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List Price: $28.96 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 258
Released: November 25, 2008 |
| Our Price: $13.80 |
| Used Price: $13.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Academy Award® nominee Will Smith (Best Actor, The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006) stars in this action-packed comedy as Hancock, a sarcastic, hard-living and misunderstood superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public. When Hancock grudgingly agrees to an extreme makeover from idealistic publicist Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman, Juno), his life and reputation rise from the ashes and all seems right again--until he meets a woman (2003 Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron, Best Actress, Monster) with similar powers to his and the key to his secret past.
Description of Hancock (Single-Disc Rated Edition):
Hancock turns the standard superhero movie inside-out: The title character (Will Smith) can fly, has superstrength, and is invulnerable, but he's also a sloppy, alcoholic jerk who causes millions of dollars in property damage whenever he bothers to fight crime. When he saves the life of a public-relations agent named Ray (Jason Bateman, Arrested Development), Ray decides to improve Hancock's image--starting by having Hancock surrender himself to the authorities and go to prison for his lawless behavior. The idea is that once he's in prison, the crime rate will go up, and people will start to realize Hancock might be of value after all. This is only the first act of Hancock--from there, the movie takes several clever turns that shouldn't be revealed. Hancock isn't a great movie (among other things, director Peter Berg overuses close-ups with a hand-held camera to a degree that may cause motion sickness), but it is an extremely entertaining one. The script, which holds together far better than most superhero movies, has a propulsive plot, good dialogue, some compassion for its characters, and even an actual idea or two. The spectacular action at least gestures towards obeying the laws of physics, which actually makes the special effects more vivid. The three leads (Smith, Bateman, and Charlize Theron as Ray's wife, Mary) deftly balance the movie's mixture of comedy, action, and drama. All in all, a smart subversive twist on a genre that all too often takes itself all too seriously. --Bret Fetzer
Stills from Hancock (click for larger image)
Hancock (Single-Disc Rated Edition) Reviews:
A Must See for Sci-Fi, Action and Superhero Fans! 
2008-12-01 - This is not your typical superhero movie, or your typical superhero. Will Smith plays a devastated man who has become an alcoholic to cope with the pain. He he has super powers, but because of amnesia he has no idea who and what he is. He just knows that no one wanted him after he woke up in a hospital, so he figures he must have been a bad man. He offends and angers almost everyone with his behavior, almost as a fulfillment of what he thinks he must be.
He saves a man's life (Jason Batemen), who takes him on as a project, and gets much more than he bargained for.
This movie has surprising depth for a superhero movie. It's also interesting to see a less than perfect hero. I enjoyed the personal progression and emotional healing Hancock was brought through. It made the story more real and captivating. I also enjoyed the sci-fi type twists and turns the story took. The special effects were outstanding, and the story held my attention throughout.
Will Smith is a wonderful actor who can bring a character to life. There's just something about him that comes out in his acting that's so likable, despite the gritty character he played. Charlize Theron sizzled and brought real emotion to her character. Jason Bateman was very also very likable which was perfect for his role. Even the child who played his son was wonderful.
I would heartily recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, action, adventure or superhero movies. I didn't give it a five star because it left me just a little bit unsatisfied at the end. I don't want to say more because I don't want to give away the plot, but regardless - It's definitely worth watching.
Will Smith Can Not Be Stopped 
2008-12-01 - I read some reviews when Hancock came out in theatres. Most of them gave it mixed ratings but there were some 3 star ratings like I saw here on Amazon.com. I can't tell you enough how much I disagree. There have been so many to take a comedic shot at superhero films but they are usually either Ok or just plain bad but not this one. Anywho, Hancock is definitely a great film, so great that I could not wait to stamp a 5 star rating on it and tell ya why but first I'll tell you what it's about.
Will Smith stars as John Hancock, a loaner, alcoholic,and depressed superhero. Of course those are definitely not characteristics you want to see in the man that has superman like powers like Hancock. The story goes that Hancock woke up one morning in a hospital, he didn't know his name, birth date, or if he had any family or friends. By now you can imagine how he got that name of his, a nurse asked him for it and he thought it was his name. He only knew what the doctors told him, that he was hit on the head trying to stop a mugging. Through the years he hasn't really tried to become a perfect hero or even a good one at that but he does the minimum.
Hancock wants to be loved but acts as if he doesn't care and this is when Ray (Jason Bateman)comes in. After being saved by Hancock Ray thinks of a way to recreate Hancock to give him what he wants, to be loved by the people. The both of them set out on a mission to do this but this movie is no doubt deeper than the surface. Things get more dangerous and the plot twists just enough to become one of the best dramatic comedies about a superhero I have ever seen.
First of all I think that Will Smith is one of the few actors that could take a film like this and make it so good. Good job by the writers as well for giving it a good comedic feel but keeping it a little realistic and never going over the edge. Smith did a great job, he made you think that Hancock could actually be real and he was hilarious doing it but still did great with the dramatic scenes. The rest of the cast was also good, I really liked Jason Bateman in "The Kingdom" and he did well here but Charlize Theron definitely shined the most out of the supporting cast. She and Will Smith had some great scenes together and made it believable.
The action scenes were very cool, great special effects and seeing Hancock flying like a new baby bird with arms and legs flinging all over was hilarious. One thing I thought that could have been improved were the fight scenes. There were definitely a few but it was just a lot of flying around and crashing into buildings. Had they added a bit of choreography it would have been on point for sure. Because the films acting was executed so well I can't really take a star for this cause it wasn't significant but was still noticeable.
The story was great and I have to admit that I had the film thought out all wrong. I loved the way they make it look like this sort of cool comedy but it starts to run a little bit deeper towards the end. It is not a huge jaw dropper but the twist is still cool, at least to me it was. Overall, I loved the movie, I think Will Smith is no doubt one of the greatest actors to do it. The films concept was definitely awesome and thought out and executed well. The story was written well also and the cast was picked nicely, not too much action, not too much comedy, and not too much drama. It was just right and it definitely showed. I wouldn't recommend this as a family film unless your all over 15 but it is definitely a must see. The empty Blockbuster stores definitely showed this.
Kids only movie 
2008-12-01 - Possibly 5-7 year old kids will like this movie, but as an adult, I found this movie a big zero.
Wow!
2008-11-30 - i didn't know what to make of this when i first heard about it but i was pleasantly surprised! Ive always been a Will Smith fan, EXCEPT when he tried to recreate The Wild Wild West.
terrible movie!
2008-11-29 - i cant believe all the idiots on amazon giving this movie 4 or 5 stars but after seeing some reviews like gj botha spelling definitely wrong that proves how stupid people are that give this movie 5 stars.a human with special powers and no explanation given for it,yeah right i guess the people who wrote this couldnt come up with anything.they knew if they used the another planet story they would be called copycats for stealing superman.this movie was just another excuse to show off computer graphics with no story.its really sad and pathetic that we live in a society today where so many give this piece of crap 5 stars.
