Hancock (2 Disc Edition with Bonus Digital Copy) [2008]

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Starring: ~ Will Smith, Charlize Theron Jason Bateman
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Product Details:

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Region: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Format: PAL,

Rating:

Sales Rank: 750

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Customer Reviews:

Better than Expected! (18 December 2008)
After having seen the Dark Knight I wasn't expecting this to be any good, but it's Will Smith. Proving he had the talents in films such as I am Legend, he pulled a suprisingly believanle to superhero movie. And you can't compare to Batman, Superman, Spiderman etc ... they are completly different films. This isn't so much about the action scenes but focuses on how he turns his life around. I wasn't keen on the corny ending though but in the whole it did make a good film. I'm looking forward to sequel! A must see!

I wanted to love it....but didn't (09 December 2008)
Hancock was a film I had been looking forward to for some time. The early trailers led me to presume that this would be a twist on a number of the Marvel superhero films we have had recently in that the main protaganist was actually a very unwilling superhero. Portrayed by Will Smith Hancock is a loner. Despite his awesome powers - he is strong, impervious to bullets etc, can fly etc - he is disliked by the general public. And he doesn't like them that much. Why? His attitude stinks and even when he tries to help he tends to rush in not considering the consequences of some of his actions. The beached whale being a good case in point. In attempting to save a mans life as his car sits on a railway crossing Hancock flips the car over and absorbs the impact of the train. He didn't need to and the carriages all fall off the tracks costing lots in damage that didn't need to happen. Yet he had saved the life of someone who would of otherwise died. The aftermath of this was quite enjoyable. The public rounded on Hancock and this allowed for an amusing to and fro between Smith and the angry mob. Will Smith always comes across well in this situation. The quick delivery suiting him in almost every way. The man he saves is an advertising guru and in return for saving him wants to portray Hancock in a better light to the World. This initial premise is perfectly acceptable but already the script looked slightly weak not requiring any of those involved to have to move out of second gear. I just sensed that Smith coasted along whilst making this - this isn't a criticism of him in any way but something I felt in the film from this point. I could go on about the 'story' but I feel it best that you discover this for yourself - I wouldn't put anyone off but I would have low expectations. I believe you will enjoy it more and probably rate it higher as a consequence. Hancock has its moments. The set pieces were impressive enough but for all that the story just melted away. Hancock should have been much more. In the end I felt it was all a bit of a let down. The ending was particularly poor and cheesy. There isn't anything wrong with cheese but Hancock shouldn't have gone down that route. In the end I just felt let down by the early promise in the first 10 minutes. Not for me. I must add however that the extras are in the main very good and worth the extra in my view if you are into that sort of thing. I found the behind the scenes stuff enjoyable and it certainly adds to the package even if it doesn't make up for the let down in the main event.

Hancock's Hour and a Half (03 December 2008)
The script for Hancock was based on a much darker concept that circulated Hollywood for a number of years. The production became locked into `development hell' with no studio willing to pluck up the gumption and put it into production, especially with a projected budget of $100+ million, and with the intention for it to star one of mainstream American cinema's most wholesome bankable stars; Will Smith.

At what stage Will Smith joined the production process is unclear. Nevertheless it would have been interesting to have seen that much darker concept, as some of its purported ideas would have made compelling viewing. The original script was entitled `Tonight He Comes', hinting of an unpleasant nature of the central character, and its easy to see why this version was not produced and instead re-written into the movie that is Hancock. Tonight He Comes apparently told of an individual who, equipped with super-powers comes to the realisation that he can, and very likely will, do and take whatever he wants as there is no-one to stop him. Themes of robbery, stalking, home-wrecking were recurring ideas in the original script, and posed some interesting questions; just exactly what would be the actions of someone who, stripped of all moral constraints and the risk of arrest and imprisonment, could do whatever they wanted? Paul Verhoeven's 2000 movie Hollow Man saw Kevin Bacon's character declaring.."You'll be amazed what you can do when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror anymore".

It was a very daring move by the filmmakers to invent a brand new superhero character for the big screen right in the middle of an era where the majority of adventure movies are based on comic-book characters that already have an in-built audience and a better chance of box office success. Its even more daring considering that this summer alone saw the release of The Dark Knight, and with movie versions of Watchmen and The Spirit coming next year. When for instance have we ever seen a superhero movie where the lead is a raging alcoholic with a verbally abusive attitude problem? Very daring indeed! Its all carried off very well of course, with Will Smith's charm winning you over to his character's struggle, despite Hancock seemingly not giving a hoot what anyone thinks of him. Some of the more slap-stick knockabout scenes featured in the advance trailers have been cut from the film - the film-makers perhaps worried their film may be compared to the recent spoof comedy `Superhero Movie' that was panned by critics and audiences alike. A clever move when you have $150 million at stake.

We open with Hancock `apprehending' a SUV full of bank robbers as they make their escape along a freeway. Hancock manages to capture them, but in so doing causes millions of dollars of property damage, and ends up invoking the wrath of the civic authorities and television journalists who demand that he serve a prison sentence. Enter idealistic PR executive Ray (played by Jason Bateman) who, experiencing a career crisis and grateful after Hancock saves his life, asks Hancock to allow him to perform an image makeover to change the public's perception of him. Having a PR spokesman as a representation of idealism is quite amusing but Jason Bateman (who doesn't appear to have aged in 20 years) does a good job of drawing sympathy from the audience as he tries, often in vain, to get Hancock to listen to him. Hancock does eventually go to prison trying to show that he respects the law and respects people's opinions, and therefore, is trying to set a good example. Who knows, maybe it will compel the regular citizens to do the same?

Ray's hope is that, when there is a real emergency and Hancock is really needed, they will forget their previous negative sentiment and give him a second chance. This he does in spectacular fashion as he stops a gang of criminals robbing a bank. The movie also has a very interesting middle section, showing Hancock struggling to share his feelings during counselling sessions and leaping over the prison's perimeter fence to retrieve a basketball and not, as expected, taking the opportunity to fly away to freedom.

Then comes the twist that introduces the movie's third act. And a very good twist it is! You will absolutely not see this one coming, I can tell you! Suffice to say that the marketing team at Sony omitted all reference to the direction the film eventually takes from all of the trailers, TV spots and all of the advance publicity, choosing instead to focus on some of the movie's early scenes of the mayhem caused by Hancock's attempts to help people. The unexpected turn the film takes is very rewarding and justifies the presence of Charlize Theron's character who, up until that point, seems to have been included merely for window dressing. The finale is very enjoyable too, and brings back memories of the final struggle between Bruce Willis' character at the end of Unbreakable. We finish with the possibility of a sequel, and who knows....maybe next time some of the aforementioned darker and more adult storylines may see the light of day.

Available in 2 different DVD presentations, the Single Disc edition has very few extras. The 2 Disc Edition (the review of which you have just read) is the one to purchase if you are interested in all the documentaries. There are several on the casting, the special effects, the costume design and the make-up etc. On Disc 1 there are 2 different versions of the film; the Theatrical Cut and an Extended Version with 11 extra minutes. There is also included on Disc 2 a Digital Copy of the film for you to download to your relevant iPod media device. Furthermore, if you hurry over to HMV you will find a special tin case edition of the 2 Disc release. "Good Job"!