Murderous Movie Reviews!
And so, inevitably, I come to the "movie event of the year". Why? Because I'm addicted to blockbusters. Can't help it; that's how I roll.
Batman: The Dark Knight
The restarting of a franchise is always a challenge and a gamble. What will the fans think? Will it make sense? Will it work? Here, in the case of the new Batman films, the answers are all positive, and even glowingly so. Batman Begins was an excellent "origin film", showing the world how Batman came to be. Now we have a chance to see Batman square off against a villain who is his equal and opposite, and in turn explore the boundaries between good and evil, order and chaos.
The greatest challenge here is comparing characters to their previous incarnations. The name "Batman" can bring to mind Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and even Adam West and Kevin Conroy. Likewise, "The Joker" can be Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, and now Heath Ledger. Who is better? Who is worse? These are the debates that really have no end, but I'll say this: Heath Ledger is definitely not last place.
The plot: Good vs. Evil! Order vs. Chaos! Superhero vs. Archvillain! Also, lots of 'splosions.
The pros: This may be one of the best "superhero" films ever made. That's a pretty big statement, but I think it holds true. The plot is complicated and convoluted, but so much of that is a result of the Joker's wildly insane plans and reasonings, that it does all make sense when you add it up. People cite Heath Ledger's performance as the high point of the film, and it's difficult to disagree: he plays a perfect madman, chaotic, hyperintelligent, insane, devious, and full of little quirks and idiosyncracies that make him more than your average villain character. The action sequences are striking (no pun intended), and the tension... the last forty-five minutes of the film are non-stop pressure, because anything is possible. They don't pull any punches- once The Key Death occurs, you realize that no one is safe, and anything is possible. Also, while normally superhero movies fail when they introduce more than one villain, in this case the movie is long enough and detailed enough that both villains are suitably handled, and do not bring down the film. This would be completely unlike Spiderman 3. And the supporting cast is all still spot-on: Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are Batman's key allies, and Maggie Gyllenhaal does a better job as Rachel Dawes than Katie Holmes did.
Bonus pros: Go see this in IMAX. Your eyes and ears might be angry with you, but the movie is just incredible on that gigantic screen.
The cons: The plot, like I said, is complicated, and it took a second viewing for me to really grasp the whole salami, so to speak. Also, I just hate Batman's "gravelly" voice masking. It makes him sound like he's trying out for Beast Man in another live-action He-Man movie. And thirdly, in IMAX, every explosion rattles your heart like a jackhammer. And there are a LOT of explosions.
The verdict: This movie is incredible. It may be overhyped right now, but that's not to say it is underwhelming. Go see it if you like a dark and gritty superhero film. It's all good.
Note: "How To Make A Pencil Disappear" is officially the Best Magic Trick EVER.
Note: Heath Ledger, as the Joker, dressed as a nurse, might be the most unintentially hilarious scene caught on film this year.
Note: I really can't stress the awesomeness of IMAX enough. Even if we did come out of there deaf and blind.
EDIT: Note: The trailer for "Watchmen" did not suck. It made me almost have hope that the movie would not be a total mockery of the original. I still reserve the right to be skeptical.
And now, for your entertainment, a summary of this movie's explosive potential.
Joker: Let's rob a bank!
Scarecrow: Wheee cameo!
Mob: Who stole our stuff?
Lau: Swipe! Got yer cash!
Batman: Let's go to Hong Kong.
Lau's Office: KABOOM!
Police: Everyone under arrest, and we mean everyone!
Joker: Fire in the hole!
Judge: KABOOM!
Gordon: PWNED!
Dent: I'm Batman!
Joker: I got a bazooka!
Police car: KABOOM!
Police van: KABOOM!
Police car: KABOOM!
Batmobile: KABOOM!
Helicopter: KABOOM!
Truck: SOMERSAULT, NO KABOOM
Batpod: AWESOMENESS!
Gordon: I got better!
Joker: I like jail, and also, this is where it gets fun.
Rachel: KABOOM!
Dent: HALF-KABOOM!
Guy with cell phone in his gut: This explosion brought to you by Verizon... KABOOM!
Police station: KABOOM!
Lau: BURNINATED!
Dent: Really quite angry now.
Joker: How 'bout we blow this popsicle stand, Harvey?
Dent: 'k.
Hospital: SLOW-MO EXTENDED MULTIPLE KABOOM!
Joker: This town is mine!
Everyone: GTFO!
Ferries: DID NOT KABOOM!
SWAT Team: Let's do this.
Wall: KABOOM!
Floor: KABOOM!
Joker: Bogus.
Dent: Surprise!
Gordon: Shit.
Batman: FOOTBALL TACKLE FTW!
Dent: PWNED!
Batman: Blame me; I can take it.
Gordon: 'k.
The End
Batman: The Dark Knight
The restarting of a franchise is always a challenge and a gamble. What will the fans think? Will it make sense? Will it work? Here, in the case of the new Batman films, the answers are all positive, and even glowingly so. Batman Begins was an excellent "origin film", showing the world how Batman came to be. Now we have a chance to see Batman square off against a villain who is his equal and opposite, and in turn explore the boundaries between good and evil, order and chaos.
The greatest challenge here is comparing characters to their previous incarnations. The name "Batman" can bring to mind Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and even Adam West and Kevin Conroy. Likewise, "The Joker" can be Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, and now Heath Ledger. Who is better? Who is worse? These are the debates that really have no end, but I'll say this: Heath Ledger is definitely not last place.
The plot: Good vs. Evil! Order vs. Chaos! Superhero vs. Archvillain! Also, lots of 'splosions.
The pros: This may be one of the best "superhero" films ever made. That's a pretty big statement, but I think it holds true. The plot is complicated and convoluted, but so much of that is a result of the Joker's wildly insane plans and reasonings, that it does all make sense when you add it up. People cite Heath Ledger's performance as the high point of the film, and it's difficult to disagree: he plays a perfect madman, chaotic, hyperintelligent, insane, devious, and full of little quirks and idiosyncracies that make him more than your average villain character. The action sequences are striking (no pun intended), and the tension... the last forty-five minutes of the film are non-stop pressure, because anything is possible. They don't pull any punches- once The Key Death occurs, you realize that no one is safe, and anything is possible. Also, while normally superhero movies fail when they introduce more than one villain, in this case the movie is long enough and detailed enough that both villains are suitably handled, and do not bring down the film. This would be completely unlike Spiderman 3. And the supporting cast is all still spot-on: Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are Batman's key allies, and Maggie Gyllenhaal does a better job as Rachel Dawes than Katie Holmes did.
Bonus pros: Go see this in IMAX. Your eyes and ears might be angry with you, but the movie is just incredible on that gigantic screen.
The cons: The plot, like I said, is complicated, and it took a second viewing for me to really grasp the whole salami, so to speak. Also, I just hate Batman's "gravelly" voice masking. It makes him sound like he's trying out for Beast Man in another live-action He-Man movie. And thirdly, in IMAX, every explosion rattles your heart like a jackhammer. And there are a LOT of explosions.
The verdict: This movie is incredible. It may be overhyped right now, but that's not to say it is underwhelming. Go see it if you like a dark and gritty superhero film. It's all good.
Note: "How To Make A Pencil Disappear" is officially the Best Magic Trick EVER.
Note: Heath Ledger, as the Joker, dressed as a nurse, might be the most unintentially hilarious scene caught on film this year.
Note: I really can't stress the awesomeness of IMAX enough. Even if we did come out of there deaf and blind.
EDIT: Note: The trailer for "Watchmen" did not suck. It made me almost have hope that the movie would not be a total mockery of the original. I still reserve the right to be skeptical.
And now, for your entertainment, a summary of this movie's explosive potential.
Joker: Let's rob a bank!
Scarecrow: Wheee cameo!
Mob: Who stole our stuff?
Lau: Swipe! Got yer cash!
Batman: Let's go to Hong Kong.
Lau's Office: KABOOM!
Police: Everyone under arrest, and we mean everyone!
Joker: Fire in the hole!
Judge: KABOOM!
Gordon: PWNED!
Dent: I'm Batman!
Joker: I got a bazooka!
Police car: KABOOM!
Police van: KABOOM!
Police car: KABOOM!
Batmobile: KABOOM!
Helicopter: KABOOM!
Truck: SOMERSAULT, NO KABOOM
Batpod: AWESOMENESS!
Gordon: I got better!
Joker: I like jail, and also, this is where it gets fun.
Rachel: KABOOM!
Dent: HALF-KABOOM!
Guy with cell phone in his gut: This explosion brought to you by Verizon... KABOOM!
Police station: KABOOM!
Lau: BURNINATED!
Dent: Really quite angry now.
Joker: How 'bout we blow this popsicle stand, Harvey?
Dent: 'k.
Hospital: SLOW-MO EXTENDED MULTIPLE KABOOM!
Joker: This town is mine!
Everyone: GTFO!
Ferries: DID NOT KABOOM!
SWAT Team: Let's do this.
Wall: KABOOM!
Floor: KABOOM!
Joker: Bogus.
Dent: Surprise!
Gordon: Shit.
Batman: FOOTBALL TACKLE FTW!
Dent: PWNED!
Batman: Blame me; I can take it.
Gordon: 'k.
The End