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Polar Blair's Den Menu Page(1994-2005 Film Series)
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About These Films
Gallery
1. The Mask (1994)
2. Son of the Mask (2005)
About These
Films: "The Mask" was based very loosely upon the comics
from Dark Horse Comics. It wasn't an extremely popular character
like Spider-Man or Superman, but it did have a following. Enough
of a following that someone had the idea to make it into a movie with
Jim Carrey, who had just become a superstar with "Ace Ventura: Pet
Detective" (1994). Even today, more people know about this film
than they do the comics. The movie certainly took on a life of
its own.
Perhaps this wasn't the best thing for the series. A sequel was talked about as soon as the first movie became a hit in theaters. However, it took 11 years for another film to be made. Fans had to wait too long, and "The Mask" missed its mark. That, and the fact that the second film had nothing to do with the first (save for the mask itself) disappointed the masses. Jim Carrey declined to reprise his role, so the commercial success of the next film already had a black mark against it. To the credit of the sequel's filmmakers, at least they didn't try to recast Jim Carrey's character. Rather, they created a whole new world for "The Mask".
What people didn't understand about "The Mask" saga in comics is that it always went from one person to another, creating new green-faced characters and different problems. Film audiences really didn't care. As one egghead critic so rudely said on television about "Son of the Mask": "It's a Jim Carrey movie without Jim Carrey...so who cares?"
"Son of the Mask" didn't deserve to flop like it did. It did, in fact, become one of the most notorious movie bombs in cinema history. What makes this a sad tale is that the movie is actually quite good. It has special effects that blow away the first film by a long shot. Besides that, it's a really interesting and original story. This simply isn't a remake of the first movie; it's a whole new tale. Jim Carrey's not in it, but like Egghead would say, "Who cares?".
The point of the matter is whether you love it or hate it, "Son of the Mask" effectively killed "The Mask" series. Jamie Kennedy took a lot of heat for it, and he wasn't even bad. I like both movies. The second film captures the same wacky spirit of the first film, plus it brings new things to the fold. It's cool to finally see Loki, and we never knew a baby could be born with powers of the mask.
Perhaps this wasn't the best thing for the series. A sequel was talked about as soon as the first movie became a hit in theaters. However, it took 11 years for another film to be made. Fans had to wait too long, and "The Mask" missed its mark. That, and the fact that the second film had nothing to do with the first (save for the mask itself) disappointed the masses. Jim Carrey declined to reprise his role, so the commercial success of the next film already had a black mark against it. To the credit of the sequel's filmmakers, at least they didn't try to recast Jim Carrey's character. Rather, they created a whole new world for "The Mask".
What people didn't understand about "The Mask" saga in comics is that it always went from one person to another, creating new green-faced characters and different problems. Film audiences really didn't care. As one egghead critic so rudely said on television about "Son of the Mask": "It's a Jim Carrey movie without Jim Carrey...so who cares?"
"Son of the Mask" didn't deserve to flop like it did. It did, in fact, become one of the most notorious movie bombs in cinema history. What makes this a sad tale is that the movie is actually quite good. It has special effects that blow away the first film by a long shot. Besides that, it's a really interesting and original story. This simply isn't a remake of the first movie; it's a whole new tale. Jim Carrey's not in it, but like Egghead would say, "Who cares?".
The point of the matter is whether you love it or hate it, "Son of the Mask" effectively killed "The Mask" series. Jamie Kennedy took a lot of heat for it, and he wasn't even bad. I like both movies. The second film captures the same wacky spirit of the first film, plus it brings new things to the fold. It's cool to finally see Loki, and we never knew a baby could be born with powers of the mask.
The Mask
(1994): I had never heard of the comic book character "The
Mask" from Dark Horse Comics before this movie came out. It
wasn't an extremely popular character like Spider-Man or Superman, but
it did have a following. I was surprised when this movie was
made, more surprised when it became a hit, and even more surprised when
I found out it was good! Even today, I think this movie is more
popular than the comics. This is when Jim Carrey made good movies.
The Mask has a lot of superhero qualities, but is he a true superhero? Sure he's got a costume and superpowers, but most of the time he's a mischief maker. He doesn't even become a true hero until later in the film when he fights mobsters to rescue Tina. But the Mask is a good person underneath his big green face, so I guess he's a superhero of sorts.
Stanley Ipkiss, lowly bank clerk, finds a mysterious wooden mask that brings out all his hidden desires and changes his attitude. Since Stanley is a classic cartoon enthusiast, everything he wants to be is like the cartoons and comes out when he wears the mask. The funky yellow suit and all his crazy cartoony powers stem from his persona.
Above all else, this movie is FUNNY. The good guy wins out big time! It's really fun to watch and you feel good after you see it. Not all superhero films have these qualities, but they should. Cameron Diaz is at her hottest in "The Mask". She's never looked better! Even now when I think of Cameron Diaz I think of her in "The Mask"...not "Charlie's Angels", not "There's Something About Mary"..."The Mask".
Cast:
Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss
Cameron Diaz as Tina Carlyle
Peter Riegert as Lt. Mitch Kellaway
Jim Doughan as Detective Doyle
Peter Greene as Dorian Tyrell
Amy Yasbeck as Peggy Brandt
Richard Jeni as Charlie Schumaker
Orestes Matacena as Niko
Ben Stein as Dr. Arthur Neuman
Max as Milo the Dog
Notable Cameos:
Blake Clark as Murray
Joely Fisher as Maggie
Kevin Grevioux as Henchman #7
Fun Facts:
Son of the Mask (2005): I don't care what the critics say, I like this movie. I don't see anything wrong with it at all. The first film was awesome, and it would have been great to see Jim Carrey again, but this movie is cool all by itself. Besides the general wacky spirit of "The Mask", this movie bears little resemblance to the first film. Tim Avery, the hero of the movie, wears the mask only twice; once at the beginning and once at the end, but in rather long sequences. The dog of this movie wears the mask a LOT. If you loved the "Mask Milo" sequence of the first movie, you'll really get a kick out of the "Mask Otis" moments in this movie. The biggest twist to this saga is the fact that the hero's son is born with the powers of the mask. He can do all the crazy stuff he wants without having to wear Loki's invention. Another thing I find very cool is the presence of Loki, himself (played by Alan Cumming). An angry Odin (chief of the Norse gods), sends Loki down to Earth to recover the dangerous mask. Loki ultimately crosses paths with Tim Avery and the cartoony antics really fly.
This movie isn't as laugh-out-loud funny as the first, but it has a more sensational story and special effects that outclass its predecessor by a mile. The cast is awesome, and I just have a really fun time watching it. If you're up for a movie that's pure spectacle, you must see "Son of the Mask".
Cast:
Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery
Alan Cumming as Loki
Traylor Howard as Tonya Avery
Bob Hoskins as Odin
Liam & Ryan Falconer as Alvey Avery
Steven Wright as Daniel Moss
Ben Stein as Dr. Arthur Neuman
Bear as Otis the Dog
Fun Facts:
The Mask has a lot of superhero qualities, but is he a true superhero? Sure he's got a costume and superpowers, but most of the time he's a mischief maker. He doesn't even become a true hero until later in the film when he fights mobsters to rescue Tina. But the Mask is a good person underneath his big green face, so I guess he's a superhero of sorts.
Stanley Ipkiss, lowly bank clerk, finds a mysterious wooden mask that brings out all his hidden desires and changes his attitude. Since Stanley is a classic cartoon enthusiast, everything he wants to be is like the cartoons and comes out when he wears the mask. The funky yellow suit and all his crazy cartoony powers stem from his persona.
Above all else, this movie is FUNNY. The good guy wins out big time! It's really fun to watch and you feel good after you see it. Not all superhero films have these qualities, but they should. Cameron Diaz is at her hottest in "The Mask". She's never looked better! Even now when I think of Cameron Diaz I think of her in "The Mask"...not "Charlie's Angels", not "There's Something About Mary"..."The Mask".
Cast:
Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss
Cameron Diaz as Tina Carlyle
Peter Riegert as Lt. Mitch Kellaway
Jim Doughan as Detective Doyle
Peter Greene as Dorian Tyrell
Amy Yasbeck as Peggy Brandt
Richard Jeni as Charlie Schumaker
Orestes Matacena as Niko
Ben Stein as Dr. Arthur Neuman
Max as Milo the Dog
Notable Cameos:
Blake Clark as Murray
Joely Fisher as Maggie
Kevin Grevioux as Henchman #7
Fun Facts:
- Jim Carrey received $450,000 for this film. He signed the deal for "The Mask" before "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" became a surprise hit. "The Mask" became an even bigger hit grossing well over $300 million worldwide in theaters alone!
- This film was made on a budget of just $18
million...and grossed an outstanding sum of over $351 million
worldwide. The sequel, made on a huge budget of $80 million, made
only $57 million worldwide.
- Cameron Diaz, now a big star, got the lowest star billing of anyone in this movie. Check out the end credits! This is the film that "introduces" her. She was such an important character that she should have received much higher notice.
- Cameron Diaz's singing voice was dubbed by Susan
Boyd.
- As soon as this film became a hit in theaters, a sequel was already being planned. It was to be called, "The Mask II". Jim Carrey declined to reprise his role, and the project was cancelled.
- The original script of the film called for the character of Peggy Brandt to be killed; she was going to be thrown into the newspaper presses. However, the scenes were taken out and rewritten because Jim Carrey and Amy Yasbeck were both wanted for the sequel.
- If you read the comic book adaptation of "The Mask" movie from Dark Horse, you'll see that Peggy Brandt's death scene was used. I find it bizarre, knowing how the movie played out, and I'm sure a lot of other readers think so, too.
- Peggy Brandt's death scene is one of the deleted scenes now available on DVD releases.
- Another known deleted scene is that of the Vikings burying Loki's mask on shore.
- It is believed that a scene was filmed, but
deleted, of Stanley Ipkiss being mugged by the gang that he later
encounters in "Mask" form. This was to have happened right before
he returns home to see a cranky Mrs. Peenman. It would explain
why Ipkiss looks roughed up and why he had no watch.
- Anna Nicole Smith was originally wanted for the
role of Tina Carlyle, but was passed over for Cameron Diaz. I
think they made the better choice!
- This film was originally meant to be horror, like the comics. It became a comedy when Jim Carrey was attached.
- Jim Carrey was attracted to the role because,
like Stanley Ipkiss, he is also a fan of cartoons.
- There were a ton of creative liberties made from the comics in this film. "The Mask" comics from Dark Horse are kind of different. They're sort of funny, but dark. Very serious.
- In "The Mask" comics, Stanley Ipkiss goes insane and commits suicide. For a time, Lt. Kellaway becomes "The Mask".
Son of the Mask (2005): I don't care what the critics say, I like this movie. I don't see anything wrong with it at all. The first film was awesome, and it would have been great to see Jim Carrey again, but this movie is cool all by itself. Besides the general wacky spirit of "The Mask", this movie bears little resemblance to the first film. Tim Avery, the hero of the movie, wears the mask only twice; once at the beginning and once at the end, but in rather long sequences. The dog of this movie wears the mask a LOT. If you loved the "Mask Milo" sequence of the first movie, you'll really get a kick out of the "Mask Otis" moments in this movie. The biggest twist to this saga is the fact that the hero's son is born with the powers of the mask. He can do all the crazy stuff he wants without having to wear Loki's invention. Another thing I find very cool is the presence of Loki, himself (played by Alan Cumming). An angry Odin (chief of the Norse gods), sends Loki down to Earth to recover the dangerous mask. Loki ultimately crosses paths with Tim Avery and the cartoony antics really fly.
This movie isn't as laugh-out-loud funny as the first, but it has a more sensational story and special effects that outclass its predecessor by a mile. The cast is awesome, and I just have a really fun time watching it. If you're up for a movie that's pure spectacle, you must see "Son of the Mask".
Cast:
Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery
Alan Cumming as Loki
Traylor Howard as Tonya Avery
Bob Hoskins as Odin
Liam & Ryan Falconer as Alvey Avery
Steven Wright as Daniel Moss
Ben Stein as Dr. Arthur Neuman
Bear as Otis the Dog
Fun Facts:
- Nothing is mentioned of the events of the first movie.
- There are many nods made to the first movie. For instance, the location in the first film was Edge City. In this movie it was Fringe City.
- The name of the dog in the first film is Milo. The name of the dog in this movie is Otis. This is a play on the film title of "The Adventures of Milo & Otis".
- Ben Stein, as Dr. Neuman, is the only actor to appear in both movies (and the cartoon series).
- As a fetus, Alvey does the "Cuban Pete" routine from the first movie.
- In the first film, the hero has a great love for cartoons. In this movie, the hero is an aspiring cartoon animator.
- The cartoons of famous animator Tex Avery was a big influence on the style of the first film. The hero's name in this movie is Tim Avery.
- Fringe City is located 270 miles South of Edge City.
- This is one of four movies (so far) that is a sequel to a film Jim Carrey starred in and which he did not participate in any manner. The other movies are: Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Evan Almighty, and Ace Ventura, Jr.: Pet Detective.
- This movie was made on a budget of $80
million...and grossed just $57 million worldwide (in theaters).