Monday, June 30, 2008

I've Seen DARK KNIGHT: A Taste of Things To Come!

So the other night I was blessed with the chance to see THE DARK KNIGHT three weeks before its July 18th opening. I will not go into any lengthy review here, but I sill say the following...there is no question about it; THE DARK KNIGHT is one of the best summer blockbuster of 2008, and maybe one of the greatest films of the year! It's a step above its predecessor BATMAN BEGINS in nearly every way and may even be the greatest comic book movie to date, and one of the best sequels ever made, its just that good. It takes its viewers to a deep dark place that is uncomfortable, grim, and completely unexpected, yet offers glimmers of light that would otherwise leave the audience mentally and emotionally exhausted. This is not the fanciful theme park ride that so many other comic book movies (ala HULK, FANTASTIC FOUR, GHOST RIDER) have become, lacking in substance, excellence, or weight in favor of lucid storytelling, paper-thin characters, non stop action and overblown CGI. Thankfully, THE DARK KNIGHT does not make any of those same pitfalls. THE DARK KNIGHT is a relentless morality play, a commentary on the current state of our world and the times we live in, a meditation on the consequences of fear and the dark nature of mankind. Does it have flaws, yes, but they are minuscule in comparison to its strengths which include a sobering story, breathless cinematography, a haunting score, a complex script, and solid acting from nearly every character. But the crown jewel of this film has got to be Heath Ledgers mystifying performance as The Joker. Forget Jack Nicholson's goofy and babbling Joker in Tim Berton's BATMAN, and in place you get Heath Ledger inhabiting a man that is sadistic, chilling, and terrifying. Ledger is truly masterful here, and owns every moment in which he creates the perfect blend of cold-hearted killer, and psychopathic jokester. Look for him to get an acting nomination come Oscar time, he may even just win. A more detailed review will arrive upon the films opening, and my chance to see it for a second time.

Friday, June 20, 2008

AFI's 10 Top 10's

Every year since 1997, the American Film Institute (AFI) has come up with lists in order to honor the best in American Cinema. These lists are chosen by a body of film experts ranging from critics and historians to actors, writers, producers, and directors. In the past, AFI has made the distinction of naming the top 100 American films of all-time, subesequant years has brought us lists of the top film scores, top 50 actors and actresses, best romances, best musicals, best quotes, best thrills, best inspiration tales, as well as a 10 year anniversary revising their top 100 American Films of all-time. This year, AFI wanted to pay tribute to film genres by selecting the AFI's 10 Top 10's, which features 10 lists naming the top 10 films representing a specific genre. The genres include Animation, Fantasy, Gangster, Sci-Fi, Western, Sports, Mystery, Romantic Comedy, and Epic. And the winners are...



TOP 10 ANIMATED:

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS 1937
PINOCCHIO 1940
BAMBI 1942
THE LION KING 1994
FANTASIA 1940
TOY STORY 1995
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 1991
SHREK 2001
CINDERELLA 1950
FINDING NEMO 2003



Top 10 FANTASY:

THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING 2001
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946
KING KONG 1933
MIRACLE ON 34th STREET 1947
FIELD OF DREAMS 1989
HARVEY 1950
GROUNDHOG DAY 1993
THE THIEF OF BAGDAD 1924
BIG 1988



Top 10 GANGSTER:

THE GODFATHER 1972
GOODFELLAS 1990
THE GODFATHER PART II 1974
WHITE HEAT 1949
BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967
SCARFACE: THE SHAME OF A NATION 1932
PULP FICTION 1994
THE PUBLIC ENEMY 1931
LITTLE CAESAR 1930
SCARFACE 1983





Top 10 SCI-FI:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE 1977
E.T. - THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL 1982
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 1971
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL 1951
BLADE RUNNER 1982
ALIEN 1979
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY 1991
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS 1956
BACK TO THE FUTURE 1985



Top 10 WESTERN:

THE SEARCHERS 1956
HIGH NOON 1952
SHANE 1953
UNFORGIVEN 1992
RED RIVER 1948
THE WILD BUNCH 1969
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID 1969
McCABE & MRS. MILLER 1971
STAGECOACH 1939
CAT BALLOU 1965




Top 10 SPORTS:

RAGING BULL 1980
ROCKY 1976
THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES 1942
HOOSIERS 1986
BULL DURHAM 1988
THE HUSTLER 1961
CADDYSHACK 1980
BREAKING AWAY 1979
NATIONAL VELVET 1944
JERRY MAGUIRE 1996



Top 10 MYSTERY:

VERTIGO 1958
CHINATOWN 1974
REAR WINDOW 1954
LAURA 1944
THE THIRD MAN 1949
THE MALTESE FALCON 1941
NORTH BY NORTHWEST 1959
BLUE VELVET 1986
DIAL M FOR MURDER 1954
THE USUAL SUSPECTS 1995


Top 10 ROMANTIC COMEDY:

CITY LIGHTS 1931
ANNIE HALL 1977
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT 1934
ROMAN HOLIDAY 1953
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 1940
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY ... 1989
ADAM'S RIB 1949
MOONSTRUCK 1987
HAROLD AND MAUDE 1971
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE 1993



Top 10 COURTROOM DRAMA:

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 1962
12 ANGRY MEN 1957
KRAMER VS. KRAMER 1979
THE VERDICT 1982
A FEW GOOD MEN 1992
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION 1957
ANATOMY OF A MURDER 1959
IN COLD BLOOD 1967
A CRY IN THE DARK 1988
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG 1961




Top 10 EPIC:

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962
BEN-HUR 1959
SCHINDLER'S LIST 1993
GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
SPARTACUS 1960
TITANIC 1997
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT 1930
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998
REDS 1981
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 1956


Thursday, June 19, 2008

Could WALL-E be the greatest PIXAR film to date?

WALL-E zooms into theatres next week, but already the buzz surrounding the cutest character to inhabit the silver screen since E.T. is off the charts. Before it has even opened reviewers are calling it...

"Arguably the best film Walt Disney has ever had its name on"
- Harry Knowles AintItCoolNews.com

...while others are calling it a science fiction masterpiece let alone the greatest PIXAR film to date. With TOY STORY 1 & 2, A BUGS LIFE, MONSTERS INC, CARS, INCREDIBLES, FINDING NEMO, and RATATOUILLE behind their belt, the thought of WALL-E being superior to any of them, let alone all of them, is astounding and mind-blowing. PIXAR is arguably the greatest film studio in Hollywood history, in that nearly every one of their films has been a complete financial and critical success. Yes, some were stronger than others, but what remains is their love and dedication to storytelling. They are the best of the best, and the fact that WALL-E could be more amazing than anyone ever hoped or imagined is truly special. Also, if WALL-E is as good as they say, could this be the year that a PIXAR film finally gets nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award? BEAUTY AND THE BEAST stands as the only animated film to ever obtain such a distinction, but if it ever happens again, you can almost be certian that it comes from within the walls and minds of PIXAR. Here's hoping in a little robot discovering what he was meant for...

Could BENJAMIN BUTTON be one of this year's best films?

Check out one of the best trailers of the year!

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Review: RAMBO

RAMBO is back, and bloodier than ever! Sylvester Stallone does his best to bring attention to the genocide taking place in Burma, an atrocity that is horrific and grisly in all its factual details, details that Stallone does not shy away from showing viewers from beginning to end. However, simply bringing attention to a current atrocity does not make up for the lack of genuine and likable characters, a compelling story, a dramatic arc, or a worth while script. This film is soaked in horrific violence that is there to show us how bad things are in Burma, but that is the extent of its purpose. It is sad to think that people will go see this film with the whole purpose of being entertained as Rambo kills "the bad guys," but Rambo is no hero, and is nearly as sadistic and depraved as his victims. The fact of the matter is that RAMBO contains no hero's or likable characters at all, no one to look up to, and no one the audience can trust to do the right thing. In Rambo, there are only violent and highly arrogant people who rely on violence to solve all their problems. In SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, we understood the great cost and the purpose behind the invasion of Normandy by US and allied troops, but in RAMBO, the bloodshed seems only there for the sake of bloodshed.

GRADE: D+

RECOMMENDATION: Not recommended for those that can't take the sight of lots of blood, and excruciating violence.