Jackass #D

The first Jackass show aired on MTV in 2000 and now, over ten years later, they are still putting on a show for fans everywhere.  The guys we know as the Jackass crew include Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, "Steve-O," and Chris Pontius to name a few.  After their two years on air and after two previous movies, Jackass 3D was announced to release in October 2010.

What they do may be described as crazy, juvenile, immature, and even utterly idiotic; however, they have seemed to create an ever-growing following.  Despite whether you like Jackass or not: looking at the quality of the movies as a whole, it's a great piece.  The filming and visual effects alone make Jackass 3D a movie worth watching.

Visually, no one can disagree that Jackass 3D was phenomenal.   For 3D, the film was right on the money – in the sense that it's worth paying extra for it.  Of course, that is if you don't mind the puke, feces, and some unmentionable things coming straight for you.

 Seriously though, even in 2D, the effects are utilized so well.  The slow motion close- ups were particularly visually stimulating in the 2D edit, and even more memorable was the movie's finale.  This isn't some intense science fiction visual effects in any sense, but it is what works for Jackass.  Jackass 3D is best seen in the original format if you're a true fan.

In a filming aspect, the films have been good every time: extreme angles, hidden cameras, close-ups, and "on board" cameras.  It's very hard to critique Jackass 3D in a traditional sense, for it is not the traditional movie.  There are examples of great directing, though. 

As I mentioned previously, the slow motion close-ups stick out.  For instance, the "Rocky" segments were captured perfectly using that close angle, and the slow motion pulled it all together.  Specifically creative was the "crotch-cam."  The different types of shots and angles give the director a versatile arsenal to work with.  The mixing and matching of film styles is probably one of the most unique things about the Jackass films.  It takes a creative and flexible director to put together a movie like Jackass 3D and make it work.

Pranks are probably my favorite part of the film, and it shows that the stars can actually act – and not just like Jackasses.  Johnny Knoxville's grandpa character is a familiar face that we see again in the third installment.  Regardless of how absurd the character may be, Knoxville has him down to a tee.  No, he doesn't have rehearsed lines, but there are also no retakes; Knoxville isn't playing that character, he is that character.  It may not seem like these guys act on the surface, but there is a craft to what they do.

We can't forget about what Jackass is.  The film delivered just what you would expect from the gang, and they made sure not to lack in the nauseating department.  If you liked them in 2000, you will like them now; however, I did find some sketches to be repetitive.  For a majority of the film though, the crew laid out a whole new playbook.  If you like to laugh, aren't weak of stomach, and enjoy watching grown men be fools, then make sure to check out Jackass 3D.