The Reviewer’s Nook
(http://blog.hellokitty.com/speedy3223)
The hub for media reviews

Archive for July, 2008

Renaissance

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Black and white has become a medium that’s become a property more or less of the art circle. Matter of fact, the only pop film that was in black and white within the last five years was Sin City, and while that was arguably based on an artistic endeavor, you can hardly call the film an art film.

But the French have this knack of coming up with art films that blur the lines between what art strives to be, and what pop is. And when Christian Volckman decided to blur the edges of various media when coming up with Renaissance, the result is a palatable, if somewhat niche, masterpiece.

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A Serious House on Serious Earth

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Okay - I can now finally post a review on The Dark Knight. I think I’ve recuperated enough.

Can I just say that that was probably the most awesome film I’ve seen in the past year? In the theatres, anyway. I’ve seen plenty of films that are just as good on home video, hee hee. But TDK was just oh so gritty, oh so noir that you’re liable to start to think that the world of Chris Nolan’s Gotham was more real than the real world (not that the real world’s that bleak; Chris Nolan just has this knack of making magic out of a more or less realistic situation).

I really don’t have anything bad to say about this film. During a conversation with a buddy, we both mused that if you took any of the elements away from the film - yes, even the horrible Bat-rasp - you’d end up with a lesser movie. The most amazing thing about this film was that each part worked with one another to come up with what I dare to call the best super-hero movie to date, blowing everything and everyone away. There is, there has been no competition. It’s questionable if there ever will be. I said it before and I say it again: it will be very difficult to top TDK.

And contrary to popular opinion, I don’t think it was all about the Joker. Sure, Ledger’s performance was stellar. But again, I say that you remove one element from the film, it becomes less of a blockbuster than it already was. I think the greatest thing I loved about the film was the multi-layered story, and how the characters revolved around the story, rather than the story revolving around the characters, a sickness I’ve come to connect with superhero films.

See? Even after a week from watching TDK, I still can’t give a decent review. :(

Batman Triumphant

Friday, July 18th, 2008

And no, I don’t mean the scrapped movie by Joel Schumacher (have I mentioned just how much I dislike that guy?). I’m talking about The Dark Knight, which has to be the most powerful Batman movie to date.

And yes, Heath Ledger’s final performance as the Joker beats all the other Jokers to date. And no, I am not biased. I loved Nicholson, I think Hammil’s voice acting was impeccable. Ledger was just that powerful.

Watch this movie. Watch it. Don’t let it slip by. This is one of those films that will serve as a milestone for future films of the superhero genre.