The Dark Knight Rises

I don't know if I have ever started a review like this but I want you to do yourself a favor and stop reading after this first paragraph, in fact stop reading everything about this movie. There are no spoilers in this review, I'm not going to ruin anything but if you really want to enjoy this movie then you need to get away from it all.   If you are anything like me before you saw this movie you read everything that came out, you rewatched the previous ones, you are probably even shaking in anticipation.  Nothing I write is going to sway your opinion one way or the other, and being one of the most hyped movies EVER how can this movie possibly rise to the occasion. Plus with reviewers getting death threats for posting anything negative about the movie I think a step back would do us all some good.  So step away and go enjoy The Dark Knight Rises and what I can promise you is an epic finale to a near perfect series.

Alright so now you are either someone who has followed my directions or a rebel who enjoys torturing thenselves.  For the latter while I appreciate your devotion reading everything will not make Friday come any faster.  For those who have seen the movie:  OH MY GOD HOW AWESOME WAS IT RIGHT AHHHHHH! I loved this movie.

While the movie is long, a running time of 164 minutes, I don't know if anything could have been cut.  It seems like it takes a while to get there, but everything seems so important.  If anything it feels like some of the movie was rushed (if that is even possible at almost three hours).  After examining the movie, it is impossible to tell what if anything could have been cut out.

You already know what you are getting from the series regulars like Christian Bale (A growley and deep voice), Morgan Freeman (a wonderful smile and clever quips), and Michael Caine (a stirring speech to inspire the Bat-Man).  But what about the newbies?  Well they are just as good, if not better.  By now I am sure everyone has seen Anne Hathaway in her cat suit, but her performance is just as hot.  I loved that while the script contained some not so subtle quips Selena Kyle is never referred to as Catwoman.  And why would she be, she is just a regular hi-tech burglar.  It makes the whole thing feel more realistic which keeps the audience entrenched.  While it was assured a couple movies ago that Joseph Gordon Levitt was a star now there is no doubt.  Tom Hardy plays an incredibly soft spoken part for a man so powerful.  It is impressive just how jacked he got for this movie, and while there are some moments that are hard to hear the mask doesn't stop you from understanding the character.  As for Marion Cotillard, Nolan thought her performance was so necessary he pushed back the filming schedule and the release just so she could be cast in the movie and it is tough to disagree with that.

The effects are amazing.  One of the features that make Christopher Nolan the best director of our current generation (and he is, don't kid yourselves), is his love for filming things without CGI whenever possible.  It is not possible to film the bat wing flying inbetween buildings, but the opening sequence featuring a mid-air hijacking was incredible and really set the tone.  That along with the reemergence of Batman into the public eye and the football sequence that we have all seen by now (and if not the trailer is at the bottom) are just as epic as the buildup to the movie has been.

Christopher Nolan is able to pull off a climax in modern day storytelling that I think many directors today are afraid to even try, worried they may not be convincing enough.  All the anticipation builds to this conflict making the ride totally worth getting there.  You can not help but be on the edge of your seat, feeling the danger these characters are in.  Plus knowing that this is the end for Nolan and Bale, that they are done with the series doesn't help you feel at ease.  There is a real sense of danger throughout, I'm sure the eight year old inside you is scarred.  Nolan has shown before he is remorseless and loves to leave his viewer wanting more.  He leaves you wondering: could this really be the end?

The direction that Nolan chose to take this movie is amazing.  There is not any cartoonish silliness and his trilogy has set a new almost impossible bar to reach in what we should expect from our blockbusters.  The combination of fierce and well shot action sequences set against real world concerns of class inequality and terrorism is an amazing feat.  Even more astonishing may be keeping his movie away from the 3-D glasses, although if you get the chance some of his long shots are definitely worth an IMAX viewing.  I won't say it is better than The Dark Knight, it's not.  That movie was near perfect and Heath Ledger's performance was untouchable but the finale is edge of your seat stuff.  The Dark Knight Rises is an amazing conclusion to a near perfect trilogy.  A

The Amazing Spider-Man

It is impossible to not compare The Amazing Spider-Man to Spider-Man which has a 10 year difference in release date.  It is a bit frustrating watching the entire origin story retold when most of America already knows what occurred.  But here we are re hashing an old story.  But to the credit of the movie's stars, director, and creative team they are able to create an interesting and engaging story.  The Amazing Spider-Man is a solid summer blockbuster that has enough energy and fun story-telling to hold you off till The Dark Knight Rises comes out

This first part will hopefully answer the question as to why this movie is coming out and it all has to do with money.   Had Sony decided to do a fourth movie with the entire crew they had on, a sizable chink of the movie's budget would have gone to the movie's stars including 50 million to Tobey Maguire and far more creative control to director Sam Raimi after having Venom shoved down his throat despite not wanting to deal with that villain.  So it was cheaper to go out and get a new younger staff of up and coming actors that are bordering on the A-list if not already there and a director who has only done one other movie and that being (500) Days of Summer.

The other factor being that Sony was about to lose the rights to the character. Back in the 90's Marvel was hemorrhaging cash so they sold off their characters to various movie studios.  Had Sony not made a new movie by this year the rights to the character would have reverted back to Marvel and they could have made their own movie.  So that is why this movie had to be made.

So they went out and they got their younger cast crew.  First off and this is an easy point to get past but how do Andrew Garfield, who is 28, and Emma Stone, who is 23, look like they belong in high school? But no movie high schoolers ever do.  The next problem is that Garfield is a good looking guy, and doesn't really get the same nerdy image we got from Maguire when he played the young teen.  But a credit to his skill Garfield is able to get at the awkwardness that any out of touch high school student may feel, making the character  believable.  Emma Stone may have been the best piece about this movie, and far better portrayed than Bryce Dallas Howard throw away part in the third movie.  The chemistry between the two actors, who are dating in real life now, pops on the screen and drives the story forward.  I loved Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben and thought he played a very strong mentoring figure, but there was no way that Sally Field was going to be better than Rosemary Harris for the role of Aunt May, Harris was perfect for that part just look at the difference.

 

But with a remake and re imaging of the series they have the opportunity to go in whatever direction they like, but when retelling the story that seems to be all they do, retell the story.  Even if Uncle Ben is now played by President Bartlett how can anyone continue to feel for him if we know he is going to die every decade or so.  Both Batman series got it right, with Tim Burton's he didn't feel the need to start Bruce Wayne out before he was Batman; everyone already knew he was.  Christopher Nolan recreated the origin story when he rebooted the series because he took his Batman in such a different and grittier direction.

In Spider-Man we still see Peter Parker as a dweeby high school student who gains his power when he is bit by a radioactive spider and understands his responsibility after his Uncle dies.   The only more depth we get is the audience watching Peter's parents walk out on him and the burden that leaves on the boy.  He even reappears in a wrestling ring and lets his Uncle's killer get away, nothing has changed. To their credit, the creative team does a great job retelling the origin story, and connects you with who this Peter Parker is going to be.  But it takes up the whole first half of the movie, and you almost wish they just could have skipped all that and gone straight to the action.

It is unfair to always comparing the two franchises, if you can judge this movie on its own merits it really is good.  Garfield and Stone carry this movie and Webb writes towards that strength.  It is easy to see just why Emma Stone is all over the place in Hollywood as she has become such a versatile actress.  And Garfield does great with teenage angst.  The on-screen chemistry bursts off the screen and you get a real sense of first love all on top of a gloomier timeline for Peter Parker.  The visuals are stunning and there is a solid use of 3-D specifically in the fight sequences and inside the lab.  It was also nice seeing our hero doing some live stunts instead of going straight to CGI as soon as the mask comes on.  I didn't need the first person point of view as Spider-Man flies through the streets, but I respect Webb taking a chance and going for it.

The Lizard wasn't an especially daunting villain and his motives seemed too crazy and illogical even for a mad scientist.  I really wish that the physical threat of the Lizard could have been what they made the Venom character into.  Despite a darker  tone, as the movie reaches its climax the characters get a little campy.  That is understandable as that is always how Spider-Man was written, even though it appeared he wasn't that way at all until the movie reached its last few fight sequences.

There is a good movie in here and walking into The Amazing Spider-Man with low expectations helped.  You expect to see the same thing, and unfortunately they show you the same thing.  It is very similar to hearing your friend tell you the same story again and again, but you don't mind hearing it because it is a really good story.  But in the back of your head you already know how this one is going to end. B-

Magic Mike

There is a certain expectation going into Magic Mike, and that expectation is a lot of sexy men with chiseled abs.  And those who saw the red-band trailer can expect plenty more.  But for those only expecting that may be in for a surprise.  As with any stripper movie eventually the plot turns from fun and campy dancing to a look into the fast life of the exotic dancer.  That doesn't take anything away from the movie; it just becomes something different than was advertised.  Magic Mike is a fun, fast, and sexy movie for the first half and then becomes more of the same with a slip into darkness and melodrama by the halfway point.

Steven Soderbergh seems to have a lot of fun with the film and unlike many of the men in the audience doesn't seem all that uncomfortable with half naked men.  Soderbergh loves flipping the norm and focusing on the women ogling the men instead of what we usually see on the screen.  Some of the best scenes take place back in the club whether it is back stage or out there shaking it all for the women.  The group numbers are fun and will have the women cheering knowing they got exactly what they came for.  The choreography for the group dance numbers especially "Its Raining Men" are terrific.  And all the quick cuts of the guys doing their own thing are for the most part hilarious.  We even get to see Channing Tatum return to the moves that made him popular in Step Up.  And I think we get an actual look into how women act behind closed doors when allowed to, hell I think this may be the watered down version of that interaction.

The second half of the movie takes a look at the different life styles that come with stripping, including getting into the drug selling business.  This part focuses more on Alex Pettyfer as "The Kid" who was brought into this world by Tatum's character Mike.  While "The Kid" is based off of Tatum when he was 18 and getting into the stripping world (here's photographic proof of that) the drug portion is reportedly fictional.  No stripping movie can get away from this part of the story as the turn seems reminiscent of Boogie Nights or Showgirls, but the story reminded me most of Saturday Night Fever.  Indeed the movie begins with some the good times inherent with dancing and the freeing experience and then it takes the same dark turn inherent with too much freedom.

Tatum is still a stiff actor and I don't know if he will ever break himself of that trait.  I'm sure none of the women will mind as one friend who saw the movie only had one comment after seeing the movie: "He is gorgeous."  Tatum though seems to be at his best when he is allowed to riff a little bit and improvise what needs to be done.  Much like 21 Jump Street the character is written to his strengths, which makes sense as the screenwriter is also his producing partner.  Matthew McConaughey does a great McConaughey as he even slips in a couple of "alright, alright, alrights."  But he is not just a blazed actor looking to collect a paycheck; he embraces the role and portrays it not as a fool, but a savvy business man who knows what his customers want.  While all the other dancers don't add too much dialogue to the story, they do share some subtleties to the lifestyle that help develop both Magic Mike and The Kid. The dancers do much better than Cody Horn and Olivia Munn who were really only there to objectify the men, which typing now I realize is probably the point.

Magic Mike starts with women cheering and begging to see what they all came for, and while it delivers that early, it becomes a much darker if not predictable movie.  The movie is vividly shared by Soderbergh and the male cast, but it just loses any momentum it was moving towards by injecting the drug angle.  But the reason you are going to see it is for the looks and not the substance.  I see you scrolling down, hey ladies my thoughts are up here. B-