Movie Review: Batman: The Dark Knight (2008)

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Action
Rating: PG-13

Christian Bale is back as Batman, but now it's the Joker (played by Heath Ledger) who is disrupting things in Gotham. Batman soon realizes that he is his most devious counterpart. Batman still has Alfred and Lucious, played by Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. He, however, doesn't have Rachel. She is now with Harvey Dent, Gotham's District Attorney.

Batman: The Dark Knight is definitely the darkest of any previous Batman movie. This mood is helped Ledger's wide-open portrayal of the Joker. Director Christopher Nolan let Ledger loose and it really shows. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face is a good added feature, but not as much of the movie as I would have thought.

The movie is a little long at 152 minutes, but it is the kind of movie you want to sit with for awhile. Thoroughly entertaining and will be enjoyed by most. Great special effects and a lot of blow-em-ups. A true summer blockbuster.

"I'm a guy with simple tastes. I enjoy dynamite and gunpowder and gasoline. They're all cheap."


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Movie Review: Hancock (2008)

Starring: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron
Director: Peter Berg
Genre: Action
Rating: PG-13

This year's Will Smith summer blockbuster. A ton of action and special effects as one would expect. He plays Hancock, "a super hero", who seems to be vulnerable to nothing. He, however, is tired of the whole super hero thing and doesn't care what people think anymore. In comes a public relations guy, played by Jason Bateman, who thinks he can help with Hancock's image. But it is his wife who changes Hancock more than anything else.

Hancock seemed to be two movies in one. The first half was a good summer shoot-em-up flick which seemed to end quickly. The second half felt like the deeper and more thoughtful sequel. Kind of weird. Smith, Bateman and Theron are all well cast for their roles. I would have liked the movie to be a little longer and maybe go a little deeper into the plot.

Overall a good movie and a must-see for any Will Smith fan.

"I'm real good at down!"

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Movie Review: Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant
Director: Len Wiseman
Genre: Action
Rating: PG-13

An internet-terrorist organization is attempting to take down the United States and destroy all of the people that helped them get along the way. John McClane who now works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is told to bring in a hacker played by Justin Long. Suddenly McClane and the hacker and involved in this dire situation and must help save the U.S. and McClane’s daughter. This includes seeking help from odd places such as underground hackers.

Live Free or Die Hard is the Die Hard for the new generation. Bruce Willis shines once again as John McClane. Justin Long plays the perfect funny yet very helpful sidekick. There is a scene with a semi truck and helicopter that is hard to beat. Oh, and the van in the elevator shaft scene. This movie and The Bourne Ultimatum are the two best action movies I have seen in a long time.

I'm glad they made this fourth movie and by all means make a fifth with the same ensemble. A must see for any Bruce Willis, Die Hard, or action movie fan. If you know how to spell internet you have to see this movie.

“Seriously, when was the last time you ever turned on the radio to listen to popular music? 70's, 80's? Michael Jackson was still black? Pearl Jam, maybe?”

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Movie Review: We Are Marshall (2006)

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, David Strathaim
Director: McG
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG

We Are Marshall tells the true story of when most of the Marshall college football team and coaching staff died in a plane crash in 1970. The team, the school and the town must find a way to live on after this tragedy. Some wanted to totally disband football entirely, while others wanted the team to continue to play on Friday nights. Matthew McConaughey plays the new coach that is hired to bring football back to Marshall. He then must go out and fill out the rest of his coaching staff and players. Can he rally his new team and the town behind him?

We Are Marshall is one of those films that won't win any of the big awards, but is entertaining and is definitely worth seeing. I was born after the crash and I didn't know much about the story beforehand and I think this movie did a good job of telling me the entire story. This movie is well done showing the human aspect of college sports without being too sappy.

A movie about hope, dreams and coming together in the worst of times. A PG movie for the family.

“Then I thought about a team, and a school, and a town that’s gotta be hurtin' real bad. And I thought, hell, maybe I could help.”

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Movie Review: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Starring: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, Julia Stiles
Director: Paul Greengrass
Genre: Thriller
Rating: PG-13

Jason Bourne is still on the run and now he is getting closer to finding out how and why all of this began. He is slowly getting his memory back and remembering details about how the man called Jason Bourne was born. There are those who are still after him to prevent his story being exposed. He must travel to Moscow, Paris, Tangier, London and New York to uncover the truth. Along the way he has to avoid assassins at every turn. You know, same story different day for Jason Bourne.

I think that The Bourne Ultimatum is the best of the series. The most amazing scenery from the great locations and some of the best action scenes. If you like fights and car chases, well here you go. And who knew that Jason Bourne could drive a motorbike? The man can do it all. Matt Damon is excellent to me and it still surprises on how strong he is in this role. Just like the Die Hard movies, there just can't be enough of these movies. Great fun and it is PG-13. This movie won three Academy Awards for Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Sound Editing.

For anyone who liked the first two Bourne movies. A great way to end the series; if it is the end.

“Someone started all this and I'm going to find them.”

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Movie Review: Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts
Director: Mike Nichols
Genre: Drama
Rating: R

This is based on the true story of Congressman Charlie Wilson. He along with the help of his friends were able to get the Russians out of Afghanistan and eventually lead to the downfall of the big Soviet power. Tom Hanks plays Wilson and Julia Roberts plays the money generator and Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the rogue CIA agent. This motley crew became an unstoppable force.

Charlie Wilson's War is a good movie with great characters. Hoffman as Gust, the CIA agent, was hysterical. He deserved his Oscar nomination. Hanks was believable as the eccentric and determined Congressman. I did think though that Julia Roberts as Joanne Herring, the rich woman from Texas who ran fund-raisers for Wilson, seemed out of place. She looked odd in the role and didn't pull the role off for me. Other than that, the movie moved very cohesively.

For any fan of these stars and of U.S. history. You'll learn something.

"It's just been my experience that when people with money and too much free time get involved in politics, pretty soon, I forget who it is I'm supposed to be shooting at."


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Movie Review: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Justin Bateman
Director: Zach Helm
Genre: Family
Rating: G

I gave this movie a try because I'm a fan of Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman. You get a magic movie store run by Dustin Hoffman who plays Mr. Magorium who also is an avid shoe wearer. Natalie Portman as the loyal employee of the store and Justin Bateman at the mutant, I mean accountant, who tries to make heads or tails of the finances of the store.

It is a decent G rated movie. A good cast who seemed to have fun with their roles. A movie about believing and using your imagination to achieve the impossible. Well, having a magic store helps too.

It should be liked by kids as it is funny as well as having a good story. The cast plays it off well and most will find it as a entertaining movie.

"The hot dog/bun ratio, why for the love of mustard are there never enough buns?"


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