
4. leandra | July 14th, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Kevin, excellent point. I hadn’t thought of it that way. It’s a great perspective.
In reference to what saKiya said about going to prison, especially with regard to your interpretation of the movie, him going to prison makes sense. The idea wasn’t about him just making a turn for the better, but taking responsibility for his missteps. The implicit idea is that accountability is necessary for reform. This is also applicable to the US.
While the undercurrent of the film has a great message, still the execution of it missed the mark. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but what was happening was just hmmm…completely out of pocket.
5. najeeba | July 14th, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Check out my blog!
http://www.theceelist.com
http://www.najeestyle.com
6. faShiOniStA tHinKer | July 14th, 2008 at 4:29 PM
I actually liked the movie. After reading Kevin’s and Leandra responses, I can see how the movie could have been a subliminal message for our country. And now that i know that i like the movie even more… However the message I got out of the movie was more personal. It can be my growing pains or just my emotional side. But the message i got was more inspirational. Especially the scene when he was in prison and went to get the ball.. he could have easily flew out of there. But instead he flew back in and went through with the procedure to make him a better super hero.. He was ready for the change and tired of being Hate.. His thirst to change was his true Strength. Because a change for the best is much harder than picking up a car…??? Just my thoughts though.. I really can find many more inspirational moments in the movie that helped me think… Just wanted to shar that one!!
“Fashion Fades Style is Eternal”… cOcO cHanel!!
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed