I didn't read the original comic. I learned about the series by accident. I found out, and I decided to look. I looked at it and was delighted.
There are no heroes in the classic sense of the word in the series. On the one hand, the barricades are antiheroes (those titular "boys" plus one female). On the other – moral cripples and full of monsters in optimistic colorful outfits. Gods raised by humans. Not symbols of hope, but recognizable brands. Not the saviors of humanity, but the profitable product of a successful and wealthy corporation.
The actors, in my opinion, are selected successfully (however, I have nothing to compare with, because I am not familiar with the original source), everyone looks in his place. I especially want to praise Anthony Starr - from his Homelander just goosebumps! This bright “Aryan” appearance, this frozen waxy look, this mechanical demonstration of snow-white teeth in public – either a Hollywood smile or a grin of a rabid predator. Carl Urban also catches the eye – and the audience’s interest – with his stealth and brutal charisma. Their antagonistic duet is very interesting to watch.
The series has a lot of black humor and scenes that can cause an impressionable viewer discomfort – keep this in mind. However, "Boys" is not only rampant banter, most of the storylines are fundamentally very dramatic. The result is a kind of tragicomedy about people – it is about ordinary people, because superpeople are mostly presented here in an unfavorable light – tragicomedy is rampant, cynical, as they say, “with pepper”. The spectacle is extremely fascinating.
It’s funny that “Boys”, being in fact a deconstruction of superheroics, still use the classic techniques of the genre. As well as "Kick-Ass", and "Deadpool", and many other works claiming the title of "rethinking" or "revolution in the genre." And this is not surprising, because we have a real superhero. Not really great. It's not about heroes. But still.
Looking forward to the second season.
Pluses: Charismatic characters and chemistry between them; acting; special effects, costumes, and in general "picture".
Minuses: except that the cruelty of some scenes.
Who to watch: fans of superheroics, especially non-standard approaches to the genre; fans of black humor.
Who should not watch: Children, of course, and other too impressionable viewers; if you have any prejudices against flying men in tights - you too pass.
An infinite ode to human weaknesses, as if they alone constitute the essence of man. How many times have we been shown a variety of screen illustrations about the fact that power corrupts in proportion to its level - has anyone not yet learned this simple truth? Yes, heroes have weaknesses. Yeah, they're human, too. Yes, their weaknesses are as catastrophic as their abilities. The same Marvel, but with blurred boundaries, when everyone lives in a gray morality and rare normal solutions look truly like heroic deeds. Is that really something to be happy about now? What about the world we live in today?
Of course, all heroes are notable for their weaknesses. Butch, master of social engineering, master manipulator. Comically "raggy" Hugh, from time to time, recalls simple human laws. Poor Annie, blinded by the American superhero dream. About the big seven, long broken under the yoke of their own weaknesses, even nothing to say. None of them can be held accountable for their actions. Someone has long forgotten what responsibility is, someone has not yet understood, someone is afraid to understand. And the series turns into a flutter of spoiled children who have not yet learned to be adults, and no one to show them where the boundaries of what is allowed are that separate the human community from chaos.
Why don’t the creators of the series also think about what other solution can be offered, since they have so clearly shown what can lead not only to a distorted humanity, but also to the power of money and media technology. Why not take a step forward and think – since we are now living in a world that has been kindly illustrated, what can we do to make it less vile? How can we help people find things that make humane decisions? The endless struggle of heroes with antiheroes, and even in a situation of gray morality, when each protects only his pack, easily destroying everyone and everything around for this, can only lead to the destruction of all values in general, except primitive ones, and then to the death of the entire community. Just because people will not have common values, they will not learn to understand each other, will not learn to empathize and forget what is “right and wrong”.
Is it hard to figure out how to deal with your weaknesses? Yeah, I guess. It requires at least not a banter, but some mental work. Since the antiheroes shown are not alien to anything human, then the answer to the question of how to confront them also lies in understanding the human soul, human motives, meanings and values. It is a pity that the authors of this series and many others like it, showing those heroic weaknesses, do not give themselves the trouble to think about what to do next. Really, why? After all, it is so cool and fun to show how these anti-heroes are deposed and bent by the “good guys”, of course. Power against strength, abomination against abomination. It's simple, you don't have to think about anything. It is important to understand that any illustration is a metaphor for what we see around us. And the appearance of such series tells us that this is how the world looks now. Now that's something to think about. It's easy to laugh. How can we survive without losing our humanity? .
The ubiquitous and languid Tot-virus-whose-name-can-be-named and the quarantine that joined it allowed us to take for books that we wanted to read, for texts that we needed to write, for TV shows that we needed to pay attention to. Meet, then, on his head with ' Guys' Sweet, now get a vivid impression full pants of the 30th size. Already the first series gives so invigorating adrenaline that from obvious sympathy for the creation of Eric Kripke can not escape. I have been able to fall in love here!
Since we all live in the era of comic book renaissance (more precisely, their profitable adaptations), it is unlikely that you can simply lock yourself in the refrigerator from the inside. And willy-nilly you'll stumble upon superheroes even in that wooden street toilet in any village area. Any self-respecting industry has a reputation that must be constantly protected, nurtured, protected, covered up. Comics industry, earning cheerful billions of dollars, is no exception. PG-13, much good, a portion of patriotism, great values, Groot.
And if suddenly someone had a playful thought about how to open the veil, look behind it, be horrified by what they saw, then 'Boys' Eric Kripke is asking for mercy. To the angel, pizza, sexy, ' frown' and ' bloated' violence! The relatively new unparalleled show provides everyone with a perfect alternative to the idealized universes—with that night’s superheroes. Rough, brutal, adult. In general, all the pleasure throughout the body and between the legs with a massage of the head and a branch of cherry where it is necessary with more than enough.
Carl Urban and Anthony Starr are big stars without stock markets. Carl Urban should definitely be listed as an underrated actor. It is so good that it draws both solo races and second-class sorties. Anthony Starr: The Crossed Faces of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Fassbender His character, the Sociopath Hard, is creepy to the bone, although he wears Superman’s mask deftly and clearly. In anger, it is better not to see him, some burning eyes will cool the ardour of those who want to argue with the most powerful superhero. Look at him dearly! Send it to Russia!
They wrote recently that in the second season there will be a superhero who should almost surpass the Fortress. Of course it's a woman. You know what? He'll tear them up, he'll quarter them, he'll crack them, he'll tear them apart, this guy with the perfect blonde on his head. We all vote for the Fortress, which can show an interesting villain. A brilliant series 'Boys' just for you. Now, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. Dozens!
“Boys” is a deconstruction of the superhero, a satire on the genre, partly a story in the spirit of “what if...” and an attempt to present a more cynical and realistic view of superheroes, what would this idea turn into in our world.
All superheroes, whom the public considers their defenders and ideals, in life turn out to be absolute scoundrels (mat forbidding it would be easier to say), perverts, drug addicts, maniacs and so on. None of them cares about the fate of ordinary people, only their own image and position in the company. For all their strength, they are still forced to obey the will of the ordinary people who run the company, because no superpower can give such power as familiar money, connections and influence on public opinion.
People adore their superheroes, buy up their figures, eat cereal with their posters, but this love is different from what we’ve seen in comic books and movies. Supers are viewed not as gods or as controversial folk avengers, but rather as movie stars. First of all, celebrities who ask for autographs or permission to take selfies pay a lot of money for VIP seminars and so on. This aspect is also revealed very interestingly, showing that people do not care what scum a star is in reality, as long as its image is not tarnished. While the myths surrounding him are interesting to us – no one wants to look at the real figure behind them.
Now about the plot (I will try without spoilers) one of the main characters named Huey lived the same quiet and hopeless life and ' Supers' were his favorites. He lived with his father and helped him, he had a girlfriend with whom he dated and a job generating income. But once in the life of the protagonist there is a tragedy, because of which he first has stress, and then after meeting with a stranger Billy Butcher goes into all serious.
With the advent of each series, plot twists quietly revealed the maps as about the company ' Vought', ' Supers' and the main characters Huey, Butcher, Milk and French.
The confrontations themselves look spectacular and the very idea that powerful people have weaknesses, how they became so and that it was also nice to look.
The graphics look strange, but not nasty either. If in the comic universe films are on pure chromakey (at least), then here somehow combine graphon and real shooting, which is quite alive.
I will definitely wait for season 2 and add a review.
If it was not a film adaptation of the comic, and the idea of the author, it would be cool.
9 out of 10
I love science fiction, but not to the point where I don’t laugh at the ability to overcome the force of gravity Superman and Captain Marvel.
I am more interested in the heart of the iron man, since the ability of his flights fit into some, though curved, but tolerant framework of physics.
The antigraviton built into the body of Superman and Captain Marvel by Mother Nature is too much. Moreover, respect for the films about Iron Man falls, as he appears next to the levitator without any technical devices Captain Marvel.
But this series is not about what abilities there are and what heroic deeds they commit. This picture is primarily about people. The fact that even if you have antigraviton built into your body, you still need to be human.
If you evaluate the series honestly, then except for the idea, which is taken from the original comic "Garth Ennis" in 2006, there is nothing outstanding here anymore.
To be quite honest, the special effects look weak, all plot twists are easy to guess, and the play of actors with a few exceptions (Carl Urban and Anthony Starr) does not cause special emotions. And pull the series ideas of the original comic book - black humor, worked-out characters and of course the banter over the cliché of comics about superheroes.
But the most amazing thing is that it didn’t take much for the show to shoot. The main plus of the series - they guessed with the time of its release. Now, against the backdrop of an endless stream of superhero movies from Marvel and DC, the original idea of the comic on the screen looks so fresh, and the banter on them is so correctly conveyed that the series looks in one breath and all the minuses that would be noticeable in a regular series, you just close your eyes.
Such an assessment after watching the first season. We'll see what happens next.
A great power is a great responsibility that no one wants to take on.
Oh, those superheroes. Not only are they special, gifted, endowed with inhuman abilities, but they are also moral, kind and ready to sacrifice themselves. Yeah? Or isn't it? I hit my head. Hard, cynical, uncompromising and a little crazy. An unreal world with real questions and problems.
The world is almost like ours, behind one difference that changes the essence of things. There is a whole group of people with unusual abilities who monitor order on the planet. A superhero cult is on every corner and screams from every iron. These people, like everyone else, have sins and sins. Powerfully, the fame and love of others makes them not the most decent citizens. You don’t want to trust your life. It's just a team of Anti-Avengers or Anti-Justice League, whatever you call it. They lie, set others up, have a penchant for addiction, despotism and use their power, sometimes not for good. The quiet working day of a simple guy Hugo turns into a tragedy when one of the superheroes accidentally kills his girlfriend Robin. A big fan of meto people, he's starting to hate them now. Anything that gives him the strength to get up in the morning is revenge. This leads him to thug Billy (Carl Urban). Hugo suddenly says goodbye to the old world and finds himself in the company of people who are engaged in an underground struggle with superheroes who have long ceased to be responsible for their actions.
The first thing that catches the eye is a very high-quality picture and a crazy soundtrack, which sometimes bears brains better than what is happening. After watching one series, you begin to appreciate the competent adaptation of the comic book on the screen, and not a large one. Hilarious dialogues and well-written characters. I remember everyone. In 'Boys', despite some surrealism of what is happening, competently served food for thought. The themes of tolerance, racism, sexual harassment, politics and the reverse side of the world of show business are played.
I want to talk about the cast separately. It's a bomb. I always respected Carl Urban and lamented that he had so few lead roles with such talent and charm. So ' Guys' a real gift to me. Urban's just getting charismatic. His Billy has a very clear, well-written and played motivation. Yeah, like Hugo, it's revenge, but the difference is that Billy is a man who has nothing but revenge. He devoted only the last 8 years of his life. For all that heartache, his character is full of hate and sarcastic humor. Is this a positive hero trying to fight an unequal war with the system? Of course not.
Anthony Starr is creepy. His homelander is something inhuman, heartless. He has no weaknesses. This cold, detached look is well conveyed. He doesn’t care about anything but his own greatness. I can talk for a long time about each actor, because they gave everything!
'Boys' this is a killer shot in the world of vanilla superhero series. Spit reality in the face of romanticizing these images. A series about creatures with superpowers, in which there are no heroes, there are only people, bad and not so, desperate and still believing in something. Just like you and me.
In the days of first-rate series that are close to good quality films, 'Boys' may surprise that not everything is so rosy, because disappointing. The whole series can be described by the banal formula of nudity + blood + supers, without them, even falling asleep under the series would be boring. All plot twists are foreseen from the first series, the dialogues are nondescript, meaningless, and if there are attempts at humor, then he is so flat and bearded that my grandfather would envy the length of this beard. In addition, the first series was struck by the number of brilliant ideas that the characters embodied, trying to kill the defenseless naked super and decided everything according to the cherished formula.
I would like to talk about the pros, but apart from the tolerable play of actors and not cutting eyes special effects to note nothing. Unfortunately, even in the production, the fights of the movie do not shine, which is a big minus for a popcorn series about supers. Yes, the directors tried not to standard present 'heroes', showing their dark sides, but there is no depth in this, so while there is such a benchmark as ' Guardians' ' Boys' will not look in the best light.
4 out of 10
'Boys' praised by almost all my friends, even those who are not fond of comics and attacked this series completely by accident. I decided to try it, too. And I never regretted it – if it’s not the best series of the year, then something like that.
The idea of turning superheroes into celebrities is far from new - it was in 'The Avengers' and even in 'The Guardians'. But ' Boys' bring the idea to the absurd: the life of their superheroes revolves not around exploits, but around advertising budgets, filming in blockbusters and financial reporting. Its flip side is impunity, which leads to rebellion ' boys', a very small and not very cohesive group of ordinary people who are willing to go very far in their quest to punish ' supers'.
The best part of the series... It's hard to choose. Ready to go from really black (very black) humor to high tragedy in half a minute? Definitely. Complicated, controversial characters, be it Billy Butcher (how good is Carl Urban) or local superman Homelander (also good but little-known actor Anthony Starr)? Absolutely. Incredibly inventive action, goodness the presence of 'supers' makes it just crazy? Oh, yeah.
The main thing is that the authors of the series were not afraid of extreme cynicism, rivers of blood, or anything else to raise real problems - from sexism to finding yourself, from what an ordinary person is capable of in unusual conditions, to what an unusual person is capable of. Many will probably think that ' Boys ' cross the line and revel in their cruelty - well, after all, we love Tarantino. And if you like his films not only with witty dialogue, welcome to the world '.
It is very difficult to create an original cinematic universe, living its own laws and rules, without violating the laws of logic and common sense of our universe. To be honest, 'Boys' very well show tricks, passing off wishful thinking, because the moment with a conventional coin the viewer swallows with a swallow, while all the most interesting remains behind the scenes. Eric Kripke's fictional world in ' was quite realistic, since the adventures of the two brothers were not public, and people had only an indirect relationship to those events that occurred during one hundred and eleven seasons. Perhaps, over time, the story that turned into a money watcher decided to make drastic changes - I don't know, but the pilot seasons were well written and implemented wisely. I remember there was even room for the original adaptations of the main plot, by introducing a fan community that simply adored the Winchesters, without even assuming that it was all in fact. Having studied the market in detail, the authors collected a very interesting designer, which almost everyone liked. Urban legends, myths, stories, beautiful guys and contemporary at the time classic rock merged into an incredibly watchable project. Applying a similar formula with 'Boys', while using current elements, the director and writer of the script Kripke again makes the result, patting anyone on the lips who avoids mass culture in the name of art. The director himself is a real Nickelback in the world of series, because in any case he is looking for a middle ground, only in places hurting the feelings of believers. He's not running far this time either. So why isn’t Amazon Prime’s next project the best new superhero series and what does realism have to do with it?
Story holes the size of Homelander's HCV are not as embarrassing as the fact that they are dullly lowered, focusing on the ideological component. Yes, the values celebrated in the project are good, but in order to push a good speech, you need to stand firmly on your feet, so for an enthusiastic nod of your head you have to close your eyes to everything else. It is worth admitting that there is no author’s position in the series. Moreover, it is not impudently imposed, which allows viewers to determine for themselves what is right and what is not, or even to support one of the parties to the conflict, having almost pure freedom of choice. But moving away from the general plan, you can see how sloppy from top to bottom 'Boys' are stuffed with diverse shortcomings and omissions that strongly stain such a clean picture. The creators not only follow the templates, while pretending to have invented something more original than a bicycle, but also take as an example not the best solutions, have long been ridiculed by the public. Clark Kent's glasses help. In a world where the Internet exists, how can you not know who, what and where? Especially someone popular. If you suddenly became a world-famous superhero, how long would you have to wait for your bad school photos or stories about how you vomited right on the school lineup? Kripke ignores these points, giving us dialogues about illogical problems that come up inexplicably from where and why. The case with the heroine Erin Moriarty is a vivid example of this. Not rarely the motives of the leadership of the so-called Seven are literally sucked out of the finger. However, the series deserves credit for the best female character in my opinion. Starlight represents a long-forgotten correct image of a strong woman who defends not only her principles, but also stands on the defense of morality.
But the show has something to hook. There's a lot of philosophy in the tape, interesting ideas that can serve as food for thought, and they're, again, quite populist, which just can't be taken in two ways. The well-written characters of the superheroes themselves and their surroundings are also greasy. And this is almost the main guarantee of success. That's the plus. The absence of a full-fledged leading character is a huge disaster, because you will not go far on apathy to the actors. The boys then think through everything in the best traditions of Ocean's friends, then shit themselves, making themselves worse. The series often contradicts itself. The same facts are presented in different forms, and the game in action-result does not lead to anything logical. In addition to these simple deflections, the project does not disdain many other unlogical problems. Almost the immortality of superhumans and their indestructibility turn the recreated conflict into an imitation, and the heroes themselves into a parody of images. The Army refuses to accept superheroes even though they are perfect, so why the hell would you ask anyone if you could blow your head off, blow up anything, kill anyone, run away from anything and even take a helicopter mission to Vice City? Since the villains and heroes in the film are the same, why then, as villains, our heroes do not do what they want, and cherish their reputation in front of ordinary people who look through Instagram day and night at their boring jobs? Why is the motivation of the pseudo-main character clear as a white day, but from the outside it seems as if he does not know what to expect and what he wants? Where is the notorious system of deterrence and balances, where a clear answer will sound to the question posed? And the last one is sick of this flower.
No rather than yes.
We're shown a world where superheroes are real, they're part of life, they're like successful and rich singers or actors, they're on posters and posters all the time, they're on TV all the time. They are presented as real superheroes, without flaws and shortcomings, without human weaknesses and vulgar desires, etc.
But in fact, they too are subject to human passions and weaknesses, their fame, superpower, and money only pushes them to all kinds of depravity and moral decay. Only the strong in spirit, with a stable character and set of principles could resist numerous temptations (but where are these strong in spirit?).
A group of people (without superpowers) oppose them. They can hardly be called a team, since they can not tolerate each other, they are not very similar, they share only hatred and anger towards superheroes and the corporation that protects them.
Cons:
The main problem of this series (today) is the absence of the hero of the film. I mean a positive hero. One that you want to watch, one that you want to empathize with, one that's interesting and charismatic, one that moves the plot of a movie, one that can do things that other characters can't.
He should be higher (morally), more interesting, cleaner, smarter, more cunning, moral than those with whom he fights - but in fact it is not.
In fact, one of the main characters of Hugh "Huey" Campbell is not particularly interesting, his motivation is revenge (not saving the world from evil), his charisma is at zero, his intelligence is questionable, his humor leaves much to be desired, he almost always makes excuses to someone and something mumbles, his confidence is always fleeting.
The second protagonist is Billy "The Butcher." Things aren't much better here. His first appearance and acquaintance raises the hope that at least he will be interesting. But no, he is exactly the same boring, cruel, obscene, malicious, not particularly intelligent and charismatic person.
In fact, there is no hero in the film. It would seem that superheroes who do what they want - what an interesting (not so new) idea. The whole series is dedicated to this, you can turn around, show the inner demons of superheroes, their versatility, their pain, their desires and fears.
You can imagine them not as simple as we think, they are not perfect, but they are not pure evil. They are what they are or what the world has made them and the people around them.
They could empathize, they could be feared and hated, they could be loved and envied – but where is all this in the series?
It's almost gone.
To ' Guardians' the series is not even close. It is very difficult and not necessary to watch.
Pros: I didn't notice.
Conclusion: The idea of the series is interesting, the beginning (the first series) is encouraging, but then only longing.
When it seemed that at the box office a billion can only collect another story of saving the world by personalities with superpowers, when no children’s matinee in the world is impossible to imagine without the costumes of Spider-Man, Superman and Batman, the series ' Boys' comes to Amazon. Here, in principle, there are no good characters, and if they appear, then for a short time and only to tragically die in the frame, falling innocent victims of cruelty & #39; soups' working for a giant corporation or angry people who are ready to sacrifice everything, in order to bring the idols of millions to clean water. A sea of blood, rags of human flesh, drug addiction, lust, all this gives us a radically different view of superhero movies. Whatever abilities are possessed 'Soups' in the series, the human dark side always makes itself felt, creeping out even more in conditions of physical superiority, impunity and boredom.
All ' superhumans' in the film are easily guessed by the stated abilities, although they may slightly differ from the usual characters by the nicknames and design of the latex outfit. The more interesting is how the authors beat the opportunity to create game by these guys. Yes, there have been stories of evil Superman and Spider-Man in comics, but it has never been shown to be so lifelike (if the word applies to comics at all). In addition, the antihero always had a positive antagonist, here 'good' 'soup' just not. Even people who try to fight them secretly behave quite vile and unprincipled.
As a result, 'Boys' turned out to be an excellent action movie with elements of superheroism, which sharply stands out for its courage against the background of modern fashion for tolerance and tolerance in American cinema. In a word, good.
Boys is a 2019 superhero series released on Amazon Prime Video.
The project tells about a universe where superheroes exist as the official unit of society. They serve in the corporation, are its employees, get paid, are somehow integrated into the police and, of course, are associated with show business and politics. The action takes place in the United States. There was no other way. You will understand why.
It all begins with the fact that an ordinary person, like you and I, is beset by something unfortunate: his girlfriend is unintentionally killed by one of the superheroes. All this leads to the fact that this ordinary person (his name is Huey) begins to get deeper and deeper into the mess. At first, he refuses to accept money from the corporation for privacy, and then falls into a circle of desperate criminals who want to overthrow superheroes. And our ordinary Huey, who worked in an electronics store, turns into a high-tech gangster.
Surprisingly, the series focuses more on Huey and his friends than on superheroes. I didn’t know anything about the show before I watched it: I didn’t watch the trailers, I didn’t read the reviews—nothing at all—and I was shocked when the creators decided to tell their story.
This whole superhero culture acts like a mass market. Each of them is a kind of brand. This is clearly an allusion to modern show business. Heroes, like actors or musicians: they write personalities that people scoop up, clean their biography, write speeches, create products like toys to make a big profit and superheroes, it seems normal from this: they are adults, get a salary there, everything is official - why anything else?
But everything is moving in small steps to show us that it is not so simple. There are secret stories, hushed up scandals and dark spots on impeccable images much more than previously imagined.
The cast is brilliant. There are lesser-known actors and more serious ones. In any case, everyone fits his role and in this respect everything is beautiful. The special effects work carefully. Obviously, the budget is not huge, so they spent wisely and showed expensive scenes in small pieces. Everything looks smooth, don't worry. There's no sense of cheapness. Operator work, installation is also at the level. A lot of original semi-documentary scenes, great work depicting the life of a superstar. It becomes clear how the whole huge machine works and what, in fact, is a modern media personality. Jewelry for the fullness of the world.
From the roughnesses, several compressed storylines can be distinguished. Each of the main superheroes is given screen time to work out the character, except for one. It looks odd, at least. There are silly moments, but they are very rare.
Why localizers translated the name as “Boys” remains a mystery. I have long denied myself the pleasure of watching this series because of the associations associated with the word. District cattle and Russian TV series, you know? Why not translate like Guys or Guys, or perform a semantic translation? It would be Desperate or something. But that's certainly not the negative of the series. Just like that.
Watched a volley in 2 days. I was so excited that I couldn’t sit down for important things, work, etc. Look, I had to find out what happened next. The series makes a successful attack on the superhero genre and modern show business. The story is clearly original in all respects. A fresh look at superheroes. The boys tried to show a more real picture, creating the most believable world, where people in cloaks are possible. If you think about close in spirit, then you think of Batman v Superman, Deadpool and Umbrella Academy. The genre of superhero films is going through very unusual times. It has more revolutions than any other genre. Some may even say that he is destroying himself with such projects, and in some ways he will be right. In general, the product is extremely exciting and original!
Nowadays, the genre of superhero cinema is experiencing a real dawn. There are a huge number of films and TV series based on comics and original ideas about heroes saving the world. Superheroes have firmly entered the world of modern culture and have become an integral part of it. In this series from Amazon, the authors decided to show a different point of view on the characters in capes and masks, making the series closer to the real world. Rethinking the genre has already been more than once, the most important milestone in this direction are the Guardians (the series for which we are very much waiting). But here the authors went even further and showed a completely radical concept.
The series is based on the comic book of the same name by writer Garth Ennis, which has the status of scandalous and provocative in its content. The authors of the series managed to adapt the comic for screens and create one of the best projects of this year. Before us is a sharp and subtle satire not only on superheroes, but also on modern society, on the cult of consumption. This is a fantastic drama, which uniquely combines elements of black comedy, cool action movie, melodrama, criminal thriller and eroticism. A deadly mixture full of violence, strong expressions and cynicism.
The creators of the series went through all modern problems. From important geopolitical issues on the terrorist threat from the Arab world to the feminist movement #MeToo. The authors walked hard through modern society, the corporations that have seized the modern entertainment market and massively pump money, as well as people who go crazy at the sight of the stars and worship them as gods. Criticism of religion, family relations, and childhood traumas are reflected, not to mention morality, the existence of which was forgotten by almost all the characters of the series.
In the first season there were eight episodes and they look dynamic, the action practically does not sag, and the final heats up the intrigue. Thanks to the adult rating, the authors were untied and they gave a truly provocative spectacle full of violence, sex and total cynicism, completely rethinking the canons of the genre.
The series has a great cast. Carl Urban chicly fit into the image of the brutal and angry leader of the group of Boys. Thanks to charisma, he manages to show an absolutely contradictory character with a complex inner world. Erin Moriarty is beautiful in the image of a naive girl who faces the harsh reality of superhero activity and whose world collapses in an instant. But the most important find is Anthony Starr, who embodied the image of Homelander (the most powerful superhero on the planet). He is one of the most persuasive sociopaths in film history. He is kind in appearance, but in fact a hypocrite with a lot of psychological complexes. Incredibly frightening character, his unpredictability causes the most interest. And of course, it is impossible not to mention Elizabeth Shu, who is always pleasant to see on the screen.
Boys is one of the main series of the year and a real godsend for comic book lovers. A killer superhero story that turns the standard view of the world of superheroes upside down. There are all the components of success, ranging from cool characters, black humor, interesting plot structure and ending with subtle satire on the real world. An unexpected and very modern project that looks with great interest and retains the potential for development. I definitely recommend it.
8 out of 10
P.S. Only I thought the character ' Black Noir' very similar to ' Snake Isa' from ' Cobra Throw'?
I think few people will argue with the fact that one of the main layers of modern cinema and television are certainly numerous adaptations of comics. Comics have been filmed before. However, it is now this case is put on the conveyor stream, and ' Monopoly' the Marvel Cinematic Universe both enhances this demand in the film adaptations of comics, and sets them a certain direction. Thus, without knowing it, dooming a lot of strikingly different film adaptations to much more modest box office fees and a cool reception of critics. It’s time for the adaptation of the iconic and scandalous comic book by Garth Ennis and Derek Robertson, which deconstructs the genre like no one else has before.
The series revolves around a young man named Huey. Once possessing superspeed superhero & #39; passes through & #39; his girlfriend, as a result of which she dies, and hiding behind the fight against crime, the superhero comes out of the water. Disillusioned with superheroes and dreaming of revenge on them, Huey meets former operative Billy Butcher, who assembles a team of people and sets a goal - to punish all superheroes who create lawlessness.
The last few years began to take fashion for the deconstruction of the superhero genre in both movies and TV series. Ready to recall such projects as ' Guardians', ' Umbrella Academy', ' Doom Patrol', 'Kick-Ass' and 'Superpower'. This series created by Eric Kripke, which in my opinion went in this direction much further, more interesting and scandalous. Demonstrating a world full of superheroes, but without supervillains. Which affected the personality of the first. Demonstrating them not as a bastion of kindness, courage and heroes of saving people, but as inadequate sociopaths, crazy psychopaths, drug addicts, murderers and just complete scumbags. Moreover, it is on the example of how superheroes listen to the powerful corporation in their exploits and actions, and also have long turned into such superstars advertising everything and everything and representing the embodiment of merchandising in the flesh, the authors of the series are very interesting to mock the current state of affairs in film and serial production, as well as the widespread popularity of superheroics around the world. Along the way, the #metoo movement, Trump politics and other trends in American society are not left out. Hypertrophically quoting and bantering them on screen. Not to mention the fact that the members of the Seven are clearly ' slick' with Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and The Flash from DC Comics.
Throughout the first season, the creators of the series raise the same question on the screen as 'Batman v Superman' and 'Guardians' Zach Snyder. Should there be control over the actions of superheroes, and what might happen if superheroes feel completely permissive? This question is perfectly implemented throughout the narrative and turns out to be a rapid boost for the development of the characters of the Seven and other superheroes on the screen. Especially Homelander, whose character on the one hand remained the same, on the other - became somewhat different and deeper.
It is very commendable that the creators of the tape did not blindly and literally transfer the cult source to the screen. Instead, the author reinterpreted it and adapted it to both the modern viewer and modern society. Leaving almost all the fundamental elements of history, but changing them a little and thereby bringing something new to them. This is what makes the series interesting even for those who are familiar with the source. Except that, making up the permissiveness of the Boys because of the presence of compromising material on the Supers, who, fearing exposure, do not touch them, but developing the confrontation between the Boys and Supers to a game of cat and mouse, which sometimes looks inappropriate and a little ridiculous.
I think many people who are familiar with the source will agree that it was difficult to believe that the authors of the series will be able to film such a difficult for film adaptation material due to the excessive amount of violence, candid moments and madness in it. However, Eric Kripke and the creative team of the series succeeded. The series turned out to be very dynamic, interesting and exciting. Moreover, the series looks expensive both atmospheric and visually. Not forgetting to please the audience with spectacular scenes of the spectacle and various violence in the best traditions of the R rating with blood fountains and dismemberment. Even if these scenes want much more in the upcoming second season.
Billy Butcher's character was the most boring in the original source because of his extremely battered and usual motivation. However, due to the efforts of the writers, his motivation has become more complicated and interesting, and by the efforts of the writer who plays his role perfectly and lulls the audience with the charisma of Karl Urban, the character seems very interesting and charismatic. Erin Moriarty, Las Alonso, Jesse Usher, Chase Crawford, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara, Elizabeth Shue and many other actors equally well coped with their task on the screen. Do not take away or add as they say. However, the main star of the series is certainly the incomparable Anthony Starr, who perfectly fell into the image of Homelander on the screen. Equally good at showing him as a charming audience and a seemingly heroic superhero, as well as a complete sociopath, an impulsive psychopath and a moody child in the adult body. At the same time, Starr plays both hypostases of his character so convincingly, and also switches between them so quickly and convincingly on the screen that every appearance of Starr on the screen literally amazes, surprises and ' knocks the roof off'
10 out of 10
Guys is not only one of the best serial novelties of the year, but also an absolutely perfect adaptation of the seemingly unsuitable for the adaptation of the cult and scandalous comic book. The creators of the tape did not literally transfer the original source to the screen, but adapted it to modern society and very successfully the author reinterpreted it on the screen. On the one hand, leaving it the same madness and madness. On the other hand, making a little deeper and able to surprise. I am looking forward to the second season.
“Gentlemen, what if Superman decides to fly over to the White House, rip the roof off him and take the president out of the Oval Office – who will stop him?” “Boys” is a series about superheroes, the same rescuers as, for example, from Marvel or DC, with one big but! Superheroes who obey people-businessmen, and save only when they need it. Amazon Prime will make you think about the fact that superheroes are not only in fabulous happy endings, but also harsh scum in the cruel reality that “rules” today in the world.
At a time when Marvel’s comic books have captured a children’s audience, and DC Comics is gradually trying to get out of the hole they themselves have climbed into, an unremarkable video service from Amazon paints the world as it is. Without any illusions that it is necessary to save the world, because “it is impossible otherwise”. Or the fact that the earth is rained over and over again a threat that only superheroes can cope with. The world today is ruled by money – and “soups,” as ordinary citizens call them, are a great way to make money. The company “Vought” is the wallet that drives all this monetization and makes you make your figures for what they are needed – for profit.
The story of The Boys is simple and banal on the outside, but more distinct on the inside. There were already many projects that showed revenge on someone for the murder of their loved one, which later resulted in something larger. This series is about the same, but “Boys” has a twist that fundamentally changes the perception of the script. The viewer is shown not an easy struggle for money, the confrontation of “soups” and people – they give a glimpse of the real, and, importantly, reasoned reason why superheroes are nonsense. Perhaps someone will think that the show is the same banalism mentioned at the beginning, and the main character - the Butcher (Carl Urban) - and does more for their own purposes than in general. However, this is the mentioned real world that walks around each of us and the "Boys" squad only shows a small part of this world.
The main narrator of the story are two parties – a company that “stamps” supers into television and ex-CIA that try to figure out the intentions of “people in jackets in high-rise buildings.” The commander of such a detachment is a man-mystery, whose secret is like a secret of national importance - William "Butcher" Butcher. Hard, principled and with a lush beard, which will amaze everyone indifferent. The commander, whose team can be safely called the "Dream Team": Marvin / MM / Mother's Milk (Laz Olonso), French (Tomer Capon) and Huey Campbell (Jack Quaid). Why a dream team? The screenwriter had heroes at his disposal, which were easier to develop. Laz Olonso as Marvin is the brain of the company, Frenchman is its prudence, and Huey Campbell is the ambition that drives the rest.
We always wanted to see the superheroes from the other side - The Boys will give you that opportunity. The series is a perfect illustration of how the main villain pulls the blanket over himself and makes viewers admire him, not someone else. There are not many such antagonists, so Anthony Starr deserves praise for himself and his Homelander. A decent role model is actually an unstable and mentally unhealthy hero - Anthony managed to show the charisma that is inherent in the words of his alter ego. "Starlight" Annie - Erin Moriarty - "key player" of the series, but she is such only in quotation marks. Alas, the girl does not pull acting, only beautiful facial expressions. There is no naturalness that they are trying to tie to her heroine and this is the problem not of screenwriters, but of the actress that she could not properly show all the plot ideas.
The verdict. The Boys is a unique series. Not the plot, the heroes and the built universe, rather the opposite. It is still quite possible to create any other company, but another thing is that such a company is not particularly found. Of course, there may be some, but will they get a result like this? I doubt it. At least in the next couple of years. "Boys" is not perfect, but cult. There will be no more of these and the second season should not spoil what was created in the first.
Each episode of The Boys has a new director. Perhaps this is what played a role, because of which the pace and rhythm are not recognized during the series, although further plot twists are recognized (in part). It is clear that the whole process was managed by one person, but it is such a versatile approach from different directors helped “The Boys” will be so easy on the part of not being bored.
Shy, but not stupid guy Huey (Jack Quaid) lives in a world where superheroes are commonplace: every day they save worlds a hundred times, star in films and become the faces of advertising campaigns of the largest firms. Huey, like many people, is a fan of "supers" - right up to the moment one of them, the superfast A Train, makes a run through Huey's beloved man, leaving the guy with bloody remnants.
Soon someone Billy Butcher (walking charisma Carl Urban) comes to the guy who is going crazy with grief - he introduces himself as an FBI agent and tells that every day thousands of people suffer from superheroes for whom human life costs absolutely nothing. He, along with a squad of operatives - a mad Frenchman (Tomer Capon) and obsessive-compulsive Mother's Milk (Las Alonso) - set out to exterminate the superhero infection before it got worse. Huey joins their squad, but soon his views on people in tights are complicated by his acquaintance with Starlight (Erin Moriarty), an incredibly “right” superheroine who got into the local analogue of the Justice League, “Seven”, where her romantic ideas about heroes quickly and cruelly destroy.
The plot of the series is very simple, we are watching what would happen in the world if the rescue of people were just a normal business. It would seem that when the guys in colorful tights should bring peace to the world, as it should. Now, this is almost industrial sabotage, cruel satire, denouncing the world of Hollywood dreams (which superheroes, in fact, now rule) as a soulless and deceitful machine that does not take into account neither laws nor “collateral victims”, and is ready to do anything, as long as the show continues.
There are almost no positive characters in the Boys. All superheroes are brazen and unprincipled. Some were victims of circumstances – explanations can be found on everyone, but this does not change the fact that these people in cloaks are almost absolute evil. There is a careful study of each hero – brazen “supers” get a chance, if not an excuse, then at least an explanation of their cruel thoughts. Such components are in favor of the series. A group of ordinary people who are trying to fight these same "Heroes" & #39 are also not without sin, and each of them also has their skeletons hidden in the closet.
Carl Urban is a wildly cool man, whose brutality is elevated to the absolute - a voice in the original, it is very pleasant to listen. Anthony Starr, who perfectly performed Homelander (a local equivalent of Superman) is simply magnificent. The facial expressions of the actor, his play with intonations, as well as moments when Homelander makes transitions from one emotion to another (conversation with the communicator Annika - a graceful look "I'm here for the fuck, I can do anything") - in general cool. The Frenchman (Thomer Capon) with his American French dialect looks funny.
The Boys - a great satire on the subject of superheroics: funny and cruel, ridiculing many genre patterns. Rating "R" (18+) is used to the maximum. It is not unusual to see such a deadly run in the first series, and an explosion of blood and intestines in the second. Visual effects, though not often, are well used at the most opportune moments: the use of baby Billy Butcher, as well as the eyes of Homelander, is a sight. Curious, and at the same time dramatically complex finale, suggests the idea where this new creation will go next. Fortunately, the shooting of the 2nd season is completed, it remains to be expected its release.
8 out of 10
Not so long ago, several high-profile projects appeared on the big screens, whose duties included changing the ideology of superheroism. Bored by all the straightforwardness of one-dimensional heroes, clearly divided into two camps - had to give way to a flexible ideology of fluid dialectical confrontation between good and evil. In particular, we are talking about 'Batman v Superman', 'Justice League' and other projects opposing the growing as a bubble of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, capturing into its orbit more and more new superheroes. However, people hoping for the genius of Zack Snyder with his "Guardians" & #39; were disappointed with the result - slight hints of a change in the perception of the ideology of the superhero were not just leveled by familiar clichés, but even discredited by the regrettable fact that the stamps were presented somehow. Therefore, fans of the gloomy and honest work of the DC publishing house finally recognized the advantages of competitors and brought a decent amount of money to their piggy bank, which made The Avengers the highest grossing film in the history of cinema. The storming of the Konocomix fortress from the inside turned out to be unsuccessful - naturally, the ideology of superheroism, which brings superprofits comparable to the budget of a small republic, will never allow itself to be criticized even in the form of mild self-irony. However, this is in the territory of the big screen, but a completely different situation is observed in other areas.
Back in 2006, one Garth Ennis, who actively collaborated with Marvel and DC, decided to apply to an independent publishing house in order to finally open a Pandora’s box, tightly walled in the framework of censorship, political correctness and, of course, profit. In fact, 'Boys', released by a company with the speaking name 'Dynamite' are, as Grandpa Freud would say, exploding repressed desire. Everything that was conditionally implied and tacitly put out of brackets in the ideology of superheroism broke into a seething hellish stream of rabid adrenaline, crude sexuality and naturalized to the limit of ultraviolence. Each page of any of the seventy-two issues is accompanied by selective obscene vocabulary, extremely frank scenes of sex and literally a sea of blood, seeing which Kubrick would have to urgently reshoot the famous scene from '. However, liberation occurred, of course, not only in terms of form, but also in content.
Unfortunately, everything here is not so colorful. The mythology of superheroes is a system that has evolved over decades. It has a clear and well-established structure that requires more than just juicy shots that do not fit into a conservative context to undermine, namely a completely different philosophical concept. Therefore, Ennis first resorts to taking an inversion. All the powerful of this world turn out to be DeSadov scoundrels, who at the root deny the code of justice. Of course, this is only the first (but formative) brick in the new super-system.
Next, Ennis enters the real battle arena, trying to connect the characters of our heroes and antiheroes with the environment. Here we see the whole background of modernity, in its most perverse guise, so to speak: corrupt politicians, manipulation of public opinion, the unfading Hobbesian tandem of the state and the church, all-powerful corporations for the production of false ideology, etc. On the one hand, all of this is familiar to us as our five fingers. On the other hand, immersing the discourse of superheroism in this thundering solution of modern problems is something extremely intriguing. This is not to say that the narrative is revolutionary on the whole, but the disclosure of the characters of immortal bastards, who are typical products of their time, was excellent.
Indicative here, of course, is the fate of Superman, the absolute symbol of America, seemingly personifying its best qualities - power, confidence, attractiveness, masculinity and, of course, justice. In fact, this superman (as well as his entire team) is disarmed and taken prisoner ' human, too human' Despite the seeming immoralism and nihilism ' Boys', in ideological terms, they are trying to revive all the same foundations of conservative foundations - virtue, morality, frankness - these are the real forces of modernity, prostrating both titans and gods, which the ancient Greeks knew and did not tire of repeating. However, this truth is not presented flatly at all, but on the contrary - as multidimensionally as possible - and is solved as if in an existential key. The so-called truth of each hero here has its own, but in the course of the development of history, they still find a common denominator of co-existence and, again, this appears to be a worthy answer to many questions.
From the technical side, we immediately note that for the series about superheroes, ' Boys' are not rich in special effects (which is due, of course, to the experimental nature of the first season and will be corrected in the second, if not to harm). Moreover, of the eight episodes, only 2-3 are made in relation to the manner and style of visual presentation, ' with savor ' the rest are just very good. The same unevenness, due to the fact that the chair of the director and writer of the script has never occupied one person, is observed in the scenario relation - many scenes and episodes, especially in the middle, simply slip, leaving an extremely weak emotional impression.
However, who never fails in the series is the impeccably selected cast - Butcher Carl Urban, Superman Anthony Starr and, as always, the flawless Elizabeth Shue literally tear up and rush. Compared to their brilliant acting, scenes involving other actors often look like a simple farce. Truly, this is the triad on which the entire discourse of the series rests. Just a few remarks, a lot of Nietzschean God-fighting violence is invested in the image of the Butcher, the Butcher has already stepped over himself, becoming a superman, Superman the Stronghold, on the contrary, being nominally superman, can not know his essence, overcome his desires and accept reality, so the whole world for him is a theatrical stage or rather a sandbox in which he plays someone who is not (can you be someone without knowing who you are?). Finally, Elizabeth Shu is a magnificent guise of the insidiousness of nature, femininity and the well-known & #39; the trick of reason & #39; in one person - a sinister mother-ancestor, whose power can overthrow all the same invisible and mystical justice. The rest of the characters, including the main one - Hugh, are not uninteresting, but, alas, far from being so characteristic, and somewhere even banal. In general, the stylistics of the series is sustained in rock and roll tones and, as is often the case with successful comics creations, in many respects almost frame-by-frame copies the basics. However, what is less in the series is sex and bloody feast - here the directors try to carefully walk along the edge, trying not to lay out all the cards in the first season.
Summing up, I do not think that it is worth extolling the series as a brilliant masterpiece, definitely revering it with the laurels of the project of the year. It is a unique project with its own style and material. For seed, the first season is brilliant. I’m sure, having worked on the script and received an additional budget, the series can deliver projects Netflix and HBO. In the meantime, we can say that the beginning of the battle for Olympus laid genius. Tremble, Inhumans, 'Boys' Coming.
DS still has a good self-irony: who does not know - Vertigo's office (a & #39; Boys' their pen) their offspring.
And no wonder that Homelander is an allusion to Superman, Underwater to Aquaman and so on.
And on the topic ' superheroics' the authors went further than the creators ' Guardians' - the story is not about the plight of superhumans, but about the fact that they are not so simple.
Steba, glamour and black humor more than enough. But closer to the end of the gihanki da hahanki disappear.
But the story is strikingly different from the original - the conflict of a superhero / ordinary person is given much more acutely and with a social background: superheroes as arrogant stars of show business with their retinue and permissiveness.
A number of moves and episodes (such as ' love line' Butchera and Raynor) were withdrawn. Not to say it was good. The climax of the season was quite predictable, although my friends for some reason considered her a cliffhanger, as in vain for me.
That’s exactly what you can put a huge plus this cast. I liked both Starlight and Huey and Fukuhara, but the cherry on the cake is Urban and Starr. The second was very nice to see after a very long absence from the projects of the first magnitude. It's a beautiful villain.
As a result - a pretty good fusion of humor, superheroics, rating 18+ (although not at all) and enthusiasm, minus the shortcomings in the story and a weak ending.
I started to watch this project based on the ratings of film search and many praise reviews in other segments of the Internet. Parallels with the Guardians, drawn by some commentators, further fueled interest in the series at the same time, raising the bar of expectations from it. And I can say that it was not in vain.
The authors immediately throw us into the whirlpool of events, quickly acquaint us with the main characters and create the necessary connection for the further conflict of mere mortals with the superheroes & #39. The dynamics of the narrative persists throughout the season thanks to a good number of characters, high-quality action scenes and sparkling humor. The series literally looks in one breath.
Of the main advantages of the film, you can distinguish an excellent visual range and charismatic characters, largely due to the beautiful play of the actors. The image of the local superman, Homelander, will definitely be remembered for a long time, as will the Butcher with his harsh words and cunning grin. The rest of the characters are not bad, as are the actors who play them, but these two overshadow everyone with their magnificence. The gloomy style is preserved in the color filter of the picture, special effects are better than, for example, in a typical product of the channel CW, which is undoubtedly pleasing. The soundtrack seems to be good and sounds to the place, but it is not memorable at all.
Now to the minuses. Contrary to expectations, the only similarity of the series with the Guardians is that it is strikingly different from the boring superhero tapes, showing a non-standard approach to the usual genre. So if you decide to watch it in the hope of seeing something like Snyder’s, you’re probably going to be disappointed. In addition, the presence of a large number of plot holes can also leave a negative impression. For example, heroes move to any location without any resistance, despite the fact that they are at least wanted. Another disadvantage is the following of the series to modern SJW trends, which in such a project I would not like to see.
The first season left behind mostly positive impressions and gave rise to the idea in my head that if you watch, in the current realities, the film adaptation of comics, it is only such as ' Guys'.
8 out of 10
The fact that this series is one of the most brilliant created in recent times is more of an axiom that does not need explanations of its greatness.
Acting, plot, dialogue, the smallest details are really important components, worked out in this series at an excellent level. But that’s not what makes it so great.
To extol the series ' The Boys' over such giants as Game of Thrones, SDM, Chernobyl and others helped one detail that many inattentive viewers noticed, but could not realize, and now do not understand why everyone, including themselves, albeit in their hearts, so admire this series. Those who have more extensive viewing experience, intelligence and erudition have long understood what I am talking about, and with a smile look forward to his name in this review.
This is, of course, Black Noir or Black Noir. Those who belong to the first type of spectators described from above, I give you a couple of minutes to realize the reason for your adoration, and with the rest we will continue.
In principle, there is not much to say here. Anyone with the intellect to count the number of people in 'Seven' should now understand the coolness of this character. Handling a cold weapon that no ninja would be ashamed of, the speed of a cheetah, the agility of Manula, a great personal soundtrack, and the ability to play the piano (and obviously any musical instrument) are just a small part of his abilities revealed in the first season.
I hope he doesn’t play an active role next season. After all, let's be honest, neither the boys, nor the rest of the seven, nor even Hoemlander have the slightest chance of defeating him. And then the series will end very quickly. And until they introduce parallel universes and Black Noir No. 2, our beloved hero will live, rest assured.
That concludes my review. In the comments, you can discuss the coolness of this hero and name your favorite moments with him. And we're looking forward to season two. . .
Guys are guys. That's cool. Especially that kid over there, Huey, he was really good. Well done. It's really cool. They can.
However, the main find of the series are not boring, full of ressentiment Boys, and charismatic representatives Seven. For some time now, we've got the superheroes we've long deserved. Not trembling creatures, but real superhumans, for whom false idealism and long-obsolete morality are only public masks. Superheroes who have learned the maxim: “Forests are cut, chips fly.” Live characters with a difficult biography that you empathize with.
With a fading heart I had to watch the cynical sadism in relation to the captive Transparent. The silent mystery of Black Noir. Admiring the perseverance of Trains A. And for the relationship Depth with animal fauna, I worried more than for my own. Homelander But, of course, a God-man and a true leader. Of course, there are weak spirits in the team - this is Queen Maeve and new girl Starlight. They are not yet ready to accept their own identity, which gives the story a dramatic twist.
While superheroes solve important issues, ordinary people, as usual, prepare dastardly stabs in the back. The rope between the animal and the superman strives once again to turn into a loop. This is the main intrigue of the series. The sympathies of the authors are, of course, on the side of the weak and oppressed. Who cares about the opinion of the authors? A sane viewer will dispel illusions on his own and draw the right conclusions.
Do you know what the problem is Erica 'Butcher' Kripke? It's that he's used to doing mass market. And, yes, although for its time the same Supernatural was not such, but, believe me, the way Kripke does is calculated on the mass viewer.
You’re probably starting to realize that I’m pulling away from The Boys, which just came out on Amazon Prime. And I'll explain why.
I don’t want to refer now to other similar series that are based on comics and which are made simply unbelievably tasty (yes, I will always mention Legion and The Deadly Class, accept it already). I don’t want to because it’s an obvious comparison. Let’s turn to such incredibly visually beautiful things as 'The Handmaid’s Tale', 'Mr. Robot' and, damn it, 'Hannibal'.
What do these series have in common with the new Boys? Cruelty in the frame, the realism of the characters, mate and even the use of color filters to convey mood.
Why are these series better than the newest Boys? Because in addition to all the obvious scenario and game advantages, they have an unreal work with the visual: how to build a frame and plans.
In 'Robot' Sam Esmail is not afraid to expose the camera regardless of the characters, as if focusing on the madness of the surrounding world. In 'The Handmaid' Bruce Miller always shows us the character of Elizabeth Moss, reminding us that the events of the series unfold around and because of her. In 'Hannibal' as two sides of the same coin, Maestro Brian Fuller shows us a game of cat-and-mouse by Lector and Will himself.
There's nothing like that in The Boys. Maybe because there is no central character. But even in this situation, it is always interesting to build a frame.
And don't think about it, Boys are definitely good enough. It has an excellent cast in the first, second and third roles. Beautiful costumers and music. Nice dialogue and really well written characters. And I would settle down and love the series as a son, but in the final credits of the first season there is such a taste as if something was not done. Like eating a delicious cake, but without filling.
Yeah, you can eat it. If it were any other series without such a texture - I wouldn't even choke. But the problem is that the texture - unreal, crazy and wildly juicy - is Eric ' His mother' Kripke just ignores her, as if afraid to go wrong with the amount of insanity on the screen, but this is where the problem lies. And if in 'Supernatural' this can still be attributed to the genre (still, supers are a family drama, like you don’t spin), then here the drama is not the central driving force. There is no driving force at all.
That is why The Boys turned out to be more of a curious craft than an enchanting delight. And, most likely, because of this, it will be renewed not only for the second, but also for the fifth season.
It's a shame.
7 out of 10
It is difficult for me to compare the original with the film adaptation, because despite my passion for graphic novels, I read only the first two volumes published in Russian, and those - a couple of days before viewing, just to compare the characters. Differences, as for me, are not in favor of the series, it noticeably lacks the concentration of fervent thrash and, strange as it may sound, the rejection of political correctness, some, if you will, creative emancipation.
The original idea is strong enough and interesting enough that even in a castrated state it remains fresh, extraordinary and simply cool, but a giant vibrator exploding in the vagina of a nymphomaniac terrorist, blowing the whole of her plane to hell - this is orders of magnitude tougher than the Transparent story or the scene with a plane crash. In this regard, the series could be much more immoral. Remember at least prostitutes with painkillers in a brothel for supers - in the film adaptation there is nothing like it, nothing really disgusting.
The Seven fell victim not so much to the Boys as to their own spineless tolerance. Judge for yourself, say, Depth in the plot is needed only in order to beautifully beat the image of a loser-rapist (surprise: in the original Starlight was allowed in a circle with the filing of Patriot, who somehow did not suffer much because of this). Now we have a trend to expose sexual harassment at work, so they decided to build it, spitting on the overall tone of the work. Queen Maeve is another tribute to feminism, an aging bisexual with a "kind heart" and an unhappy fate.
The fastest junkie on the planet is exclusively engaged in whining because of his personal life or suffering from the consequences of drug addiction, and Black Noir appears three times a season (playing the piano is a very important scene, for example), so you somehow immediately forget about him. Transparent is good, but strictly within its storyline. Starlight is cute, but her image is so overloaded with social context (from, in fact, rape to a tyrant mother and problems with religion) that it is more tiring than sympathetic.
The boys were more lucky: MM, French and Female are excellent characters for the background, and Huey brilliantly shades Butcher; but it is Carl Urban and Anthony Starr who save the series. The other played the perfect sociopathic Superman, and Butcher was a hell of a scumbag; to me, that's Urban's best role. A strong ending, and an abundance of blood and violence (but, by the way, not sex, unlike the original) organically add to the story, so at the end of the series I liked, but... I don’t know if we’ll ever see a really politically correct project with a decent budget, which is regretting the missed opportunities.
In the period of Marvel’s total dominance on the big screen, other players shoot at the small. When I accidentally saw the footage from the Boys trailer, the first reaction was: Oh, it's like Umbrella Academy! After watching the whole season, I can say that more likely not than yes.
I'll start with the story. He's average. At some point, you even begin to get bored, predicting all the next moves of the heroes. But it is definitely capable of surprising, empty and not too much. In general, the idea of making a superhero business in itself is quite interesting. Thanks to the source, of course.
Visual. He's amazing. Costumes, lights, special effects - all this is at the highest level. It is clear that Amazon did not spare the money. And for good reason. The boys look much better than the League, which is a big plus anyway, despite the low quality of the DC movie. We're still talking about the show. And the trend of growth of serial budgets, of course, pleases.
Characters. The Boys' strongest side. Charismatic, voluminous, really multifaceted characters make 90% of the atmosphere. It is interesting to observe not the plot as such, but the reactions of the characters to the world around them and to each other. The cast is really good.
As a result, we got another masterpiece, which I’m sure for another couple of seasons will keep the bar very high. I recommend it to everyone.
The Boys is a new series from Amazon Studios. Studios that are not very famous for their projects (compared to industry giants HBO or Netflix). And for me, this series was the first from this company. And the first pancake was far from a lump.
The series takes place in a world where superheroes exist. They are the real stars. Everyone knows and loves them. But behind the perfect facade lies a much darker world of drugs and sex, and most heroes are not the most pleasant people in life. To control superheroes, the CIA creates a special squad, the harsh members of which are always ready to put the arrogant hero in his place in the most cruel way.
The theme of superheroes is more relevant today than ever. It gathers the audience at the screen, this theme excites the audience, it is interesting, it is fascinating. I will not go into the details of the movie about superheroes. It just felt like there was one template for any superhero movie/series: the good guy is the hero and the bad guy is the villain. But the series “Boys”, breaks all these canons. When in the face of ideal, invincible, beloved by all superheroes – is both essence. For all of them they are idols, idols, gods – they are flawless – all because they want to appear and they should be, this is their job. But behind closed doors, they are no different from ordinary people, they can all afford what in the classic genre – superheroes can not do. Kill the innocent for the sake of their reputation, use their superpowers for their own benefit, manipulate, oppress, molest, in general to arrange a complete limit. We’re not used to seeing them like that, you know.
Honestly, I watched the first season, which was released in one day (8 episodes) literally in a day, and I was completely delighted. It’s sad to understand that the wait (and I’ve been waiting for this project for a long time) was so long, then one day of fun, and then there’s another year of waiting, because the next season will not be released until 2020. But the most important thing is that it will come out – and it’s great.
For a long time I wondered why the series is called The Boys, because the superheroes in the series are both men and women. It turns out that in fact, superheroes, there are not the most important characters, much more paramount team of four guys who are united by a common goal and a good deed. So the big question is, who is the bigger hero in this series? Super or ordinary people.
I want to say a little about the cast. I see 90% of actors for the first time. I know only that with Chase Crawford on the TV series “Gossip Girl”, well, I have seen a couple of three other actors in other films, I don’t even remember, so there is no point in writing about it. But, I remember it all, pleasantly surprised.
The founding team of the Super Seven are Homelander (a la Superman, lasers out of the eyes, flies, superpowers), Queen Maeve (a la Wonder Woman, warrior, strong, bulletproof), Train A (a la Flash, super speed, power), Underwater (a la Aquaman, communicates with fish, controls water, perhaps), Starlight (something like Starfire and Powergirl) – will not reveal her secrets and who she is. There are also two characters that were almost never revealed in the first season: Noir and Invisible.
The series is original, bribes with its unusualness, I have never seen this before. It breaks the boundaries of understanding who a superhero is. Makes you think about the reverse side of the medal. Is everyone really that perfect? What if he was bad? These and many other questions will be answered.
A new series from the service of a world-famous company quickly gained popularity, and the reason for this is considered to be a “non-standard” format of a movie about superheroes. If you describe briefly and without spoilers what is happening in the series I watched, then all that comes to mind is “senseless cruelty, creating a plume of millions of other problems and a mountain of corpses in addition.”
Is this series as good as they say? My unequivocal answer is no. Read below why.
About the advantages, which, unfortunately, are few:
1. Almost plausible
Despite the fact that it sounds confused, everything that happens in the series is almost believable. That’s almost where the first “minus” comes from, but more on that later.
So, if you imagine that superheroes really exist in our world, then they will act the same as in this series (the title, in my opinion, is in the original, which in our translation sounds ridiculous). “Heroes” do good – people rejoice, do evil – other people try to keep this evil from reaching the public.
The reality is that when you create the appearance that a lot depends on you, in fact, the opposite happens - nothing depends on you. Or you become a media puppet.
2. Effective action
There are not many fights in this series, but they are spectacular and high-quality. The graphics are good, but not great either.
That's all it is. However, even these advantages are attracted by the ears and catch attention only in the first series.
About cons:
1. Large small blunders
As I mentioned above, the plausibility here is rather “surface.” When it comes to trivia, the series turns into a spectacle for people with low vision or extremely poor logic.
So, a small group of “Avengers” (not a special FBI squad, as mistakenly stated in the synopsis on KinoPoisk), armed with a pair of guns and a laptop, without any plan or preparation, begins the fight for justice. At the same time, all the members of the group, except Marvin (aka M.M.), are clearly mentally ill, and therefore the question arises why he has all this at all.
Scenario trivia such as the obvious question “why the superhero walks around the clock in a masquerade suit” pale in the background of more significant nonsense.
About such large-scale blunders as a car that enters a store, and then (I will not describe the spoiler) quietly leaves and remains unsolved until the end of the series, I think it is worth mentioning. Then we have explosions, chases and fights that miraculously don’t get caught on cameras in a city that apparently lacks police and so-called “accidental witnesses.”
And finally, the apogee of idiocy becomes (spoiler, but alas, without it you can not understand how bad everything is) that the identities of the “Avengers” are revealed to their main enemy, and guess what happens to our insidious vengeful “the boys”? That's right, nothing! And this is despite all the possibilities of the “enemy” and the absence of any significant advantages or compromising data. But no, angry people with mental problems, who consider it worth living to take revenge on superhumans, follow the plan “without a plan” and calmly walk on mortal earth.
2. Hypocrisy
This is the biggest drawback of this series. Most of the characters in the series simply use each other for their own purposes, lie to everyone with whom they enter into a dialogue. Blackmail, hypocrisy, concessions, lies. Characters are honest only in the case of mutual antipathy. A lot of people watch TV shows for emotions and experiences, but the only emotion I get from this hypocritical clowning is disgust. There is no character here that evoked compassion, understanding, or any emotional response. Closer to the final series, I was tired of watching monotonous and boring characters, and the last series I watched without much enthusiasm.
3. Acting game
Here the fat minus is the main character, aka the guy with the stupid name Huey. His facial expressions like “it smells bad here” or “I’m going to throw up” don’t change throughout the series. And, faced with a difficult life situation, the guy does not become stronger, he simply loses touch with reality and becomes paranoid with a nervous disorder.
A character named Billy Butcher played by Carl Urban at first seems charismatic and has a specific purpose person, but over time his squeezing and unhealthy behavior become annoying and the image of a crazy person is formed.
4. Savings
This disadvantage is not as obvious and not as important as the others, but it hurts the eyes and brain from time to time.
- At the very beginning of the series, we are told that there are about 200 superheroes in Vote (the central villainous corporation a la Disney), but we can count all the superheroes we see on 10 fingers for the entire season.
- Character costumes like Starlight and Train-A look extremely cheap, as if they were made by schoolgirl fans. The wig of Queen Maeve (an extremely stupid name and does not correspond to the image of the heroine) should be left without comment.
- Also in the series is extremely rare such a character as Black Noir. He takes a place on the poster along with the rest of the superhero team, but never contacted any of them and appears a couple of times throughout the season.
- The paparazzi paradox. They are so common nowadays (especially in the US) that their absence seems very strange in The Boys. And we were not shown a single annoying photographer throughout the series. But they are the main “carriers” of defamatory rumors about various kinds of celebrities, which, moreover, flaunt in very noticeable costumes. Why the characters in this series were an exception will remain a mystery to me.
Result. I don’t understand the popularity of this series. The idea is not so new, it is just a little more in-depth and candid than, let’s say, in a feature-length movie (although, for example, Snyder in his superhero movie never makes heroes so unambiguously kind than Marvel directors). The characters' motives, like themselves, become uninteresting towards the end of the season. And if in the first series there is intrigue, rare specific humor and a demonstration of the enthusiastic public, then by the end of the series all the “knocks” between the characters become too chamber, and the actions of the characters and their dialogues are increasingly stupid.
In modern cinema, it is extremely difficult to surprise someone with the genre of superheroics: the public has endless plots for adaptations of Marvel or DC comics, not to mention a great many works by other publishers and studios. Is it possible to surprise the viewer on this field with the adaptation of another graphic novel? Perhaps if you’ve never seen Justice League’s 39; from an alternate universe of antipodes in which The Flash sits on drugs, Aquaman practices harassment and Superman is a real evil in the flesh. It was such a project that Amazon managed to shoot, and so successfully that the second season received the green light even before the release of the first. Adapted by creator 'Supernatural' Eric Kripke.
The plot of the series takes the viewer into a world filled with superheroes, where the latter bear the titles of world superstars. Their interests and hero-related issues are overseen by the corporation 'Vought'. The main character Huey becomes one of the 'side' victims of the heroes' activities and joins the disgraced detachment of former operatives capable of stopping the lawlessness and carelessness of America's favorites.
Advertising campaigns, press tours, lucrative contracts, VIP opportunities - only a small fraction of the life of superheroes, they are more interested in saving the world and humanity as a whole. Even Snyder did not show such vicious sides of supers in the Guardians & #39. Although, the world of the latter seemed to be impossibly gloomy, the creators of "The Boys" & #39; managed to reach new faces in the depiction of the fall curve of the moral foundations of the most powerful people of the planet, interspersed with scenes that can truly horrify. The plot itself and the performance are a rather subtle allegory for the realities of today’s capitalist world order.
And at the same time, ' Guys' are not inferior to full-length competitors in the quality of effects, production and camera work and excellent cast. Each episode is able to please the feeling of beauty both visually and musically. And the presence of black humor will only be a nice icing on the cake of one of the best projects of the year and the new flagship of Amazon.
Let me tell you right away that I've never read a comic book. Or are they being watched? I don't know. I wasn’t interested in superhero movies. The little things I saw were boring. Well, maybe I just lagged behind life, in my childhood there was nothing like this.
So I started watching The Boys with skepticism and was almost sure that I would limit myself to the pilot. But, man, I really fell for the show and swallowed the first season of the day! Because it's really a movie!
No, it's really full of superheroes for every taste. But it seems to me that the essence of the project is not in them as such, but in the search for new answers to eternal questions. And they give us quite serious, if not indisputable answers. Here you have problems of faith, and the topic of fooling the public, showing hypocrisy and hypocrisy and much more. In practice, supers are not supers in a moral sense. On the contrary, we will be clearly shown that absolute invulnerability, coupled with superpower, does not weaken the skull of their owners. And anyone will be undermined... well, if you're not Mahatma Gandhi. And they also work for a powerful and extremely cynical corporation ' Vought'. But supers have enemies, people without special abilities, but stubborn, stubborn and inventive. And the struggle will not be for life, but for death. . .
In general, there are a lot of characters in the series, but only a couple of positive ones, and even then due to their young age. All the others managed to spoil in different ways. But almost all of them are very colorful and look at them interesting. And the guys who plan to kill ugly supers are just something!
Let me add that all this was filmed on a grand scale, money was clearly not spared, the dialogues were also prescribed properly, and the actors tried their best. I would especially like to mention the two main antagonists, Bucher and Patriot. They're crazy! The action rolls very cheerful, almost nowhere sags, so there is no time even to pour a seagull. And modern realities have also played out. Here and Me Too, and the hard-fought struggle to save nature ... in short, the writers tried to fame. I especially note that many moves in the series are quite original and even believable. I didn’t even think I’d write that about a superhero movie!
Well, there's a major theme. It's about the desire for revenge being perhaps the most human of all feelings, but it's also the most useless. To spend many years trying to avenge the one you loved, and finally to find that the case was not worth it at all – this is a really strong move, rare for art. And instructive. A lesson on how you can waste your life chasing a chimera
I don’t know what will happen in the second season, but I definitely recommend the first one to watch.
9 out of 10
The series is very unusual, fun, bloody, and most importantly, allegorical to modern society. It would seem that not quite healthy superheroes have in common with real life. A thousand parallels to me. Well, for example: a superhero miscalculation kills a person. No problem, he apologized, and he was an accident. Intoxicated Justin Bieber skates to the sports car, well, he was arrested for a short time, a fine was discharged there, but society forgave him - he is a victim of popularity and eternal depression, and besides, he promised that it would not be like this again. The bottom line is that while society forgives and loves, big corporations see the point in siphoning the talent of a star...a superhero. But if society really condemns the act of a star... a superhero, goodbye, boy, you fly like a Spartan baby from the cliff of Taiget, and the executioners are left without regrets and remorse.
I recall the case of Kevin Spacey: without waiting for a court decision, based only on the statements of a person and public opinion, Kevin - Oscar winner and one of the most talented actors of the 20th century - was thrown off the mountain of Hollywood. All this is beautifully displayed in the series. While we love our superheroes and turn a blind eye to minor missteps, an army of marketers and PR professionals cleans their reputations and still shows their flawless lives.
Moreover, Seth Rogan has even trolled Hollywood’s brutal treatment of child actors, once popular and now making ends meet, people living in the remnants of their former glory. This bright moment is expressed in the episodic role of Haley Joel Osment, who once shone as a child in The Sixth Sense and Artificial Intelligence. In short, the series, with its hypercruelty and hyperbolization of good guys with a dark past and bad guys who also have some feelings or good reasons to be as they are, tries not only to convey another quality product, but also to reveal the real life of stars, politicians and corporations. Obligatory to view, mandatory to analyze.