The Dark Knight. One of the most, if not the most, highly anticipated comic movies since the first Spider-Man. The countless and meticulously detailed viral campaign had us in a frenzy for months. We all looked forward to seeing Heath tear the house down as Joker, and his untimely passing added to the 'must see performance' allure of the movie. After the mild success of Superman Returns, the horrid excuse of a JLA movie production, and the success of Iron Man and subsequent 'one universe' Avengers build up movies in the works - it's safe to say DC had a lot... a whole lot riding on TDK. With all this hype and pressure, could the movie possibly live up to its lofty expectations? Well, it did. It did in spades.

The Right
Christopher Nolan
This man deserves to be on the top of this column. The man took a franchise scarred by bat-nipples, hokey dialogue, and Ahnuld, and turned it into something smart, real, and took our hero places where only Alan Moore, Frank Miller, and Jeph Loeb dare take us. Dark Knight is simply a masterpiece crafted with utmost precision - at two hours and a half, absolutely no scene is wasted, every bit of dialogue has meaning, every shot with a purpose. If I were DC, I'd entrust this man to carry the franchise and do whatever he freaking wants with it.



The Cast
Chrsitian Bale is solid here, but he is absolutely trounced by the stellar supporting cast and a breathtaking performance by his villainous counterpart. I mean seriously, this cast could rival any Oscar contender out there - Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman? That's Hollywood royalty right there shining their magic. But of the new blood in the movie, Aaron Eckhart (as Harvey Dent) is the breakout star. His role is wonderful - Gotham's saviour with a face. Whereas Batman lowers himself to the criminal's levels to rid them, Dent uses his stature as Gotham's D.A. to send mobsters and gangsters behind bars the judicial way. He's Shakespearian-ly broken down and you should feel his tragedy, if not for a certain actress to be mentioned later.

The Joker/Ledger
This man deserves his own section in this column. This was a performance for the ages... not just for comic movies or blockbuster movies, but in the history of movies. EVER. The Oscar buzz surrounding his otherworldly portrayal of Batman's most iconic and best villain is much substantiated here. You'll memorize his dialogue (Some favorites: "LOOK AT ME!!!!", "Why would I want to kill you? You complete me!", and many more). You'll cringe when he 'tells' his story of how he got his scars. You'll be awed by his cleverness. You know, for a guy who proclaims he doesn't scheme or plan things, he sure knows how to outsmart Dent, Gordon, and even Bats himself. He's right when he says "I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve". By the end of the movie, you won't believe in Harvey Dent or even Batman... you'll root for the Joker like you rooted for Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow.



The Story
This is not your father's Batman. Deep, complex, and mature, this one's definitely not for the kiddos. Heck, even I needed two viewings to soak up all the nitty-gritty details of the story. The Dark Knight treats it's audience with respect and acknowledges their hunger for a smart crime movies the likes of Heat or the Untouchables. No other comic movie shows us such different views on society - from Joker's agent of chaos and anarchy philosophy, the contrast of Dent and Batman's methods to abolish crime in Gotham and their dynamic to work together, and even the latter's symbolic meaning to Gotham being tested. The tone of Nolan's Batman movies sets itself apart so much from your typical superhero movie, that I can't possibly fathom a JLA movie in the same universe as our hero.

The Wrong
Maggie Gyllenhaal
When Katie Holmes was going to be replaced by Maggie, I kept an open mind. Katie was the cuter one, but Maggie the better actress. Plus, the latter had a certain charm... as I saw in Stranger Than Fiction, even though she's not stunning, she can get you to fall for her. Sadly... not so here. She played her role all right, but nothing substantial that you'd actually care when tragedy befalls her. This weakened the impact on both Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, which was crucial to understanding both characters.



The Bullet-Fingerprint Recreation Device
Contrived attempt at making this version of Batman 'The World's Greatest Detective'... This device was just silly. It even gave Bruce the location of where Joker's false sniper would be. A minor nitpick that really broke the flow on 2nd viewing, but a storytelling detail that seemed more 'convenient' than 'smart'.

The VeRdict
Recently, The Dark Knight broke box office records for best opening weekend with $158 million, topping the previous king Spider-Man 3. It's also one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year. This success is much deserved, so hats off to everyone who worked on the movie. For the longest time, Spider-Man 2 for me was the best comic movie ever. I'm still torn between the two, but TDK is right up there sharing the mantle. The Dark Knight is a cinematic masterpiece with a gritty story, solid cast, and will be remembered forever for the simply otherworldly and iconic performance of Heath Ledger as Joker. For DC Comics, the night has been pretty dark, but this movie hopefully marks the milestone that it's own dawn of great franchise movies has finally arrived.

Black Sabbath's rockin' 'Iron Man' will be blazing on my iTunes for some time now. Marvel's been on a not-so-hot-streak with their major movie franchises as of late. In fact, Spider-Man 2 four years ago was the last true top-notch (and in my opinion, best) comic book movie from the House of Ideas. The X-Men and Spidey franchises suffered from the dreaded curse of dropping the ball on the third film. Fantastic Four, Punisher, and Ghost Rider all absolutely sucked. Period. Competition from the successful Batman and the good but flawed Superman reboots, and all of a sudden, Marvel wasn't the bigshot it once was. Good thing Ole' Shellhead just happens to be one of the most popular characters in comics right now and he's definitely carried over this hotstreak to kick off the summer blockbusters with a big bang. He adds some much needed credibility back to Marvel's ailing film properties, and hopefully this trend will continue throughout the year with the upcoming Hulk and Punisher projects, as well as the 'Captain America', 'Thor', and already-in-production 'Wolverine' movies in the works. SPOILERS from this point on, so be sure to watch if first before going on.

the Right:
Robert Downey Jr: Perfect casting. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing the part. The moment they announced him playing Tony Stark a couple of years ago I knew this movie would be on track to greatness. Downey IS Stark. It's practically effortless playing a billionaire playboy for the supremely talented Downey. Whereas Bruce Wayne is truly a big brooding emo at heart and the flamboyant rich persona just a facade, Tony Stark is the complete opposite. Downey did a great job making us care about the growth of the hero inside all the flashy armor. Speaking of which...



The Armor(s): Dear Gawd this was just FREAKING AWESOME. The moment the Mark I was revealed I wanted to shout in geekfull bliss. As with the Mark II and III. This is just some of the most epically cool mech designs since last year's Transformers. Iron Man as a character is simply MADE for Hollywood. No way could they have screwed up such a killer costume translation to film (*cough* Daredevil *cough*). Even the way he dons and removes his armor looks gorgeously complicated. Every tiny little part is alive and is an awesome treatment to this classic and iconic 'costume'.

The Eye Candy: Industrial Light and Magic deserve major props for the effects on this film. Practically seamless CGI work here. Dear goodness, I could watch the whole "Iron Man invades Afghanistan and kicks MAJOR ASS" sequence forever. Geek bliss again right there. I never knew he'd look so badass in broad daylight. This is probably gunna be one of the prettiest effects-laden movies the whole year, which will probably only be rivaled by Hulk and Narnia.



The Supporting Cast: Again, perfect casting. Gwyneth Paltrow adds so much to a small role just by being Gwyneth Freaking Paltrow. Gwen and Downey have captivatingly cute chemistry together. Terrence Howard played Rhodey exactly like he's always been portrayed in the comics and cartoon, the best bud who tries to keep Tony grounded only to end up giving in himself. Face it, you marked out at the scene near the final battle where they teased Rhodes donning the Mark II armor (WAR MACHINE!!!) only to say to himself "Maybe next time" (SEQUEL~!). Also, Jeff Bridges was deliciously evil as Obadiah Stane.

Easter Eggs: From the 10 Rings Terrorist group (MANDARIN~!). The S.H.I.E.L.D teases (end credits baby! yeah!). To the downplay of Stark's alchoholism (his first shot had him holding a drink and constant references of him being drunk at parties). The War Machine tease. It was fun finding all the little things real fans would appreciate. On a side-note, comic fans all know Tony's alcoholism being a major 'humanizing' trait of his in the comics, but methinks Marvel didn't want millions of kids watching a superhero drunkard on the big screen... but it's cool, at least it's still subtly there.



Last Scene After the Credits: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!!! Gawd that tease was awesome. The prospect of all franchises in one movie is the ultimate geek nirvana. All we need are Thor and Captain America solo flicks, probably a second Iron Man flick, and we're all set. Go Marvel! THIS is how you build your universe for a team-up movie (*cough* Justice League *cough*).

The wRong:
Soundtrack: ARGH!!! Again we're shafted from a true Superhero theme! Damn, I wish John Williams can just score every freaking hero flick. Challenge... go, hum the orchestral Iron Man theme from the movie! Go on, it's there, I swear! I heard it during the action parts and credits roll... then forgot it completely after 5 seconds. And NO, the Black Sabbath song doesn't count as a theme!

Iron Monger: Yeah, he was big and pretty awesome. But the moment they fought on the streets I couldn't help but recall Robocop fighting that big ass mech enemy of his (the ED-209, pictured in one of my replies below). Then I wished Tony was kicking ass in Afghanistan again instead. I dunno, I guess after Robocop and Transformers last year, I was expecting a lot more scale to their final showdown... but a very minor quibble nonetheless cuz' what was there was pretty cool anyway. Poor Monger also bit the dust pretty lame in the end too. On a whimper sadly, but hey, I guess they had to give Pepper some sort of semi-important action role.



Straightforward: If there's anything the movie lacked was a 'pleasant surprise'. In fact, there isn't really an actual 'story' but more of a 'series of events'. You could smell Obi dealing weapons to the terrorists from a mile away. So was the part of Tony getting to his spare 'heart'. Nothing will really surprise you in this movie. I say this cuz' the recent Iron Man Animated movie had a great twist in the end sequence. It also threw us for a loop cuz' he used the freaking Mark I armor in the final battle. THE MARK I ARMOR IN THE FINAL BATTLE. I guess this live action flick lacked that sort of drama and unexpectedness which the animated movie actually had (surprisingly too! watch it, Iron Man Animated: Rise of the Mandarin. pretty awesome in it's own right.) Hopefully, as with the first Spider-Man, once this introduction to the Iron Man universe and origin story is out of the way, the sequel will cut loose and kick even more arse.



The veRdict:
Aside from the minor flaws above, Iron Man definitely delivers the goods we all look for in a major summer blockbuster. Sprinkled with humor and big on jaw-dropping action and effects, coupled with splendid a cast and solid direction from Jon Favereau, it's hard not to bang your head to the rockin' beat of Iron Man. This gives Marvel a much needed boost in the movie franchise market, as they have been desperately seeking X-Men/Spidey caliber superstardom for Shellhead as opposed to Ghost Rider/Punisher/Fantastic Four horridness. Now, I still predict The Dark Knight will be the best comic movie of the year (Joker is gunna steal the show... possibly Harvey Dent too)... but Iron Man's very strong showing will definitely put that title in contention by year's end. Whatever the case, us fans all win! Keep crankin' quality comic-book movies Hollywood!

Na...
Na...
Na, Na, Na
Na, Na, Na, Na, Na... Na, Na, Na, Na

ACTUAL RATING:

First things first... Beowulf on IMAX® 3-D is incredible. Amazing. Best 400 bucks I've spent on a movie. I watched it with my girlfriend last Friday on a regular cinema, and in IMAX with my family and friends on Sunday, and the difference is HUGE. I enjoyed the movie immenseley more on the large screen with full-length 3D effects. Complain about the story's unfaithfullness to the poem, one and a half-dimensional characters, and whatnot, but damnit, I've never been more immersed in a movie quite like this. Trusted, not because of the story but by eye-popping 3D, I didn't bother enough to nitpick the movie's lack of 300-like epicness. I was too busy trying to dodge arrows, axes, and severed heads to care. And no, I didn't read the poem in high school or watched the live-action Gerard Butler version a couple years ago, so I watched the flick with a pretty clean slate sans expectations and comparisons. Yay!

The Right
Eye Treasures
Really, this is a no-brainer in this section. This is easily the most technically profound animated feature yet. As much as a great story is essential, me (and my bro) can't help but always yearn for eye candy in these fantasy / comic movies. The movement is the only thing that gives the CGI away, but in terms of rendering, textures, and insane amount of 'little' details, such as tiny skin hairs, wrinkles, glassy eyes, the movie exceeded my expectations and is an exciting 'what could be' for future movies. Funny thing, as the animation was so real, my sis-in-law's dad who saw the movie in theaters a couple days ago thought the movie was live-action! If you're into effects, treat yourself to the IMAX 3-D experience for some full-length CG-goodness.

Remember me not as a hero, but as a man, fallible and flawed
I like how Beowulf is a complete conceited jackass. Every time he's so full of himself and proclaiming "I... Am... Beowulf"... awesome. He's definitely not your typical goody-two-shoes hero, and I thought it made him a more interesting character. You root for his heroics, but disdain his self-centered motivations. He's cocky, vain, and oozing machismo, and ultimately, more human because of his flaws.



Original Sin
Angelina Jolie. I don't think I really have to add anything, you all know about this already anyway! One thing though, her model here is much sexier than the real-life counterpart. Oh, and if they ever decide to bring Bruce Lee back to life on film, the technology might be flawless in a couple years if CG Angelina is anything to go by. Oh, and she has golden stiletto feet of DOOM!!!

Scene Transitions
I can't help but notice this small thing. The transitions from scenes were done in a nice artsy way at times, and it's worth noting. From a small rat being swooped up by an eagle to take us to a new location to a close-up of Beowulf's detailed crown to show the passage of time, it's just small things like these that add to the experience and show director Robert Zemickis' visual flare.



The Score
It's got that 300 vibe to it. And I instantly fell in love with Idina Menzel's 'A Hero Comes Home' (the end credit and the queen's harp song). Nothing too overpowering, Alan Silvestri provides a fitting score to enhance the scenes even more.

The wRong
Stunning 3D models, Bland 1.5D characterization
Aside from the main hero, we really didn't get any depth from the supporting cast. Not the spirited king Hrothgar, the stoic queen, the smarmy Unferth, and evil Angelina. They're all wonderfully rendered 3D models, but sadly, with bland one dimensional personalities that no-one gives an ounce of shit about. In fact, I felt more for Crispin Glover's fine portrayal of the tragic Grendel. He may be the most one-dimensional of them all on paper, but Glover was so good at portraying his torment with his grotesque form and hyper-hearing but with a hint of tenderness with his MILF mommy, that I actually cared about the big pussy by the time he bit the dust.

Femme-fétale
A minor gripe here. While the male models in the movie for Beowulf, Wiglaf, and Hrothgar are phenomenal, I can't help but feel indifferent to the females. Of course, they spent extra to make Angelina look life-like and uber hot, but other than her, the other female characters don't look as realistic as the males. The queen and Wulfie's 'bed warmer' have nice hair and freckles and all, but I guess the animators found it easier to make the little things in male features such as wrinkles, beards, and such more life-like.



The veRdict
If you're looking for deep characters, an epic story, and all that jazz... I dunno, go watch an indie flick or watch 300 again or something. I enjoyed the flawed protagonist and the gorgeous 3D experience too much to give a rat's ass about those things. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but this bloke enjoyed every last sip. Don't expect LOTR, think of it like a video game even, and you'll have more fun methinks. Trust me, the thrilling final sequence involving the gold dragon made the RPG geek inside me squirm with glee. Take it for what it is, a gratuitous eye-candy-fest and just enjoy the ride! Plus, the ladies will enjoy Wulfie's bare-naked arse and we dudes have Angelina, so everyone wins in the end! haha. From someone whose seen both the theatrical and IMAX versions, do yourself a favor and catch it on IMAX 3D for an experience like no other... it probably shouldn't be seen any other way and is definitely worth every cent since full-length 3D movies are rare. Besides, for the dudes out there, you know you wanna see this in 3D:



ACTUAL RATING (Theater):
ACTUAL RATING (IMAX®):

I've been wanting to catch this movie for a long time. Ever since I've heard about it showing in the States and it's from the people that brought us 40 Year Old Virgin, I eagerly awaited it's release here in the Philippines. I think the DVD is already out in the States but at long last, the movie finally hit our shores. I haven't even seen a single trailer of it, ever. With nothing else to watch at the theatres, me and my better half decided to go ahead and watch the damn thing at the most overpriced movie house in town, Greenhills Promenade. It was worth it though! Even though my rationale in watching movies is always "It's gotta have mind-blowing effects for me to fork over near 200 bucks to watch it", Junnis and I had a really good time watching the flick, and in the end, I think that's all you can ask for. In fact, this whole review was made just cause' she told me to make one, but hey, I'm a sweet guy so here goes nothing!

the wRong:

Running Time
At 129 minutes, it's not your average length romantic comedy. Although a very minor gripe, I felt the movie was a tad long and some scenes could've been shortened like the scene where Seth Rogen berates Paul Rudd for being a selfish husband. Some of you probably won't even notice the over-2 hour running time, but still, I had to find something to put in this section! haha


the Right:

Relatability
C'mon, everyone whose in a relationship or ever have been in one will relate to this movie. You don't even have to be 'knocked up' or knocked someone up to see yourself in these characters. For the dudes, everyone can understand Seth Rogen's slacking and celebrity skin watching, or Paul Rudd's longing for 'space' and male camaraderie. While you chicks will totally understand Katherine Heigl's hormonal fits and desire for her man to take things seriously. The more you're able to identify with these characters the more you'll laugh and enjoy the movie.

Cast
I don't know anything about the lead male, Seth Rogen and I don't watch Grey's Anatomy to see why Katherine Heigl won that Emmy (she did right?), but after seeing the movie, I can say they are two bright young stars in Hollywood. Seth plays a nice 'everyman' that all of us dudes can relate to. Katherine also does an excellent job as the career-driven woman who’s life is turned upside down after an ill-advised one night stand. She’s beautiful by the way, so plus points for that! Seth and Katherine definitely oozed chemistry on screen whether when they are fighting or sweet with one another. Married couples can probably relate to more to Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd's characters, one always trying to be a tad possessive while the other always in search for freedom that eludes him now that he has a ring around his finger and two children. Paul and Seth's bonding is also relatable for guys with girlfriends whose boyfriends get along.

Extras
Since Katherine works for E! there were a ton of special bit parts by actors playing themselves and it was a hoot in itself. James Franco and Steve Carrell practically steal the small scenes they’re in, while other’s like Ryan Seacrest and that dude from SNL also add a few chuckles. Not a big thing really, but it’s a nice touch.



the veRdict:

Sometimes you just need a movie like this to put a smile on your face. After all the summer blockbusters, fantasy flicks, and the upcoming horror movies, it's nice to find a simple movie everyone can relate to. You don't even have to be in the same situation to relate to the squabbles and hormone-induced quarrels Rogen and Heigl experience here. I think part of why we like movies is how we see ourselves in the characters and are able to connect with them. That's why each situation here is so funny and made the movie so enjoyable. Definitely catch this flick at the theaters or in DVD with your significant other for a sure-fire good time. I still think 'The Simpsons Movie' is the funniest movie of the year, but 'Knocked Up' comes in a close second.

ACTUAL RATING:

I was first introduced to Avenue Q by my friend Chesca way back in 2005. With songs like the 'Internet is for Porn', 'Everyone's A Little Bit Racist', and 'If You Were Gay', it was love at first listen. When I found out it was a Broadway musical, I was always hoping one day it would hit our shores. Lo and behold, that day finally arrived for me last Saturday as I finally caught the local production of the hit musical. And I definitely wasn't alone! I infected my brother and he infected his wife and friends, I invited some online buddies of mine to meet up for the first time who are fans of the show (Chad, Ginny, Jori), and of course, went with Junnis and her best friend Chesca, the one who started it all (and was the most late to the actual show! haha).

The wRong
Bad Seats:
Ok ok, it's not really the production's fault as it is my own cheapskateness, but I got probably the lousiest seat in the house. Right balcony, end seat, directly behind one of the spotlights. As in, that spotlight occupied it's own seat which lead to my mom being upgraded to the loge section! Good for her, bad for my view! haha. Well, at least I know where to sit in RCBC Theater next time...^_^

The Right
The Music:
I haven't listened to the entire soundtrack and chose not to in order to be surprised when I watched it, and was I ever! The entire 2nd half I had no idea what to expect. On the whole, I was impressed by the wonderfully honest and sometimes profane lyrics sung to playfully catchy (and innocent) Sesame Street-esque tunes. Songs such as 'Fine, Fine, Line' and 'Mix Tape' tug at the heartstrings, while most songs like 'Schandenfreude' (taking pleasure in other's misfortune), 'It Sucks to Be Me', 'For Now', and many others deal with the realities of life with charming tongue-in-cheek humor that makes this musical so unique from all the rest. Where else can you find the line: "Grab your d*ck and double-click for porn! porn! porn!"?


The Cast:
Phenomenal cast. Period. Ok, not really a period because there's much to be said about these guys. Everyone did an exceptional job playing their parts, and most had multiple puppet roles, holding the tradition with the Broadway musical. Felix Rivera does a fantastic job playing the lead Princeton and his dual role as closet-homo puppet Rod. I was also enchanted with Rachel Alejandro's loving Kate Monster and her polar opposite, the aptly named Lucy the Slut. Joel Trinidad's happy go lucky Rod and horny as hell Trekkie Monster nearly steal the scene every time too. Frenchie Dy (as Christmas Eve) and Aiza Seguerra (as Gary Coleman) seemed to be born to play their roles as well, with the latter sharing some similar child star stigma that only added to the role. Even though I've only seen YouTube snippets of the Broadway and UK version, I'm confident to say our local cast is just as good and talented as any!

The Puppets:
These guys can hold their own against any Jim Henson or Sesame Street puppet any day of the week. The dynamic between Rod and Nicky mirror that of Bert and Ernie only more entertaining because of the homosexual overtones. Trekkie is a Cookie Monster parody except he's not obsessed with cookies... but porn. Princeton is your everyman we can all relate to, and Kate Monster is the hopeless romantic with big dreams that most girls can see in themselves as well. Avenue Q simply has memorable characters with flaws and good qualities that reflect us so much, it's hard not to love 'em all. Oh, and they're not kidding when they say full puppet nudity in this one! Yowza!



The veRdict
For those who haven't seen Avenue Q, well... it sucks to be you! But don't fret! Rachel herself announced the repeat performances this coming December 14-23 so there's hope for you yet! Seriously, this is something you should not miss. You don't have to be a play fanatic or musical junkie to be entertained by Avenue Q. You just have to be a regular guy going through everyday problems and realities. If anything, the play inspires us to accept these realities and that we can overcome them with support from our loved ones and a firm sense of purpose in our lives. I highly recommend those who haven't seen the play to catch it this December... By then, I'm sure to be excited to see it again... with better seats this time!

Matt Damon just made me forget about his geeky Linus character from Ocean's Thirteen. He's also better than that pretty boy pal of his Affleck. But I digress... Simply put, The Bourne Ultimatum is this summer's best action movie. Yes, I'm talking to you Transformers, Rush Hour, Die Hard, and whatnot. It doesn't have cool robots, a whacked story, or over-the-top action (well, maybe a little). What Bourne does have is a sophisticated and smart plot backed up by strong performances and wicked action sequences. This is my second 5 star movie review for this year, and I don't hand those out very often. Here's my verdict, but be wary of **SPOILERS AHEAD**:

the wRong:
Shaky Cam
While I loved the action in the movie, some sequences were shown in the infamous 'shaky camera' style which sort of made me nauseous. I understand that imploring this style makes the scene more 'rough' or 'edgy', but sometimes I feel it gets abused and educes headaches. I couldn't find anything else blaringly wrong with the movie, and is a testament to what a quality flick this is.

the Right:
The Plot Thickens
I won't spoil anything for anyone, but the final chapter of this series really ties all the knots perfectly. Bourne's search for his lost identity and retracing his steps reminds me a lot of Wolverine from the X-Men, where he supposedly is forced to become this killing machine and his entire past is wiped out from his mind. It's a very compelling and kickass concept and you'll be rooting for the hero to learn the truth and kick everyone else's ass who interferes.

Damon Delivers
Like I said above, Matt Damon made me forget about that 3rd fiddle in Ocean's where he was always behind Clooney and Pitt's shadow. Here, he proves why he's one of Hollywood's top stars in a role he totally owns. He doesn't show much emotion because he was trained that way, but somehow you still feel he has a lot of heart and attitude by the way he deals with his accomplices and the way he disses his foes. He's smart and cunning, but also makes mistakes and take a beating as well (like the sequence where he's supposed to save the bomb from exploding near the car).

Action Not for Action's Sake
What I loved about this movie is that it relied on well-built action sequences. Die Hard was just 'let's throw all this cool shit and watch McClain kick its ass'. Not with Bourne. Ultimatum's action sequences tell a story. From the chase in Morocco, it's so frantic and heart pounding that when Spy vs. Spy finally meet each other, you get this 'aww shit, let's throw down!' moment. Same for the final sequence where Bourne spares another assassin’s life, so in the end, that assassin feels sympathy and let's Bourne free. Even just evading CIA henchmen with coordination was thrilling. No CGI reliance whatsoever here. Just well thought-out action scenes that actually told a story.

Supporting Cast
I don't remember all the people who played them, but they were all perfect for their roles. The cold assassins. The cocky Noah, compassionate Landy, helpful Nicky Parsons, and the brains behind Bourne's identity crisis Hirsch. In fact, Hirsch reminded me of Brain Cox's Stryker character from X-Men 2, wherein he's one of main 'villains' who conspired to create this killing machine and finally coming face to face with his creation. Julia Stiles was also ok enough to make me forget her crappy role in 'the Omen'. Oh and since I'm to lazy to create a whole section on director Paul Greengrass, he can go here. Really great job of putting everything together to wrap this series up.

the veRdict:
The Bourne Ultimatum is this summer's best action movie and I think, even surpasses the previous Bourne's ‘Identity’ and ‘Supremacy’. I'm a Transformers fan myself, but not to the point where I am blinded to appreciate another film's brilliance. Transformers and Die Hard delivered in the popcorn value, but Ultimatum is simply the better ‘film’. This movie didn't need CGI or overblown action sequences to entertain. Jason Bourne is the real-life Logan sans the adamantium but with the same capacity to kick major ass. The story will have you hooked from the get-go, the masterfully plotted action sequences will have your adrenaline pumping, and the rousing finale will satisfy.

Ratatouille finally did it. Yup, my first five star movie review of the year. I really don't know what other movie can top this in the coming months, but this one deserves a 'best picture' nomination. Far fetched? For a supposedly 'kid' movie? Not in my opinion. The Oscars are usually given to dramas, but hey, Lord of the Rings: ROTK got the well-deserved nod a couple years ago, and that was a fantasy epic. Really, I can't find ANYTHING wrong with this movie. If I did it would be so nit-picky and wouldn't even matter. I won't even try. Hence I challenge anyone out there to post what didn't work in the movie. Without further adieu, the veRdict:

the wRong:
Nada!
Yup, like I said... for the first time I couldn't find any glaring flaw in this flick. You could argue that rats are gross no matter how cute they are... or some things in the film are just plain silly like Remy being able to read or control Linguini through his hair, but those things are part of the light-hearted fun this flick serves to the table (no pun intended... well, maybe a little, haha). Besides, when Simba speaks do people go 'he's an animal, that's stupid'! See, I really can't find anything wrong here! Maybe the humor wasn't as prevalent as other films? But I guess after watching Simpsons the other day, my appetite for comedy was already satisfied!

the Right:
Peter O'Toole
His deliciously evil performance as food critic Anton Ego and surprising twist in the end made him my absolute favorite character in the movie. Yup, more than our pal Remy. With so few scenes, each one counted in terms of developing his character. He only appeared midway through the movie, but was an immensely important presence from that point on, and even gave a beautifully written speech to close out the film.

Remy
One of the most likeable lead characters Pixar has produced in a while... our 'Little Chef' is definitely up there with Buzz, Woody, Sully... He's just like us, dreams big and always doubts himself if he can reach them cuz' of how effed up the world is... If only we all had our own Jiminy-Gustau to rally us on eh? This small mouse with a big heart trumps Disney's 'other' famous mouse for sheer character depth alone.

Animation
This is easily the prettiest Pixar film to date. I've never scene CGI environments with such detail and beauty... Even the rats themselves showcase a perfected 'fur' effect which was prominent with Monsters, Inc.'s Sully. The stylized humans, the appetizing food, the amazing chase scenes (or any scene that follows Remy around the town)... Hands down the most beautiful CG 'toon around. It strikes the perfect balance of Final Fantasy's realism and Shrek's wacky cartooniness.

Brad Bird
I was so surprised Ratatouille even HAPPENED. Usually, I see they make movies that would sell a lot of merchandise, be it Finding Nemo dolls, Cars toys, Toy Story video games... In a sense, this movie isn't all that 'extendable' to the usual cash-cow of extending to an absurd number of mediums. I even found that story a bit mature for the usual kid fare. One of the villains is a food critic, and Remy dreams of becoming a chef, there was even a horrific scene with a gallery of deceased rodents... I dunno, for me it wasn't exactly a kid movie. But that's what's great about Brad Bird... From Iron Giant, to the Incredibles... he makes films people of any age can relate to and enjoy... and that is so, so difficult. Bird deserves another Academy-Award for this one... hopefully a nomination for best film will pave the way for the future.

the veRdict:
Pixar continues to make not only some of the best animated films, but some of the best films PERIOD. Ratatouille is smart for kids, but not too kiddie enough for adults to be offended. It's a throwback to old Disney classics which Disney themselves haven't been able to produce and are constantly reliant on Pixar to bring the goods (which they always do). I'm still torn if I’m willing to give 'Best Pixar Film' to date to this, but I'm gunna play it safe for the moment that it equals Toy Story 2 for that honor. It does however, win the crown of 'Best Movie' of the year (so far... damn Homer, I’m always using that line now!) and the very first film to get 5 stars from the veRdict. The beautiful CGI, heartwarming story, the lovable Remy, and the awesome Anton Ego of O'Toole makes Ratatouille the most satisfying dish this critic has tasted all year... and hungry for more Pixar goodness to come (Wal-E looks promising next year)!

On a side note, the traditional opening short 'Lifted' is one of my favorite animated shorts and ranks with last year's 'One Man Band' as funniest EVER! It was funnier than anything in Ratatouille, but not enough to detract a most precious star!

This is bar-none the funniest movie of the year.... (and as Homer would say)... so far! After 18 long years the Simpsons movie has finally arrived. Needless to say, its longevity and humor has never ceased to amuse. I've been watching the show inconsistently over the years, but I've always been a fan and tune in when it's on TV. This movie is so long overdue... I can't believe South Park got a movie before this! Proceed with caution.... that's a SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't seen the flick! Without further adieu, here's my veRdict:

the wRong
No Couch Gag!
I've always wondered how they'd do it in the movie... the opening showed the daily lives of Sprinfield-ians like the show... then it got cut short and... Green Day appeared... and then... no... couch gag! This was one of the staples of the show, and I was disappointed it didn't make the movie.

Springfield, Overpopulated
Actually, I'm happy they fit practically every character in Springfield, which is a ton. This is more of a constraint of it being a 90 minute movie, but I really wish the other characters I loved such as Krusty, Mr. Burns, Groundskeeper Willie, etc. got more to do. New characters like the main villain, Lisa's love interest, and 'boob lady' got bigger roles here. Not a nagging flaw, but just a nitpick. I know they all got their moment to shine on the show.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Squirrels
When I first saw this monstrosity I thought everyone in Springfield was going to turn into freakish multiple-eyed zombies! But I don't what the real purpose of sealing the town under the glass dome was... is the lake inside the town? Then shouldn't they all be turned into freaks? Or was the lake outside the dome, then shouldn't that have been the one under the dome? You might say 'it was the ECA villain's scheme for option 3, deal with it'... but I found it fruitless when the town didn't turn into freaks and just suffered lacking resources.

the Right
Humor
Need I say more? Probably the funniest movie I've seen all year. It's just a good time at the movies. No matter how shallow their jokes are, the way the deliver is so, so funny. Stuff that made me laugh out loud: the guy who was torn between his family and Venice; Bart drunk as hell; every scene with Homer.... you guys write in your favorite funny moments! Too bad a lot of the funny stuff was given away in the trailers though.

His Fat Butt Could Shield Us All
Homer's the hero all right. I'm glad the movie focused on him finally 'growing up'. He's a big, dumb, lovable oaf you can't help but root for. If there was an 'animated characters' hall-of-fame, Homer would definitely be there.

Heart
Amidst the laughs, i liked that the movie showed us deeper things such as the relationship of father-son, husband-wife, and compassion to others... until the next joke that is, haha. Really though, I held back tears during the scene where Homer played the 'taped-over' VHS....

The Cast
Wow, I never knew Dan Castellaneta voiced so many characters (namely: Homer, Krusty the Clown, Grampa Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Barney Gumble)! Almost all voice talents gave life to multiple characters, and it was cool that they're dynamic like that.

2D
Yup, the movie trailers said it 'dared to be ugly', but i'm glad they stuck to the old animation style that's so distinct and still holds up to this day. I appreciate the character designs more when I saw Matt Groening's book about how to draw the Simpsons... the science of it, the symmetrical shapes... just classic... check it out when you're at Fully Booked. I'm just happy they didn't do a 'Flintstone's movie' live-action or 'TMNT' CGI with this.

the veRdict
This movie was worth the long wait, and it definitely delivered in entertainment and laughs. People may argue that it was just a 'long episode' but I thought that's just fine. It's one of the funniest movies I've seen all year... in fact, I had a better time watching this than Shrek 3. Long time Simpsons' fans will love that almost all the characters are there, no matter their small roles (how I wish some were bigger), and that Homer is the star (as it should). It's one of the wittiest sitcoms around (animated or live-action), and even though it's lost some of its ground to other shows like 'Family Guy' et. al., there will always be a space in my heart for the Simpsons. I echo the sentiments of Maggie's 'alleged' first word during the end credits.... 'Sequel!'

Am I the only person who liked this flick? Everyone is saying it's 'boring' and 'slow' and nothing significant happened... but I had a good time watching the wonderful effects, the spirited performances, and steady pacing. True it doesn't have the non-stop action of Die Hard, or the campy fun of Transformers... but that's exactly what I like about it. It's a slow burn of a flick that really kicks into gear in the last act, and I think that's totally fine. As a backgrounder, I thought the first two Columbus-helmed films were solid, but lacked flow and visual flare. Cuaron turned it all around with the third flick, Azkaban, and i thought Newell's Goblet was a solid flick and a step in the right direction. Now, Phoenix has the tough job of being the aftermath of the fourth and the start of the concluding trilogy, and I think director David Yates did a good job of handling this transition. The main cast is coming of age, the professors are excellent in their small roles, and the villains are absolutely terrific in their performances. And thus, the nitty-gritty of what I think worked, and didn't work in this latest Potter flick. SPOILERS abound, so be warned.

the wRong:
Decreased Roles:I really had to find something wrong with this flick. If ever, it''s the decreased role of some of my favorite characters from the past flicks. Mad Eye Moody, Hagrid, Lupin, Snape, etc. were all in the movie, but had barely a few lines to show for it. What little time they were there was great though. I especially wanted more of Alan Rickman's spot-on Snape character, especially since a lot of his past was revealed.
Cho Chang: Ok, this doesn't really have to do with her performance, but really her character in the story. What a traitorous beeotch. (Gayette has just informed me she was forced to drink a friggin' truth serum!)
The Score: The new score by Nicholas Hooper is fine and functional, but I guess I just miss the distinctiveness and grandeur of John Williams. A score is supposed to be subdued yet memorable - a tough balance, and since i can't say much wrong about this movie, I'll put this in the wRong section but it's really more in 'purgatory'.

the Right
The Cast: Harry Potter simply has one of the best casts around. The main trio has really great chemistry as always, while supporting roles are also memorable. It doesn't matter how famous the actors are - they just play their roles so well they become their characters... and really, I think that's all that matters. Here, I'd like to point out who were the exceptional ones:
Sirius Black: Do I really have to point out what a great actor Gary Oldman is? His Black is the caring father and cool uncle all roled into one. That made his untimely demise all the more moving... and Radcliffe's silent screaming showed beautifully the pain he was feeling.
Dolores Umbridge: Yeah I know Staunton's role was a big one and what some consider 'filler' for the main plot of the movie... but c'mon, she was deliciously evil here and played her role to a T. From the way she punishes students, the iron fist rule she dictates by, and freakishly perky-pink personality - she's definitely my favorite new character in the series.
Harry Potter: Radcliffe has come a long way in this series. This is easily his best performance as 'the boy that lived' in the whole series. His inner struggles, dealing with new emotions of affection, having to be the reluctant leader of the rebellious students... Radcliffe did an excellent job and proves why he was chosen to be the face of the most popular literary character today.
Luna Lovegood: Evanna Lynch plays this character so mysteriously charming that I wanted her for Harry more than that traitor Cho. She relates to Harry's tragic side more than anyone, but is also a compassionate friend and ally.
The Effects: Need I say more? It's not as amazing as it probably once was, but I loved how they were visually executed in this one, especially the magic spells, Hagrid's giant brother, the spectacular fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort, and...
The Order Vs Death Eaters Battle: Just when hope was lost in the end and the kids were sure to be doomed... Sirius Black comes right on time and punches Lucious Malfoy old-school style. The cavalry comes, Moody, Lupin and the rest of the order face off against Belaxtrix and the Death Eaters... the battle that commenced exceeded my expectations of what a wizard battle should look like. Utterly cool and breathtaking.
Tonks: Natalia Tena is the most gorgeous witch ever. She was barely in the movie, but when she was there with the Order it was great. Oh, and you can't go wrong with a name like 'Nymphadora'.

the veRdict:
All in all, I'm still torn where to place Potter 5 in the series in terms of quality... I'd say it ties with Goblet, just under Azkaban, and miles better than the first two. I love how this one is grounded in the real world more, showing scenes in modern London. I love the wonderful cast and how great they play their roles, whether big or small. I love the amazing effects. I love the new characters Umbridge and Luna. It may not have the visual panache of Azkaban, or the big story of Goblet, but what was there I enjoyed a lot. It was a 'transitional' Potter that's slow because it sets up the impending war in future movies, but I found nothing wrong with that and the great performances made these seemingly 'slow' scenes still enjoyable. It's not for everyone, and I can't really imagine kids warming up to it... This movie was actually more mature than Transformers! But if your looking for a quality flick this summer, let Order of the Phoenix cast its spell on you.

On a side note, David Yates is set to direct Half-Blood Prince as well, so I'm looking forward to another quality Potter sequel in the near future.

I'm sorry, I don't have the power to make a spoiler-free review, so if you haven't seen the movie, TURN AWAY NOW!

Watched the movie 2 times yesterday, so goes to show what a major geek I am for spending 500 bucks on one movie. But hey, the was TRANSFORMERS... the ultimate childhood nostalgia flick for guys my age and above. It was worth it.

Funny thing happened during my first viewing, because before the movie started and while I was waiting at the lounge, a guy stormed out of the theater and proclaimed to everyone (in a most dorky fashion): "Transformers sucks! Megatron is killed by Sam Witwicky"... Bummer right? Anyway, that guy kinda summed up what I would experience at first viewing. Although I didn't think it sucked, I was slightly disappointed.

On first view, I felt the pace at the start was very slow. It was all about Decepticons being evil, and Sam and his world. The latter I didn't mind, cuz' Shia is a terrific actor, but damn, I was like... Where is Optimus?! It was only until the middle until the rest of the Autobots came, and the other Decepticons like Starscream and Megatron only for the final battle.

But later that night on 2nd viewing, I was surprised to actually stop nitpicking and just enjoy what's there. It was much more fun the 2nd time around for some reason... since I knew what was gunna happen, the pacing felt faster and enjoyed all the scenes even more as I looked for details I may have missed on 1st view.

So, without further adieu, here's review proper! (Sorry for the long intro!) I'll use a new format now, in bullets just to see if it looks more organized!

The wℜong:
• Optimus Prime is a wuss. Ok, ok, yeah it was cool he decapitated Bonecrusher... but against Megatron? He got his arse kicked to holy hell by Mega. He barely used his gun, and in the end, only tripped Mega and wanted to commit suicide. Good thing Sam was smarter and used the damn killer cube on you know, the enemy.
• Jazz dies in vain. So Megatron stomps on him and tears him in half. That's it? Couldn't he have died heroically saving Sam? I'm ok with having casualties because it makes Mega even more of a badass, but there was absolutely no dram to the death of this Autobots... and he was one of my favorites!
• Military directs final battle to the city. So they're trying to hide the Allspark right? Why do it in the city where you know, thousands of people could die (and probably did)? They had the whole freaking desert to put up a last stand, but no, it was 'cooler' to fight in the city. Yeah I admit, seeing the bots in that environment was cool, but logically, it dumbfounded me.
• The Soundtrack. Where in the heck was the classic Transformers theme? Not even the new MuteMath version was there, and I watched the ENTIRE credits. Instead, they closed the movie out with Linkin Park... who's song has nothing to do with the transformers. Oh, and there was no orchestral score to speak of, as nearly all the key scenes were told in rock music. This is fine in the short term, but if I decide to watch this movie 5 years from now, those songs will feel so dated... as opposed to original score music ala 'Pirates'. *correction: on 3rd view, i noticed a score in key scenes! wasn't memorable though so goes to show how good of a score it was.
• Devastator. Were my eyes deceiving me? Was that tank named 'Devastator' or 'Destroyer' when Frenzy was summoning the Decepticons? Isn't he supposed named 'Brawl' like it is in the toyline? For goodness sakes, need I say what a travesty this is and ruins the Constructicons being introduced in succeeding films? *Sigh*
• Barricade. He was called in the end.... he obliged and was shown going to the city... then he never showed up. Why? Beats me. Probably pussied out cuz' Bee kicked his ass earlier.
• The Decepticons in general. Wow, they were so underdeveloped. They were like mindless tyrants. There was NEVER any character development scene with ANY of them. They also missed the boat on the Starscream vs. Megatron conflict that was very famous in the cartoons (Scream wanted to be the leader of the Cons). I think they had one scene, and 'Scream just got bitched at and took it like one. Frenzy (the little guy) seemed more 2nd in command than 'Scream.

The ℜight:
• The robots. They look AWESOME. Seamless CGI, I need not expound how cool they look and move. Before, I thought the designs were terrible... Prime having flames, Starscream and Mega looking funky... But watching it, it was breathtaking. They went with an alien-ish look for them, which suites their back-story, so it's all cool.
• Shia. This guy is the next Leo and Hollywood 'go to guy' if he already isn't. Look out for him in Indy 4 sometime in the future. If there was someone to replace Tobey as Spidey, this is the guy. He pulls of the 'everyman' role so well it's hard not to root for him.
• Peter Cullen. No one can ever play Optimus Prime other than this man. From the opening narrative, it was so welcoming to hear that classic voice just like the old cartoon. Now, is it just me or do all the 'holograms' they use as dummy drivers look like him (big moustache)?
• The little guys. This movie is filled with small roles, which the actors who played them did a superb job. From the car salesman, Sam's parents, the military guys and the hackers, they all did a great job as supporting cast members.
• The 'Sound'. You all know it. And it was spread out throughout the movie, although not every time they transform. That sound is such a nostalgia trip, I'm glad they put in the movie.
• BumbleBee. Who didn't fall in love with the personality of this car? From playing the right station at the right times, taking a whiz on Sector 7's over-the-top general, and kicking ass on one leg, Bee is the reluctant hero everyone loves.
• The Allspark. If there was one change I liked from the cartoon it was this. Gone are the lame glowing pink blocks. Instead we get this uber powerful device that seems to be a fusion of the Autobots matrix and the energon cubes. Plus, it turned a Mountain Dew vendo evil. That alone makes this thing cool.
• Megan Fox. Sure her acting didn't blow me away (it was serviceable), but her killer abs and sexy body did. She's the non-CG-Eye candy in this flick, God bless her.

The veℜdict:
It took me two viewings to like the movie. Maybe the first I was still a pricky fanboy seeing Michael Bay bastardize my childhood memories of my beloved robots with all this 'visual flare' stuff. But after the 2nd view, I just sat back, tried to put my brain in anti-nitpick mode, and just enjoy the human scenes and the glory of these metal titans. The story isn't the greatest or most epic, but it was a good starting point for a movie franchise and the way thing ended, it looks as if we're in store for sequels (Dinobots anyone?)! Transformers makes a triumphant and visceral splash on celluloid, but it's flaws keep it from attaining 'classic' status reserved for greats such as the original Star Wars, LOTR, and the first Matrix. All right DreamWorks, ROLL OUT those sequels!

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars ****1/2