Gods, angels... Different cultures call us by different names. Now all of a sudden it's superhero. (Hancock (DVD))

Member Name: stephbond89

Product:	Hancock (DVD)
Date:	12/09/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great film, good Storyline. Interesting and gripping as well as funny.

Disadvantages: The climax is a little too near the end.

FILM ONLY REVEW

Details:
Directed By: Peter Berg
Release Date: 2nd July 2008
Certification: 12 (UK)
Runtime: 92 minutes
Starring:
Will Smith
Charlize Theron
Jason Bateman

PLOT:
Hancock is a Superhero, and the only one of his kind. As far as he is concerned, he was a normal guy 80 years ago, when he was hit on the back of the head gaining a severe head injury and cracked skull. But when admitted to hospital, his skull healed in record time, and when the nurse tried to put a needle in his arm, it snapped against his skin. He had become the SuperHero he is today. But since then, he has gone downhill, never ageing or becoming injured, and having no friends or family, he has slipped into alcoholsim, and although he helps fight crime in New York City, destruction lies in his wake. People don't like him.

So when he saves Ray Embreys life, a PR consultant, he befriends him, and vows to help him sort out his life. By putting him in prison!

Soon New York are setting him free and missing his crime fighting antics, and Hancock has finally bucked up his ideas, acting like a real superhero for once. But there is still one person who seems to hate him, Mary Embery, Rays wife. She has disliked him from the start, and with good reason at first, but even when he has staightened out she still has an aversion to him.

And soon Hancock realises why, he and Mary go back a long way, he just doesn't remember ever meeting her before, and the deep secret soon comes spilling out and putting both of their lives at risk, even the indestructable Hancock.

Opinion:
I heard about this film in my film studies class and watched the theatrical trailer for it there. I'm not a big fan of Will Smith, well his work anyway, his films aren't really my kind of film, tending to be more manly sci fi type films, and any time he has tried to do romantic comedies (Hitch) I have just found them mediocre. But I thought this film looked very good on the trailer, and looked like my kind of film.
So when I saw it on SkyMovies this morning I decided to watch it.
I thought at first the film might be a little childish, and more a kids film that an adults film, but when I started watching it I realised I was wrong, the film is definitely not children orientated. Although the film is about a "superhero", the film doesn't rotate around this as it's main pivotal point, and the film is much more about the change which occcurs in Hancock, and the relationship he develops with the Embrey family.
Which means it's not as sci-fi as it could be, but for me this is a positive aspect of the film, I'm not a big Sci-Fi fan, so if the film had been "too" sci-fi, and more about the powers which Hancock had, then I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much as I did.

The "powers" which Hancock has aren't really explored, and we just see that he has stength for throwing things around, and lifting heavy objects and he is indestructable, I like the fact that the film doesn't really keep picking up "oh look he has this particular power". Although for me this is a good thing, I can see it been considered a bad thing by others.

Will Smith is great in the film, he plays the part of Hancock brilliantly, and he is very believeable and a very likeable character, and you see the development in the character progress as we go through the film.

The twist near the end is great and unexpected, but I think it comes a little too late. The film was just getting into the crux of things, and then it ended. But when researching the film a little before writing this review, I found out that a Hancock 2 is in development, which could be why the film was done in this way. The last quarter of the film is where everything tends to happen, although the first 3 quarters are great, the climax could have come a little earlier.

Other than this, Hancock is an excellent film, but don't make the mistake of thinking it's a childrens film. There is bad language and violence whuch isn't suitable for young children. But it is a fabulous film, which is well worth a watch. I will definitely be watching it again!

Summary: A fabulous film well worth watching!