Friday, July 20, 2012

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Around the House
Not to much to say around the house.  My sister and her husband just got approved for a house.  I am so excited to them.  They should be moving at the end of the month.  I am looking forward to seeing the new place when it is all pulled together.  Also, if I haven't mentioned this I am also looking to buy a place in the suburbs of Chicago.  I have been looking around for a couple of months or so.  I am planning to buy a place by November, but I am not at a rush.

Katrina Rue's birthday was yesterday.  Now you never tell a ladies age, so I won't tell you how old she is.  You should check out my new book covers that she painted for me.  Well anyway, we spent her birthday seeing the new Batman movie.  Despite the fact that we prebought the tickets, parking was a nightmare, and we got stuck in the very front row.  Can you say back pain!

My Thoughts
Batman makes his return after the death of Harvey Dent.  The Dark Knight Rises takes place 8 years after the fatal events of the Joker which led to the death of Harvey, Rachael, and Batman's reputation.  Despite all of this you would not be surprised to find that there are still believers around the corner to help them.  This installment of the dynamic series shows us a reclusive Bruce Wayne being cared for by Alfred, the introduction of the cat burglar Selena Kyle, and the dark force of Bane.

I rather enjoyed the tales this movie spins.  A few spoilers to show how much I loved this movie.  This installment gave Christian Bale the ability to return to the role or bow out while giving us a potential replacement.  Selena Kyle is not Catwoman, but her pre-Catwoman burglar self.  No whip, claws, or ears.   This choice is a great one of the history of the Batman.  It opens the door for her return while giving us the in between good and bad parts that make the character so lovable.  Anne Hathaway turned out to be the purfect Selena Kyle.  I was excited and worried that her in the role would be problematic since she is loved as the good girl, but she was amazing and the perfect foil to the strong will of Christian Bale's Batman.

Rating: 4/5 - One of the best series of DC Movies EVER done.

Hope for the next installment: Robin/Nightwing, Catwoman, and more of his dark villains.  PLEASE COME BACK Christian Bale and Alfred!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Movie Review: The Amazing Spiderman

Around the House
Vacation is good!  Family, Friends, and Dates have kept me busy.  More on that another day. 

My Thoughts
Oh where to start on this interesting little remake.  Number one I have a strong detest for remakes that do not do something new, different, or engaging for the audience.  I dislike when a remake is done so quickly that the watcher and freshly reference the previous movie (since it is on Stars or HBO or some movie channel).  I also consider a change in lead characters a remake with certain exceptions like the death of the original Dumbledor who will always be missed as the best actor to grace that role.  So back to the Topic at hand.  I was disappointed that Chris Evans was Johnny Storm and Captain America, but I do not think there is another actor that could have been that amazing of a Captain America.  Now we have 2 Spidermen.  My complaint about the original run of the series is that they kept killing off the villains.  Spiderman's villains don't die they always come back for more which makes it fun not knowing who could be the villain coming up to ruin his day.  It is always nice that they made the villains lovable in their own way by truly fleshing out the stories of who they were to the world.

Now The Amazing Spiderman blew me away.  I loved everything related to the Avengers and the new Spiderman fits in perfectly with them.  Even Emma Stone as a Blonde Gwen Stacey was perfect.  The story was engaging, heartfelt, and strongly written.  It definitely set the movies up to have an Avenger's feel by having one movie with the ability to build on another.  I can't wait to see the follow up.  It made me forget all the differences between the comics and the original movie run.  It was the perfect story to open the return of a long running series.  I recommend everyone run out and see this movie, throw out your "OLD" Spiderman movies, and buy the new one to add to your Marvel Collection.  I hate to say it, but Disney owning Marvel has done it right.

Rating: 5/5