As it's summer time, one of the seasons biggest franchise is of course the movie.

So talk about the new ones, old ones you just seen. Feel free to start fistfights and discuss the deeper prospects of the film . . .

should it be well made enough to have some.

But I'll start with the new Batman movie.

Just got back, had to haul TJ out of the house somehow and I have to damn. . . truly great film. It's probably my second favorite Bat move at the moment.

I just got back from the midnight showing of this film and..damn, all that can be said is Best Batman Movie ever! All my fears and complaints were set aside. The love story so heavily hinted at in the trailers is only a well done side story. I, however, am glad to hear the Holmes has been dropped from the sequel, because I think theere were much better people to play a role and as we know most of Batman's lovers don't last more than a movie. Can't give up an old tradition.

The villains are superbly done and while for the first time their background stories are not showen and only skimmed over in dialoge they serve their purpose and are well performed by their actors especially Scarecrow.

I still say the new batmobile is lacking in style making it just ugly hardware, but man what cool hardware it is. (Take a little ride in my loce mach'een, baby)

The use of Batman's supporting cast is for the first time in a film really explored. While Alfred's role is a bit diminished from all he did in the previous Batman films his portrayal is top notch and you could not ask more of Alfred. Gordon while not in the classic Commissioner position is a major supporting playing in aiding Batman. Giving the character the proper respect and play he deserves rather then just the guy who signals Batman to tell him who is at large. Lucius Fox makes his first film appearance and really earns his stripes as played by former god Morgan Freeman.

There are some amazing scenes and great surprises. I recommend everyone who is a Batman fan, a comic fan, and a general movie fan should go see Batman Begins.

And, rest your fears, Christian Bale actually does well. However, I will still forever think of him as Jack "Cowboy" Kelly or Demetrius.

Hm, interesting, I was thinking of starting a thread on this myself. Glad you took the initiative...

I saw this excellent little indie film a couple weeks ago, called Millions. Its really hard to put this one into a category, because its everything from how a few pounds can buy a well in Africa and greatly improve the quality of living, to saints of ages past that still walk the world and give advice in Latin, to the devious accomplice in an Italian Jobesque theft that took place just a couple weeks before Britain was to convert to the Euro who is searching the countryside for the Nike bag that contains a good fraction of the truckload of money heisted, which just so happens to lie underneath the bed of a ten year old named Damien.

'Is anyone truly good?' asks the theatrical poster. In other words, if you found yourself with gazillions, what would you do with it?

I don't really know how they decided on that particular phrase, because, it seemed to me that Millions was almost as random as Monty Python, but I could just need to rewatch it, so I can catch on to some of the subtler themes. This movie is everything - and, as original as it gets. Haha, originality! Rant discontinued!

Highly recommendended, in fact, you shouldn't miss it.

Shark boy and Lava girl

Trust me, not of my own volition. With less than a week away until the wedding, my aunt Krista’s three boys are a distraction, so I armed only with only three ten-dollar bills braved the crowds and took them to the theater.

Well, I will say that I enjoyed the movie. You know why? Because they were absolutely silent in awe, which in and of itself is a miracle.

But the movie was like Spy Kids . . .on acid. Not very interesting to anyone over the age of ten, plot holes, a few sappy we can do it speeches, and not as 3-D-y as I thought it would be.

Little kids will like it, but I, and all the other grown-ups, looked like they wanted to shoot themselves in the head. Lucky for me, however, I noticed the pot head sitting a row up and three seats down from me who made the whole thing rather entertaining.

I suggest, that every little kid with any sort of imagination should see it. I just don't know who should take them.

Ooh, I remember seeing a preview of that and thinking - "NEVER"

I don't think I could have watched that as a kid. Even then I was jaded and cynical, lol.

Those children you were watching probably like Lizzie McGuire, anyway.

Nope, they find Duff nearly as annoying as most of my family excluding the femal 'tweens. If I thought for an instant they could keep their mouths shut I would have taken them to Batman like they wanted.

But, y'know they're still at the tell mom everything ages. Don't think so.

Had a Disney-fest today with more little kids. It's funny because I was watching Anastansia, which isn't Disney granted, but Dinsey story line-ish, you know. But it makes a whole lot more sense now. It's amazing. Haven't watched it since I was nine. And it's amazing how much more sense stuff make.

And it also makes me wonder at my maturity because I am still highly amused by the fact that Dimtri hops on the back of a street car and yells at the top of his lungs, "The biggest con in history." and no one reacts at all. If someone yells anything, people stare, and that would get my attention.

I found this amusing.

God bless those without common sense.

Anyway, on an X-men site. And we started talking about the newest surge of comic movies namely Fantastic Four and Batman Begins.

And one person who I never would have pegged are absolutely stupid or a genius goes.

She complains about the rebellious Robin (¡§l) in Forever and Batman and Robin and wonders why he's not in this one.

But at any rate, someone points out that the movie isn't really a prequel or a sequel. It's a stand alone of sorts.

And this is her exact post. Yes Batman is a bad-ass i guess but they shouldn't have made it into a movie all on it's own because some people will think that it might have something to do with the other movies.... I mean that was my first reaction until you just told me. They didn't exactly say "THIS MOVIE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER MOVIES". They just expect us to assume?



It's called Batman Begins. As in beginning as in starts, as in the first freakin' movie! My first thought was it's the first movie and it shows how Bruce becomes Batman! Awesome!



*sigh* I worry about the world.


And on a slightly related note, I have forgiven Christian Bale for the horror that is Santa Fe, and he didn a very good job as Batman. I almost forgot that this was the guy that played Jack Kelly who had a bad lisp and wore rope for a belt.

And Cillian Murphey has made it onto my favorite actor list. He made an excellent Scarecrow.



(¨l) oooo a footnote Personally, I happen to like rebellious Robin. He and Batman were amusing. and he's ten times better than Holy crowing sheep, batman! Robin. Having never really read any of the Batman comics with Robin present, I can't really say much on the boy wonder. Plus, Chris O'donnell was just funny as him.

I'm a die hard Tim Burton fan (Planet of the Apes excluded) so the later Batman films really did my head in. Piles of steamin plop.

Batman Begins is average. It's saved from being a really bad film by a bevvy of really good actors. I thought Gary Oldman was excellent as Gordon, I thought Michael Cane was fantastic as Alfred and I thought Tom Wilkinson was amusing as Falcone. (He and I went to the same University so obviously greatness ensues.)

However.

The plot was plodding at best.

Katie Holmes was about as exciting as watching paint dry and she has a wonky face...I noticed this when trying to distract myself from her bad acting.

Cillian Murphy was seriously SERIOUSLY under-used in that film. As I have been saying for many years now, the man is a brilliant actor and does psycho especially well, as bourne out by the film Disco Pigs which is a fantastic little indie film he did in Ireland. He was relegated to a sideline when the Scarecrow could have been SO good!

Arkham Asylum...not scary! If anyone's read the Grant Morrisson/David McKean graphic novel...it's supposed to scare the bejezus and have the worst of the worst in there...I was most disappointed.

That said, I liked the design, I liked the whole notion that Batman is going to cause escalation of crime by masked psychos by being a masked crime fighter....and I liked the calling card at the end.

No one likes Katie Holmes and I wish the world would shut up about her and Tom Cruise.

I had one problem with the set so. am was so . . .clean, I guess. Unless they were in the darkened underbelly there was nothing sinister about it. am always seemed like it was suppose to be creepy and horrible and it looked tidy. Even the back streets, come on! the streets after Hell's kitchen or a Philidelphia street, any street. Sheesh, my basement strikes more fear in me.

On the bright side of Cillian Murphey's under-usedness, he had my favorite line in the whole movie and probably only because of the way he said is it my favorite line.

And he's suppose to be in another movie in August. Pink Eye or something like that.

And must go see Willy Wonka!

Charlie was awful! Johnny Depp was freaky (yes, he really did remind me of a child molestor) and there was no warmth to the movie at all! The kids were just plain too screwed up to even relate to. After I watched the first one for the first time, I spent the next six months aping Violet ("I want a ___ and I want it NOW!" She said it so well...). But these kids, they don't even seem real. You don't even feel sorry for them. Too many digital graphics, methinks. And the ending, although it was truer to the book (though not by much) sucked. Everyone's read the book - and the slight suspense you got from the original actually allowed for a climax. This? No. Don't bother wasting your money.

I saw Sideways, too, and dude... that was way screwed up. The world's two biggest losers take a roadtrip through California.... !!! Entertaining, somewhat, but not particularly appealing.

I love movies ^^ Though I haven't been to the Theatre's in forever - I try to avoid them if possible. Besides - I'm not really into the comic book movies. I'm more of a comedy fan

Though I did watch Rain Man the other day with Tom Cruise and Dustin somethingorother (I think it begins with an 'A'). Very good movie. There are others I like, like The Money Pit, Spaceballs, Shrek ( 1 and 2 ), Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and so on.

Also, I heard on Regis and Kelly, that there is going to be a Shrek 3. Apparently, Regis has two lines and is playing the part of a woman. However, I hope they stop making them. They are funny but... Enough e.e;

I detested the orginal with a fiery passion. We watch it every year and I make an excuse so I don't have to pay attention to it.

And the moral of the story seemed to be. Breaking some of the rules is okay.

Wow, that explains a lot about me doesn't it.

At any rate, Verooka was the whiny spoiled one that gets picked off by the squirrels and/or the goose that laid teh golden egg. Violet chews the gum.

Didn't I say that?

Lol.

I prefer the original much more, although Charlie Bucket drives me up the wall. But that's just because he's a bad character.

Sue!

Well, anyway, was watching TV because I ahd nothing better to do and I saw a preview for Red Eye.

Honestly, I don't get most of the hype surrounding Wes Craven films because I can't take most horror movies seriously. Well, most modern horror flicks. Some of the older ones are creepy. I think it's the computer animation and stuff, but whatever.

And proof again because Rachel McAdams character practically sobs out,"You're going to kil.l me."

And then the very next shot is Cillian Murphey going Shhh.

And I started laughing hysterically.

Not something that should be funny. But I'll probably go see it or rent it later when it comes out. You know, whatever.

You know, Red Eye got some really good reviews. It's making me want to go see it now. Specially since there's not much playing at the Indie theater! Anyway, Rachel McAdams is an excellent actress, so I'm sure she was a factor. And the Murphy guy looks pretty decent too. Anything else coming out?

It's supposed to be, but that's just my demented sense of humor. I'm sure it won't be that funny, but as there's no emotional connection. No it's funny.

Brother Grimm, which confused for a moment because I thought Matt Damon was Heath Ledger adn Heath Ledger was Matt Damon.

But we'll probably go see that too. It looks funny.

Romance and Cigarettes which is a musical about infidelity! Sounds like fun.

Valiant, which the cartoon about a bird, which I will probably end up taking my little cousins too.

The Cave, another horror flick about a cave.

The Lost City, story about Havana in the 50's

An unfinished Life, starring Jennifer Lopez! A down on her luck woman, desperate to provide care for her daughter, moves in with her father in-law from whom she is estranged. Through time, they learn to forgive each other and heal old wounds.

Yep, there we go.

Hey, me too! With Heath Ledger and Matt Damon. Actually, I thought Heath was Paul Bettany from M&C! I wonder if that was intentional...

I saw Amelie the other night, and it was so, so cute! Best romance kind of thingy I've seen, after A Very Long Engagement, probably. The frogs know how to do it!

Anyone seen Before Sunrise?

I adore Amelie, it's just a brilliant film, so different from anything else I've seen. The french do produce some great films, Brotherhood of the Wolf for example, which is just insane but strangely brilliant and visually stunning.

At the weekend I went to a special open air screening in London at somerset house of Shaun of the Dead and George Romaros new zombie film Land of the Dead. I've seen Shaun of the Dead before but it is still frigging hillarious and there was the added bonus that Simon Pegg and the Director Edgar Write were there to present the films as well as some of the zombies being in the audience. Has anyone else seen this film? Trust me, it's very funny.

Land of the Dead is your standard zombie fare but it's very knowing and toungue in cheek and is utterly disgusting in that gleeful way. Dennis Hopper is hillarious in it. I recommend it if you want some old school silly horror.

My uncle went to see Red Eye and said it was really good.

Then again, he also said he also said he was oddly to Cillian Murphey.