Well I have my picks and I have my reasons. I get so tired of stuffed shirts, that call themselves critics, but have no talent whatsoever of their own. That’s why they’re critics! It usually boils down to either jealousy of someone else’s talent or attempting to make up for one’s own shortcomings.
I feel that anything, if it truly should be judged, ought to be judged fairly by its peers. The judging should have required parameters and specifications to be met, even if only in the slightest. So reading or watching a movie critic, who is not involved in the movie making industry, criticize someone’s work is ridiculous if you ask me.
Now if you want make some form of opinion based on loose criteria, I’m OK with that. Which is really all that I do. I like to think that I enjoy a movie because it kept me interested in following the story to its conclusion. Or maybe it just made me feel something that I was not expecting. What about a movie that just lives up to the hype or preconceived expectations of its genre? This post will cover my slant on the “Best Films of 2008”, including The Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace and WALL-E.
The Dark Knight
PG-13 (For intense sequences of violence and some menace) – 2hr. 32min.
I like superheros. My favorites include Spiderman, Wolverine, Superman and of course Batman. The rebirth of really good comic/action films has also opened my eyes to the likes of the Fantastic Four and Ironman, which will both be reviewed in later posts I’m sure. I have been a fan of Batman since the 1960’s TV show (somewhat corny I know) and the first Batman movie with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Val Kilmer tried, but the Batman franchise was sinking fast. Clooney didn’t help the series any because the writing was just plain awful and the makeup and gizmos were getting far past ridiculous. Well Batman Begins was the rebirth of really good writing and action. It is the first true-to-origins story of the Dark Knight and Chrisitian Bale is excellent. I was more than excited to see The Dark Knight in theaters, so I saw it twice! The story, the action, the score and the performances of all the actors are overwhelmingly dwarfed by Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker. I have never had a movie make me laugh at a villain before, at least not that I can remember! I actually liked the Joker! The other theater patrons agreed with me. Now don’t misunderstand me here, Jack’s performance as the Joker is really good and I get a kick out of him every time I see that Batman movie. Heath however, has taken and defined (as best as anyone can) the undefinable role of the Joker. Anyone who is a die hard fan of the Batman franchise will tell you that it is very hard to really nail down who the Joker is and why he is the way he is. This movie is an absolute must see, even if only to appreciate Ledger’s portrayal of the criminal maniac that is the Joker.
Quantum of Solace
PG-13 (Intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content) – 1hr. 46min.
This past weekend, I have had the pleasure of watching Quantum of Solace. Let me begin by saying, Bravo to EON Productions! This movie was really a risky gamble, in that it was not supported in any way by an earlier writing of Ian Fleming. It is loosely based on the mere mention of Dominic Greene’s (Casino Royale) association with the Quantum organization, in the book “For Your Eyes Only”. This was a story that was masterfully created by the recent “Bond Pentaverate” of Michael G. Wilson, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis and Joshua Zetumer. The film’s teasers and trailers promised action, revenge, justice and the world’s favorite rogue in well tailored suits. Quantum of Solace delivered on all counts. If you like the early Bond films, you will appreciate this one and add it to your repertoire of favorites. The cinematography and soundtrack work are reminiscent of the old style and aficionados will love the style used for the opening and closing credits. Beware of the location of the famous “gun barrel” sequence!
WALL-E
Rated G (Some emotional trama) – 1hr. 38min.
Now WALL-E happens to be the only movie I can recall, in my entire life, that I have seen in the theater so many times! It is now available on DVD and nothing is lost from the big screen to the home screen. If you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying one of the most expertly crafted bits of cine-magic ever conceived by Pixar, shame on you. WALL-E is the most endearing story possible, of a little garbage-compactor that has a personality. He’s a 700+ year old robot that will capture your heart with his nuances of being a simple-minded, lonely and romantic pack rat. Its refreshing to see a family film that takes you in, mixes up your emotions, and deposits you at the end – wanting more. One of the most brilliant stories by Andrew Stanton (Toy Story, Finding Nemo) to date, WALL-E gets you into the movie by the opening sequence’s soundtrack, taken directly from the movie “Hello Dolly!”. It is some of the best sound effects work for Ben Burtt since the likes of his creation of R2-D2. One of the most astounding bits of trivia about WALL-E is that there’s no real dialogue from a movie character for the first 20 minutes and that’s not even by a human voice (which isn’t for another 20 minutes)! Beware that your emotions, and any present child’s emotions, will be tested in this movie.
Leave a Reply