Movie Review: The Dark Knight by ME

Wow, just holy jeez wow. The Dark Knight has exceeded any and all expectations that I had, which actually weren't that high because I avoided as much hype and spoilers as possible. My intrigue was only piqued by the trailers and some of the ingenious, if not overdone viral marketing. The best Batman film, if not the best comic book movie of all time. Scratch that, I'm sticking to my guns, The Dark Knight IS the best comic book movie ever, and this is coming from a guy with comic book character tattoo's and a closet filled with longboxes.

How can I convince you of that? Sadly, I don't think I can. This is one that you will just have to trust me on and see for yourself. The story has plenty of twists and turns that spin a web of a story that weaves tightly together and comes to a seat gripping climax. Everything builds up nicely, but not slowly. We start with a bang of a bank robbery that introduces us to the Joker and shows just how ruthless he is. And it only gets better. Even things from the trailer that didn't work for me redeem themselves. Take the Bat-Pod for instance. Stupid name, and with those huge tires it looks almost unbelievable, but when this thing bursts onto the screen and you really get to see it in action, it's pretty slick. We also get to see more of the evolution of the Batsuit itself. I won't say anything as I don't want to spoil anything, but it is an interesting thing to see that Batman doesn't know everything about everything even after doing this for a year or so.

Yes it was a shame that Heath Ledger passed on shortly after completing filming, but we have heard all about that that we really need, or care to. I am only going to judge his performance based on his performance and he really does become the Joker. Not one single speck of Heath Ledger comes through here. He really is a psychotic mad dog that has been taken off his leash to wreak havoc. I can understand why he had issues sleeping during and after filming. Hell, I'm gonna have trouble sleeping after watching it! Christian Bale proves his worth once again both as Bruce Wayne and Batman. Both have grown in ways. We see Batman come to the realization and acceptance of just what his role as Gotham's “Dark Knight” truly needs to be. Watching Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent is just as awesome. His character's rise and fall really hits you because he truly is a hero in the true sense of the word, even Batman admits this at one point. And to see his fall from grace is just heartbreaking. Maggie Gyllenhaal is 100% stronger as Rachel Dawes than Katie Holmes was and that's all that really needs to be said about her, right? Gary Oldman gets a more interesting chunk of the story to work with this time as we see how he comes to be the Police Commissioner, team him with Harvey Dent and Gotham wouldn't need a Batman. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman round out the cast but are little more than supporting characters this time around. It was also nice to see Scarecrow again, albeit only briefly, to help tie up one loose end from Batman Begins.

In a nutshell? The Dark Knight is the end all Batman movie, plain and simple. No real flaws to speak of. Great story, great pace, great acting, great action, just plain great.

10/10

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk by ME

I may be one of the few who actually liked Ang Lee's version of the Hulk. Sure, we didn't see the Hulk until an hour in. Sure I was lost by the end, just as everyone else was. I liked the comic book transitions between scenes, even if it was over used a bit. And the Hulk himself was pretty awesome. Too bad the best fight was against a pack of ridiculous looking giant radioactive dogs, including a poodle. In a nutshell Ang added a little too much Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to a film that should have been “HULK SMASH!” for an hour and a half or so.

Well, Louis Leterrier has fixed just about everything that needed fixing. For those not in the know, Marvel chose to “reboot” the Hulk franchise instead of doing an out and out sequel. This movie is a tale of a Bruce Banner on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of General T. “Thunderbolt” Ross, while trying to find a cure, while also trying to avoid situations that would cause him to turn into the Hulk. I swear, it's not easy being green. And to add to it, Ross has brought in Emil Blonsky and given him a “Super Soldier Serum” (Yes, it's the same stuff that creates Captain America) which makes him stronger and faster so he can get a rematch with the Hulk. Things go wrong (of course!) and Blonsky becomes The Abomination, a monster that only the Hulk has the power to deal with.

Edward Norton may be seen in the press as a prima donna with his insistence on having creative control as well as shunning all publicity for The Incredible Hulk, but I'll forgive him for that since he has helped to deliver a great Hulk film. Performance wise, he is just about perfect. All of the cast is. Liv Tyler, William Hurt, and Tim Roth all deserve a pat on the back.

I have to say that The Incredible Hulk has the best cgi since The Lord of the Rings. Ok, well, the hair on the Hulk does need a little work but watching the Hulk's muscles ripple and his hands shake as he screams his rage is something you have to see on the big screen. Gone is the pretty, artistic Hulk that Ang Lee brought us. This is a down and dirty Hulk who just wants to be left alone. And that is what really got me in The Incredible Hulk, we get to see two giant creatures beating the living crap out of each other until only one is left standing. THAT is what comic fans in general, and Hulk fans in particular, have been waiting for.

With little nods to the comics and the TV show, Hulk is an action packed slugfest peppered with feeling and comedic bits that don't go over the top. A must see for any comic or action movie fan. If Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk is what Marvel comes back with after let downs like X3, Ghost Rider, Daredevil and Electra, and with the promise of Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers on the distant horizon, then make mine Marvel!

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: 30 Days Of Night by ME

Title: 30 Days of Night
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Jon Bennett, Mark Boone Junior
Directed By: David Slade
Produced By: Nathan Kahane, Mike Richardson, Joe Drake
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
Release Date: October 19th
MPAA Rating: R for strong horror violence and language.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

I usually give horror movies some leeway when it comes to realism because these scenarios would never happen in real life. I give the same leeway for movies based on comic books. 30 Days of Night is a horror movie based on comic book so don't go in expecting the next great Vampire flick. No sexy or cool Vamps or suave dapper Christopher Lee types. Just evil monsters that have been hiding for centuries, always on the go. They discover Barrow Alaska, where the sun sets and does not rise for 30 days, giving vampires plenty of time to slaughter the townspeople and hunt down the survivors. Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), Eben's younger brother Jake (Mark Rendall) and a handful of survivors try to make it to sunrise. Can they do it?

30 Days of Night is far from perfect. With plot gaps such as no reasons are ever given as to why Eben and Stella are separated as well as big gaps in continuity, the over use of the “Shaky Cam”, and vampires who annoyingly screech throughout, we are treated to a hit and miss addition to both comic book and horror genres by Hard Candy director David Slade. And you know what? That's fine with me. As long as there are good effects, good acting and a story that makes some sense, I consider it a decent horror movie. Cinematography wise, the color palette fits the mood of the film perfectly. Drab grays and shadows, even the snow is more gray than white. There is one shot that not only is a good example of the use of color, but the carnage that has been wrought by these monsters is and overhead shot that moves down the street, bodies lying in splattered puddles of blood, monsters darting here and there, grabbing victims. Great shot.

Besides seeming to always need a haircut no matter what role he is playing, Josh Hartnett is the strongest actor in the film, especially when it comes to protecting family. One scene in which his deputy has killed his family to spare them from the vampires has Hartnett shaking the man telling him, “You protect your family! Not kill them!” with emotion that you can feel. But then at other times he can be a little over the top. BUT remember, it is a vampire movie based on a comic book. Melissa George, who plays Stella, Eben's estranged wife is the standard strong woman character who wasn't even supposed to be in town (she missed her plane). I don't know the character name, so I can't look up the actor, but the lead vampire was extremely well acted. You don't want to mess with him because you can feel that he has centuries of experience at slaughtering humans. Which makes the final fight between him and Eben a little unbelievable. If you had centuries to practice, wouldn't you be the best warrior ever?

I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but 30 Days of Night reminds me of Phantoms, a movie based on the novel of the same name starring Ben Affleck (Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms!- just a favorite quote from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back for those in the know), Rose McGowan and Peter O'Toole. But I digress. 30 Days of Night isn't without it's fair share of problems, but if you can overlook those, what you have left is more or less an action flick with elements of horror that is worth a rental on DVD.

http://www.30daysofnight.com/

Until 30 Days of Night 2: The Lost Boys Connection
keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

DVD Review Link: Barb Wire by ME

Here is something a little different. My second contribution to The Comic Book Bin's Dark Horse month is a review of the 1996 Pamela Anderson vehicle Barb Wire. Since the review is for them, I am just going to post a link to it here. Please, come back and comment.

Keep reading,
Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

DVD Review: The Mask by ME

It's Dark Horse month over at The Comic Book Bin - www.comicbookbin.com. I was chosen to review two movies. The Mask and Barb Wire. Here is the review for the Mask. Hopefully I can get the nerve to watch Barb Wire by the end of the month.

Title: The Mask
Starring: Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck
Directed By: Chuck Russell
Produced By: Mike Richardson, Chuck Russell, Michael de Luca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Romance and Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: July 29, 1994
MPAA Rating: PG-13

The first movie I am reviewing for Dark Horse month is the now classic The Mask, starring Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss, a loser who finds an ancient Norse mask. When Ipkiss puts the mask on, he becomes a bigger than life prankster called, aptly enough, The Mask. First it's all fun and games, until when The Mask robs the bank in which Stanley works at the same time as local crime wanna be boss Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene). Dorian then wants (and gets) the mask for himself. Ipkiss, with the help of his friend Charlie (Richard Jeni) and his dog Milo, must save the day. Oh, and Cameron Diaz in her first movie role is some smoking eye candy as nightclub singer/love interest Tina Carlyle.

I had actually forgotten how great this movie is! We see Jim Carrey at the very beginning of his movie career with only Ace Ventura and the little known vampire comedy Once Bitten and the TV show In Living Color under his belt. This is the Carrey that I know and love: cartoony, outrageous and over the top. And yet he can also play the dorky, loser Ipkiss with a sincerity that doesn't make him seem like the stereotypical loser. What can I say about Cameron Diaz except that she is at her most beautiful here. She isn't my cup of tea (I think she is way too goofy these days), but here The Mask said it best -smokin'! Other mentions are Peter Greene as Dorian, who looks the part and has the voice, but comes off a tad bit whiny, Peter Riegert as Lt. Mitch Kellaway, who looks and acts even less like a cop than I do, and Max as Milo the dog. Max gives an awesome performance. Yes, it's so good I am mentioning him as part of the cast!

I know that the movie is extremely different from the comics from Dark Horse, which from what I have gleaned from the extra features, were a darker, horror comic with a sense of humor, but I think it was a great decision to lighten it up a bit and cast Carrey as the lead. I have never read a The Mask comic, so purists may disagree. Anyways, the effects are phenomenal, holding up after 13 years! (Man, I feel old) of technological advancement that has brought us the Star Wars prequels and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hell, there are effects in here that look better than some in this summers Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer!

If you haven't seen The Mask yet, go buy it. It is a great addition to any collection. And, if you have seen it, I urge you to revisit it once again and see how a comic movie can be extremely successful without having to stay true to the source material rote by rote.

Wow, this one turned out longer than expected.

Until they make a Mask movie without Jim Carrey, wait, they did that already, oh well,
keep reading

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Spider-Man 3 by ME

Title: Spider-Man 3
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, James Franco
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Produced By: Stan Lee, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr, Kevin Feige
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Release Date: May 4th, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire)dons the mask once again. This time he is up against Harry Osborn (James Franco), Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace). At the same time, he gets a nifty new suit that amplifies his aggression along with his powers. AND, he is having girl trouble, not only with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), but with newcomer Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard). Spidey sure has his plate full this time around.

If this review seems a little jumbled, it's because I am such a fan of the Spider-Man movies and comic book movies in general, that it is hard to write an unbiased opinion. So consider this a disclaimer. The views and opionions contained in the following review are the sole opinions of a big Spider-Man fan and an almost rabid fan of any and all comic book movies.

Have you noticed that it seems that the first and third installment of a trilogy almost always gets a bum rap? Unless it's Lord of the Rings, which doesn't count as they were all shot at the same time. Anyways, Star Wars – Who doesn't agree that Empire is the best of the lot? X-Men – X2 whooped X1's butt but The Last stand fizzled to put it nicely. Superman – Kneel before Zod! Get the picture? So with a grain of salt, here we go.

Spider-Man 3's shortcomings fall mostly in the minor issues category. It's biggest problem is that there is just way too much going on for even a two and a half hour movie. While Mr. Raimi does an admirable job, I think that it should have been split up into a third and fourth movie. Where the film succeeds is everywhere else. The story has at least one twist that I sure didn't see coming and the way Venom was handled exceeded my expectations after hearing all the hoopla and rumors on the internet. I am a Venom fan from way back and was actually scared upon hearing about the casting of Topher Grace. But my worries were unfounded, Venom was handled as well as can be expected with the short screen time. Raimi could have just used him as shock value but instead even Brock has a story that can cause you to sympathize with him, even if it is only a little. Sandman also gets what is supposed to be a heartbreaking story but it is hard to feel sorry for him when again, there isn't much screen time.

Do we really need to go into detail about returning cast members? Ok, but quickly. Maguire rocks, with everything that is happening to him you can truly see why the black suit is so enticing. If it wasn't for the teachings of Uncle Ben and Aunt May, we wouldn't have needed Eddie Brock Jr. Peter would have turned to the dark side on his own. Kirsten Dunst, while I admire her, there is something about her that doesn't seem right for Mary Jane. But, after three films I guess I am getting used to her. All the faves return, J.Jonah Jameson, Robbie, Betty, Ursula, Hoffman, like I said everybody. James Franco gets to show that he is more than just a background character, bringing Harry Osborn to a new level.. Rounding out the cast is newcomers to the saga, Thomas Hayden Church and Topher Grace. Both of which are slightly underused due to the overstuffed plot, but work well with the amount of screen time given.

Sam Raimi has done an excellent job balancing all of the elements that make up Spider-Man 3 while still providing room for each characters inner turmoil to come through.

Just remember Sam, with a great budget, comes great responsibility.

Keep reading,
Mitch E.
mitchemerson@hotmail.com