Sparks (2013)

Not a good movie. Please don't waste your time and money thinking about making a sequel. The film does not match with the comics plot and characters. In my opinion, it was a bad attempt to create an environment close to sin city but they failed on that approach. This is only my opinion but the film is too long and the short action scenes lacks of quality, the FX effects were poor and not convincing. Not even the performers seems to be committed to the script. I believe it was the first time I have ever seen the same sequence of images repeated over and over again. How many times should we see the images of the accident to understand the point?

Fmovies: I write this review neither as a professional critic nor as someone directly involved with movie making. Instead I am simply a long time fan of movies in general and of the various genres that make up the melting pot that is Sparks. Sparks in its simplest description is a combination of noir style and superhero action with a late 1930s to early 1940s backdrop. It is a wonderful film and should be included in anyone's personal catalog of DVDs.

Sparks is based on a graphic novel of the same name written by Christopher Folino. During the original run of the comic he and William Katt (yes of Greatest American Hero fame) decided to try to bring it forward as a film. There's more to it than that but this is supposed to be a review of the film and hot a historical treatise of it. However, it does bear to point out that the film was produced completely independently. It is very much a labor of love and it shows in the finished product.

Visually the film is a study in contrast. Scenes are shot in a way that is similar in feel to a combination of Sin City and a theatrical production. Because the production was completely independent and was shot quickly in one location, a lot of green screening was used. Much like it was in Sin City but it doesn't take anything away from the shots. It's the same kind of feeling you would get watching a play where you know the characters aren't actually in the location they're pretending to be in but you accept the conceit and go along for the ride anyway.

The effects overall are magnificent. Yes certain nitpicks could be made about their quality if you were to go frame by frame but given that all the visual effects were the work of TWO guys alone, it's a marvel of artistry and talent. For a superhero movie, there aren't that many big, in your face effects (no city destroying climax here) but how and when they're used is done to perfectly illustrate and forward the plot which is a lesson that many effects heavy blockbusters could learn.

The musical score is perfectly interwoven to the film and blends in with the entire package to nicely frame things and add to the flow without being blaring or overpowering the dialog. It is dramatic without being corny. No noticeable dead girlfriend violin.

The acting was spot on with Chase Williamson (John Dies At The End) going from adorably sweet one moment (the meeting Lady Heavenly scene is perfect illustration) to angry and world weary the next with ease as Ian Sparks. Ashley Bell (Last Exorcism) is wonderful as Lady Heavenly in every aspect of the character. To say more about her portrayal would be to spoil a bit of plot. Clancy Brown, Jake Busey, and Clint Howard all turn in stellar performances but William Katt deserves special note for his chilling portrayal of Matanza. He delivers his lines and presence with a gravitas that is calm and sinister without being campy.

The plot and writing is where the movie shines the most. Like most noir works (at least that I've seen) the film makes heavy use of flashbacks. Sometimes repeating the same moment but from different points of view or with people admitting things they hadn't before. Sparks will not spoon feed you everything up front but by the end of the movie you will get what was going on. Fair warning though that it will not happen until quite literally the last minute but the film does tie up all the loose ends in a very satisfying way. More than once you will find yourself going "Ohhhhhh so that's what that w

Graphic novels are perfect source material for film making; they feel like storyboards, after all. While reading the Graphic novel this movie was based on I knew it had to become a film. The noir sensibility was spot on; dark, red and shocking dread. I needed to see it on "film". There is always some trepidation when someone translates from a comic book (or any book) to the screen. So, with my expectations deliberately held in check, I went to the screening... Boom! Man, I was so happy with what the director(s) did. No spoilers here, but if you read the novel (which I highly recommend) you won't be disappointed. Ashley Bell is beautiful and perfect for her role. Bil Katt is spot on and tough. Chase Williamson is the only person who could have balanced the title character's role. What can you say about Clancy Brown? Any movie he's in automatically jumps up several notches in my book. Note to the film's makers: Thanks for not screwing up the book! Job well done.

Sparks fmovies. From reading other reviews on this film, I feel a lot of people have misunderstood the film and are comparing it to the more prominent superhero films. You can't compare it to Superman, Spiderman, Batman, The Avengers, Captain America. It's dark, it's moody and it's very violent. It's a true old classic-style pulp action hero film that should be taken as such. It's similar to Kick Ass, Defendor and all those films with wannabe superheroes that have no powers whatsoever. They're everyday people armed only with self-made costumes and a passion for fighting crime. I really enjoy these dark 'superhero' films and I thought it was a great indie flick.

As for Miroslav Houdek's review on this film... you can't rate a film lower than what you actually think it's worth in order to bring the rating down so that it's closer to your actual rating. That's just nonsense, manipulative and extremely unhelpful. How is it that your opinion is more valid than all of the people that have rated the film higher than you?

Anyway, go into this film with an open mind and you'll enjoy it for what it is and not for what it isn't.

Okay, if you're looking for "The Avengers", or even "Watchmen", forget it.

This is a shoestring indie film and it shows. Most of the special effects are crude, the acting is a bit wooden, and some of the props just don't fit in well (Jake Busey's mask and the like stick out, literally, being somewhat cockeyed whenever he's wearing them).

Still, for what it is, the film isn't half bad. Sure, it can seem a bit campy or schlocky. But, as Grindhouse (and its legacy films) have shown us, there is still room for that sort of thing in cinema.

If that's not your cup of tea? Go get a coffee.

This story is about a young man who's motivated to do good, but in many cases winds up making all the wrong choices, or being given false choices. He dances back and forth over the line between good and evil throughout the film deciding what he really wants, and then going for it with no remorse.

All in all, not a perfect film. But I enjoyed it.

First of all, please explain to me how someone decides to become a "Super," trains since childhood and somehow completely lacks ANY muscle definition. (Somehow, I doubt a grown man with the body of a 10 yr old can strike "fear" into the hearts of criminals.) The acting was awful, the storyline was scattered (at best) and the direction was non-existent. This movie was so bad, embarrassed for Clancy Brown, since he is an actor I like (but I guess we all need a paycheck). I understand the attempt at "noir," but even that failed miserably. The reviews on this board saying how "great" this movie is are quite obviously fake, as they have clearly never seen this celluloid monstrosity. I'm a little . It was possibly one of the worst films I've ever seen, and that's saying a LOT!