The KNIGHT is upon us!

A year of hype and excitement and I'm having a hard time finding where to begin. Whew.

THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

THE DARK KNIGHT is a masterpiece; a film that transcends genre stereotypes and redefines what a well-done comic book film should be. It's 150 minutes of an awe-inducing adrenaline rush that will leave you at a loss of words.

But in a superhero movie?

It certainly doesn't feel like one. In fact, this is more of a crime epic than a comic book film; more HEAT than SPIDERMAN. THE DARK KNIGHT is about escalation; that things must get worse before they get better, and that's what's happening in Christopher Nolan's scarily-real Gotham. No abundance of neon lights and gothic architecture here... this is a Gotham City that could easily pass for any of today's major metropolises.


The hype generated over Heath Ledger's Joker is perfectly legitimate. Though his Joker is undoubtedly horrifying, it's his ethos that makes this incarnation particularly frightening. Never before has a comic book film seen a villain with such rich psychological depth - this Joker is out to question Gotham's morality and priorities, not kill just for the sake of killing - giving him a specific chill that will leave audiences particularly aghast. Ledger presents a villain crafted so immaculately that he's likely to go down among the ranks of cinema's best, putting him in the same formidable breath as some of the medium's all-time top baddies.

Audaciously diving right back into exploring Bruce Wayne and his own ethos in the struggle to fight for good, THE DARK KNIGHT further develops what BATMAN BEGINS created in crafting Batman's origins. Things are certainly escalating in Gotham, and in THE DARK KNIGHT, crap is hitting the fan. When people close to Bruce start dying, director Nolan dexterously explores his mental struggle: does Batman keep fighting for good or does he succumb to the bloodshed that has come at his hands? Although the award buzz will likely all go to Ledger, it's Bale that must be credited for an equally provocative performance, again proving that his casting was an inspired choice; a blessing for the integrity of the character after a paralyzing series of films a decade before. Bale's Batman is the definitive superhero lead of our time, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The players of THE DARK KNIGHT don't stop delivering there, and while audience favorites Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman all prove to be admissable, it's Aaron Eckhart's go as Harvey Dent that's particularly beguiling. Gotham's "white knight," as they call him, is strangely courageous, summing up the brazen will to fight the mob and pursue the most powerful criminals in Gotham. His rise and fall is fascinating, enchanting, and ultimately, wholly gruesome. His transformation into Two-Face is an immaculate summation of the tragic hero of old literature, and it's Eckhart's fabulous depiction of the character that will draw audiences in to his unfortunate downfall from the savior of Gotham into a vengeful renegade.

THE DARK KNIGHT is not just the best film of 2008, it's the best superhero film to ever grace the screen. THE DARK KNIGHT is a smart, deep, action-packed thrill-ride that will leave your jaw agape. The gold standard for comic book films has now been set and the bar is higher than ever. It's perfectly crafted modern Hollywood cinema - expert story-telling, brilliant pacing (how many 150 minute films move so quickly?), and a rich, moody score - all coming together to form a beautiful, resounding cinematical success.

This is a must-see. Actually, see it a few times. Take it all in. Experience the rush that a truly great film can give you. And if you don't like it, I only have one question for you: why so serious?

My Rating:

WALL-E, HANCOCK, and THE DARK KNIGHT!

Hey everyone. It's been awhile since I've been able to sit down and write up reviews, but now that the weather is warm and the school is... uhh, out... it's time to get back to some good ol' fashioned criticizing. Let the bitching commence!

WALL-E (2008)

The highlight of 2008's summer movie season so far is Pixar's WALL-E. A touching tale of the adventures in robot infatuation, WALL-E is charming, beautiful, and smarter than any animated film should ever be. WALL-E is not an innocent children's film nor is it subtle in its message(s) by any means - the film drives home the environmental paranoia and rampant obesity epidemic as observed in today's world - but that never becomes even mildly distracting as the utter 'cuteness' of the Wall-E/Eve courtship is so jaw-droppingly adorable that you won't even care that we're destined to evolve into fat, boneless slobs. The film achieves a faultless mesh of message(s) and plot points, ultimately making WALL-E not only disgustingly cute but generates a narrative that is so expertly crafted and executed that you forget this film is marketed as a kid's movie.


WALL-E is a flick for all ages. It's clever enough that even the most testosterone-powered, stoic teenager will leave the theatre with a grin stretching from ear-to-ear and rainbows and butterflies in their heart. It's the magic of cinema at its purest; stunningly well-designed CGI, stunningly well-designed story. See it, be engulfed by it, enjoy life.

My Rating:


Next up is...

HANCOCK (2008)

Sadly I had to follow up WALL-E with Will Smith's latest blockbuster HANCOCK. It's a film that had promise with story, but it's so poorly directed and lost behind gimmick plot twists, putrid dialogue, and genuinely abysmal filmmaking that it quickly becomes one of those "I can find something better do with my time" movies.


You have Will Smith. He's the quintessential romantic hero: flawed, in the dumps, and oh so human. But it never works. Hancock's story falls victim to moronic dialogue and an utter lack of depth and intelligence that molds a complete absence of interest in the character and his life. How do you make Will Smith character uninteresting?! Will Smith could serve as a midwife for the conception of an alien baby and it would at least be mildly interesting, if not at least somewhat comically amusing (and for the record, this has actually happened). Unless you have an affinity for the word "asshole," this film won't do much more than surmise a few chuckles mixed in with a myriad of groans. Yeah... that bad.

HANCOCK is simply boring; nothing about this film is remotely entertaining, in particular a senseless climax that serves as the conclusion of a third act that is so scarred by a baffling series of events that you are forced to forget how bad the rest of the film was just to try to come with some explanation as to what is happening before your eyes. The narrative is shaky and the "big twist" is naueseatingly contrived. Chock on to that list lazy character development, middle school humor, and pacing as smooth as sandpaper and you get a summer blockbuster that falls flat on its grimey, homeless face.

I really wish I would've skipped this and viewed WALL-E for a second time. Well... scratch that. Go see it for Charlize Theron. She's hot. Other than that, save some dime and find something more worth your time (or see WALL-E... whatever floats your boat).

My Rating:

And now I sit back and wait anxiously for THE DARK KNIGHT to be released Friday. The best $13 I will have ever spent will undoubtedly be my pre-ordered IMAX tickets for a Friday showing of the film. Holy Toldeo I'm excited. See ya then!