Film review: “The Dark Knight”

As Batman swooped over Gotham City at the end of Batman Begins, the promise of bigger, better adventures hung in the air with him. With The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan hasn’t just made good on that promise — he’s crafted a smart, layered sequel that expands the comic-book-movie genre’s vocabulary. It’s a perfect mash-up of art and audience-pleaser: The Godfather in pointy ears and clown makeup.

Film Review – “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

OK, let’s say you’re Guillermo del Toro. You’ve just made Pan’s Labyrinth and it was hailed by critics the world over as a beautiful piece of cinema, and it ultimately earned you an Oscar. Pan’s proves to Peter Jackson that you, and only you, are the man to take over his equally heralded Lord of the Rings film series and direct The Hobbit.

So, how do you celebrate? You bring back some old friends and give them the big-screen treatment they deserve.  

Film Review: Persepolis

Persepolis, the French animated film by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Parronaud (adapted from Satrapi’s graphic novels of the same name) hit DVD on June 24. If you like comics, you have to see this movie. If you like animated films, you have to see this movie. If you like cinema at all — if you want to see something unique, challenging, gorgeous, and human — put Persepolis in your queue.

I reviewed the film back in January when it was in theaters (actually, probably just one: The Bijou) and I’m reposting my full Persepolis review after the jump. I still feel the same way about as I did six months ago.

Film Review: Bigger, Stronger, Faster*

Chris Bell and his older and younger brothers (“Mad Dog” and “Smelly,” respectively) grew up during the rise of Hulk Hogan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone. To the Bells, these oily, ripped warriors weren’t limited to admiration — the boys could be champions, too, if only they put in the time, dedication, and hard work.

Oh, and that other thing that Hulk, Arnold, and Sly put in (via hypodermic needle): anabolic steroids.

Film review: “The Incredible Hulk”

In Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk, Dr. Bruce Banner spent more time brooding than smashing and his big final battle consisted of … transferring his rage to his jellyfish dad. The general consensus: Less sulk, more Hulk.

You can’t fault Marvel Studios and director Louis Leterrier for giving the people what they want, even though they’re only half-right. The Incredible Hulk, a reboot of Lee’s film, makes smashing its top priority – but does so at the expense of character development, dialogue, and plot (you know, the “boring” parts). But for the audience to invest in a fully CG protagonist that speaks five words of dialogue the entire film — one of which is “smash” — there has to be more going on when ol’ Jade Jaws is stuck inside puny Edward Norton.