Review of Sparks (2013) by Nik B — 24 May 2014

This homage to 1940`s pulp crime films is decent, but not without its flaws. In the vein of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow or The Spirit, it tells the story of a young boy named Ian Sparks, who loses his parents in a car crash when criminals collide with his family car. Ian decides he wants to clean up the city, and becomes a hero without powers (ala Watchmen), and falls in love along the way.

The story itself is told mainly in flashback, but it doesn't do well in the pacing department. The micro budget also hinders the storytelling a lot, with some bad CGI spread throughout, such as the fireball guy and the car crashes.

Clancy Brown, Jake Busey, and Clint Howard make solid appearances, so the cast is at least serviceable. Its the plot that gets all over the place, but a wayward and different take on the superhero genre.