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Reviews
The Dark Knight (2008)
This is a good film
Wow! I saw 'The Dark Knight' earlier today and after reading a few IMDb reviews thought I would chip in my own two cents on the film. My younger brothers saw it opening day (I had to work late) and they almost insisted that I see it immediately.
I loved 'Batman Begins.' I'm no comic book fan, but that was a great film. I did all that I could to not read too much of the hype surrounding TDK. That was pretty hard with Heath Ledger's death sprayed across the headlines, but I didn't want to raise the film to a level of expectation that, no matter what, would let me down (see 'The Phantom Menace'). The lights in the theater went dark and I was ready to be amazed.
"Amazed" almost happened. "Amused" would have been the best word to describe the movie. 'The Dark Knight' has a lot of great things going for it. The joker's sinister comedy was outstanding; the trick with the pencil sent the theater audience into a frenzy. The cinematography of the action sequences was the best I have seen since 'Ronin.' I also enjoyed the character interactions (Dent/Dawes), (Wayne/Dent), (Fox/Wayne), etc. The pairings were all evenly matched.
The actor who stole the show was Aaron Eckhart; that guy had the best performance hands down. I know that Hollywood is screaming for Ledger to win all kinds of posthumous awards, but Eckhart was the man of the hour in 'The Dark Knight.' This is not the best film of the summer or the year. It is a lot of fun and well worth the price of admission, but 'Iron Man' is still the super hero film to beat in 2008. Actually, that is "the" movie to beat in 2008.
Superman (1978)
What a super man . . . . SUPERMAN!!!!
This movie is simply fantastic. 'Superman' is THE best superhero movie Hollywood has ever produced. From the opening title sequence (which is also the best in movie history) to the shot of Superman flying through outer space, 'Superman' has all the parts that make a great film.
Richard Donner did a bang-up job directing the finest cast in a superhero film. Diabolical Gene Hackman played a great Lex Luthor, and Christopher Reeve is and always will be the man of steel.
It makes me a little sad that 'Superman' is getting remade, but with all the other failed superhero movies, I guess Hollywood wants to go back to superhero movie that is actually good.
If you can catch this on the big-screen, go see it. I saw a screening in Houston two years ago, and it made the movie better than ever!
This is my favorite movie of all time.
Supergirl (1984)
A movie that I love as much today as I did 20 years ago.
I was seven-years-old when I saw 'Supergirl' in the theaters. Back then I thought it was a fantastic movie with a terrific heroine, a fun villain, and a great story. Recently I saw the film (probably for the first time in 10-15 years) and my opinion of 'Supergirl' has not changed one bit. 'Supergirl' is still a terrific picture that brings back the joy of a time when you truly did believe a person could fly. Yes, it is a little campier than the first 'Superman' movie, but that is what makes it such a fun movie-watching experience. After all, it was the 80's, and in comparison to other films offered up such as 'Ishtar,' 'The Pickup Artist,' and 'Teen Wolf Too,' 'Supergirl' is a masterpiece.
Helen Slater did a stellar job playing the triple role of Kara/Linda Lee/Supergirl. She really made the role her own, and for her first big major motion picture, came off like a pro.
Faye Dunaway and Brenda Vaccaro are a wonderfully paired duo as the witch and her accomplice respectively. The blend of comedy and quirky villainy is played up well, and maintains a great balance throughout the film.
One of the best aspects of the film is Jerry Goldsmith's musical score. Like 'Superman' it comes at you hard and fast from the beginning, with a beautiful opening credits sequence, and never lets up. It is one of my all-time favorite movie themes.
Having the opportunity to watch the limited edition DVD, which has both the international release version and the director's cut, made the film even better. Both versions add a new dimension to the film which round out the characters far better than was shown in the United States domestic release.
All in all, if you are a fan of superhero movies, then this is one you don't want to miss. 'Hulk,' 'Dare Devil,' and 'Batman and Robin' don't hold up at all against 'Supergirl.' Suspend your disbelief and take 'Supergirl' for what it is, a fun roller-coaster-of-a-movie that delivers the goods.
Airborne (1993)
Everything a teen movie should be
I caught the end of "Airborne" a few weeks ago, and then I was able to watch the whole thing the other night. I will admit that I really liked this film. It is a great, wholesome movie. Yes, the plot may be a bit thin with some slightly underdeveloped characters, but it's a fun kids movie. The lines are clearly drawn between the good guys and the bad guys (the preps). Throw in a little love story and that is all that is really necessary. Combined with music that moves the story along pretty well, and some exceptional rollerblading scenes, "Airborne" is worth the 91 minutes it takes to watch. Seth Green does a great job as the dopey cousin.
Another great thing about "Airborne" is that it is not filled with foul language or any sexually explicit material. This movie is a lot of fun for everyone. I give it 8 out of 10.
Zorro: The Gay Blade (1981)
Ode to a bandit
This was one of the first movies we rented right after we got our VHS player back in 1983, and to this day it is still a family favorite. I will never tire of watching this movie. George Hamilton does an outstanding job as the smooth-talking Don Diego Vega and as the flighty Bunny Wigglesworth, and the rest of the cast is just priceless. This movie is fun from beginning to end. For anyone who wants a great laugh, this is definitely a must see.
K-PAX (2001)
Predictable and boring
After seeing "K-PAX" in the theater, I was tempted to ask for my money back. From the opening shots, the movie is completely predictable, and the shallow, lifelessness of the main characters did not interest me as to their outcomes. That really surprised me because from previous films, I have really enjoyed the performances of Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey. To top it all off, the cinematography was entirely overdramatic, and during some shots, a bit egotistical. If you really have a burning desire to see "K-PAX," you're better off waiting until it comes out on video.