The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is a rare kind of movie. It is so overhyped that it's almost impossible to believe that it could live up to your expectations. But guess what? It doesn't disappoint. In fact, The Dark Knight is a huge step forward for comic book / superhero movies. For years, these kinds of movies were seen as brainless summer popcorn flicks. You don't really need to think about them - just sit back and enjoy. It might not be particuarly thought-provoking or intellectual but at least it's a fun way to pass the time - great special effects, so-so acting, so-so story. The Dark Knight is whole different kind of movie. It's definitely not a brainless summer popcorn flick. It's a well-done, classy, smart film - the kind that will stand the test of time and the kind that should definitely be called a masterpiece. The special effects? Great. The storyline? Smart in every way. The acting? Well, it's out of this world (especially by a certain late actor... more on that in a minute). Director Christopher Nolan is back and better than last time. The story picks up a few years after Batman Begins lets off. Batman / Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is still struggling to clean up the streets of Gotham. This time around he may get a little help in the form of White Knight district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) who is the kind of politician who is actually trying to make a difference. He's also dating Bruce's old girl, the love of his life, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal this time around who is about a hundred times better than Katie Holmes was). The mob (led by Eric Roberts!!!) is uncontrollable but that is the least of Gotham's problems. There's a new villain in town - he's absolutely out of his mind, embracing chaos, anarchy. He says at one point that he makes no plans. He's like a dog chasing a car but he doesn't know what he would do if he actually caught the car. He just acts without thinking anything through - and that terrifies the people of Gotham. His name is the Joker and in the hands of Heath Ledger he becomes the most terrifying, hilarious, downright crazy villain. The late Ledger creates a masterpiece of a performance. I don't see a scenario in which he won't win a posthumous Oscar for his work here. He's amazing and he gives the performance of his much too short life. Then there's that fantastic supporting cast - Michael Caine as the ever faithful Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman as Lt. Gordon (who really deserves an honorable mention because he's pretty damn good as well). Overall, The Dark Knight is two and a half hours of pure entertainment. There's little to nothing wrong with the movie. Not only does it meet expectations, it surpasses them.

Grade: A

Hancock, Wall E + more

Hancock - Will Smith is perhaps the biggest movie star in the world. He's got more charm and charisma in his left arm than most people have in their whole bodies. It's really a hoot to see him playing a drunken, mean, smart ass superhero. Smith is surrounded by some pretty great co-stars as well. Charlize Theron is beautiful as ever and downright capable of representing for the ladies. And Jason Bateman, well, Jason Bateman is just a master at line delivery. Everything that comes out of his mouth is pitch perfect. Too bad this great cast was only surrounded with half of a good movie. I'm not saying that Hancock is bad, per se. It's just not great either. There are moments of greatness where the movie is genuinely funny or genuinely touching or genuinely action packed. Then there are the moments when it's genuinely boring as hell. The premise is certainly interesting enough - an industructable super hero, the last of his kind, struggles with his own demons (alcohol, self loathing) while trying to help the ungrateful folk of Los Angeles - although the script is largely flawed. The overall idea of the mean spirited and unwilling superhero is enough to sustain the movie for the first half hour or forty minutes or so. However, the end isn't nearly as thought out as it should be and falters greatly. The big surprise twist is neither surprising nor very thought out. There are mind-boggling gaps of logic and the script feels so badly mapped out near the end that it shortchanges what could have been a pretty great movie. That said, it's still worth seeing, if only for Smith and Bateman and their overall awesomeness.
Grade: C

Wall E - Okay. Wall E is pretty adorable. Still, contrary to popular belief, it is not the be all end all of movies. I will admit that the first twenty minutes or so are downright perfection. Wall E is, quite possibly, the most ridiculously adorable star of a movie ever. The scene near the end (let's call it the fire extinguisher dancing scene) is perfection as well. Parts of the movie even managed to melt my black heart. Still, it's really not one of the best movies ever. Maybe it's just me, because I've never been a fan of animated movies in general (even when I was little... I was more interested in Halloween than Cinderella). And Wall E is an intelligent, well done, emotional little movie about the end of the world. It's charming. It's unique. It's beautifully animated. Still, I found it to be lacking eventhough I can't quite put my finger on way. Maybe it's because I'm not a Pixar fan girl. Or maybe it's because of my weariness against animated films. Or possibly it's because I tend to lean more toward the dark side of human nature and stay away from all this gooey sentimental nonsense. Whatever it is, I seem to be in the minority of people who didn't fall head over heels in love with Wall E. Yes, I highly recommend it. Yes, I think it's adorable and sweet and great. No, I don't think it's one of the best movies ever made (like some are saying).
Grade: B
[And possibly I'm being harsh but someone has to balance out all the people heaping praise on this movie.]

The Love Guru - Stay as far away from this movie as humanly possible. There were two good things and exactly two good things about it. 1) Justin Timberlake. Love this guy, for real. 2) The joke about the Morgan Freeman voice over machine. Perhaps I'm the only person who finds it funny though because I not-so-secretly wish Morgan Freeman was narrating my life. Would make things a hell of a lot more interesting.
Grade: D-

Cassandra's Dream - Woody Allen is back! This guy almost never disappoints me. I would seriously recommend anything by him as long as it doesn't have the words 'Jade' or 'Scorpion' in the title. Woody's story about two brothers (Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor) and their quest for money (different reasons - Farrell has a gambling problem, McGregor needs to impress his new actress girlfriend) which intwines them in a dangerous life. With a shockingly dark ending, Woody is still the king.
Grade: B+

Charlie Bartlett - Anton Yelchin is pretty knockout great in this movie. Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic as well. Overall, it's a pretty smartly written and well acted film. Still, at times it feels like it's trying a little too hard. Still worth checking out though.
Grade: B-

Be Kind Rewind - So uneven it hurts. There are parts of greatness in this movie. The premise itself is pretty great - after an unfortunate incident, all the video tapes at a local store are left blank and the desperate employees are forced to recreate films like Ghostbusters and Rush Hour 2. Mos Def is pretty solid in the lead. Jack Black almost ruins the whole movie for me. Mia Farrow is a goddess. Boring as hell at times.
Grade: C-