Earl’s Blog: Part III

Below are two scenes from the upcoming Rainn Wilson Comedy, The Rocker. 

The Joker is definitely the most interesting character in the new Batman flick The Dark Knight, which continues to shatter records across the world. Thanks to the Youtube community, someone has done the (illegal) liberty of compiling some of his scenes into two nifty videos.

Below is the trailer for the upcoming movie adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel, Watchmen, showing the story of what the world would really be like with superheroes. I personally have never read the novel, however after seeing this trailer I might give it a try. The movie is being directed by Zack Snyder, the man behind 300. The movie is set for release next March. I personally think it looks great. 

The caped crusader, the masked vigilante that is Batman is back in town, and this time he must face not only the Joker, one of the best portrayed villains in any comic book movie I’ve ever seen, but a slew of moral dilemmas. Do not fear, there are no couch-sessions here. Only heart stopping action, impeccable acting, and a story that will stay with you for a good while after you leave the theater. This installment takes place directly after the events of Batman Begins, when James Gordon warns Batman of a new villain who has “A taste for the theatrics”. The opening scene is a bank robbery that only begins to let us know how deeply sadistic and maniacal this anarchist clown is, killing off his own partners. I have to admit in that first scene my heart skipped a beat when the Joker’s frightening appearance was revealed. Gotham’s new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, is supposed to save Gotham City, to be its White Knight, all the while being tangled in the love triangle between him, Rachel Dawes, and Bruce, another thing director Chris Nolan was able to play out well in the midst of all the explosions. His direction of the franchise takes on a refreshing realistic view of Gotham and its world, stepping back from this “Everyone loves Batman” mentality past seen. In The Dark Knight, along with this guy running around in a Batsuit come responses by the public. Criminals become more desperate, Mobsters become more violent, the public becomes more frightened yet all the while judgmental, and villains like the Joker come into play. The movie does such a great job of conveying this sense of impending doom coming from all the Joker’s premeditated acts of violence that are announced to them. The movie has one of the deepest stories I’ve seen in a while. I won’t spoil the story, however a lot of moral fibers are twisted and sides of people you may never have seen come out, some being a little two-faced. One character that all sides came out was Heath Ledger’s iconic interpretation of the Joker. His interpretation is the definitive portrayal, as the person sitting next to me in the theater said “Jack who?” Every tick, every licking of his bloody lips, every murderous act committed by this guy only shows how deeply disturbed his character is, and how he will stop at nothing to provoke anarchy, “Put a little change in the system.” “I’m just a dog chasing cars; I wouldn’t know what to do if I found one!” He commits all these horrible acts, and does them just for the sake of doing them. Which brings me to this warning-Do not take the younger ones to this movie. Don’t do it. There were scenes in this movie I got afraid of, but I also cry every time I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition. However, do not take the younger ones to this movie unless they can stand some pretty violent and intense scenes, not to mention Ledger’s Joker, who is quite frightening. I cannot say enough about his performance and how it haunts you after you see it, embrace the knight-mares. Not to say the other actors don’t do well, Ledger’s performance is outstanding, and the rest of the cast play their parts to the best of their ability. Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gylenhal, Aaron Eckhart, and Christian Bale all do wonderful jobs in this movie, every one of them having well thought out and in some cases, tragic roles to play, but I’m not gonna spoil it. Even though the movie does have a very deep emotional and mental side to it, it also provides some great action, with little CGI, making it feel so real. I won’t give away the secrets, but this movie will have you on the edge of your seat. The movie is about 2 ½ hours long, and at the midnight screening I went to, it felt like it, if not longer. However that was one of the most entertaining 2 ½ hours I’ve spent at the movies. There was a point in the movie where I thought “Okay, that should be it, I guess that’s the end of the movie.” But the movie pressed on for another good 40 min, an entertaining 40 min none the less. The plot took several twists and turns in the final 30 min it was a little hard to keep up at 3 a.m., and at first I was critical of the ending, however thinking it over I realized it came out to be the best possible way to wrap up all those loose ends and characters. Overall, The Dark Knight is one of those great summer blockbusters, all the while conveying an immersive and deep story to it. The story is just so rich and immersive, unlike any blockbuster I’ve seen. The movie just delivers by providing some great action sequences accompanied with a great story. The only minor complaint is that the movie is a little long, and although enjoyable, it can be a little confusing. They could have cut some fat off the film and narrow it down to 2 hrs, however the movie really never gets boring or tedious. The Dark Knight, which is now my favorite comic book movie, is a deep, action packed, and wonderfully-acted film that will stay with you long after you see it.

5 out of 5 

Below is the trailer for the upcoming Jim Carrey movie, Yes Man, slated for release December 19. The movie is about a man, who tired of saying no all the time, can’t stop saying yes to any question someone asks him. Sure the plot sounds a little silly, however I believe Carrey can pull it off? 

Is Carrey even trying any more?

I was flipping through the channels yesterday and watched a little bit of The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The FInal Insult. It was one of the actually funny movies made by the Zuckers, now famous for the Scary Movie franchise, which is less funny. This is the opening scene to the movie, where Frank Drebin is surrounded by crime.

With the opening of The Dark Knight tomorrow, a LOT of eager fans will be heading for their theaters for the cinematic glory of this newest Batman series installment. However, it’s been 3 years since we last saw Batman in his journeys, so you may not be as familiar as you should be. Here’s a little recap of Batman Begins, including the trailer and ending sequence below- (Obviously, Spoiler Alert)

Movie starts with a flashback as Bruce Wayne as a child, where he falls into a well at the age of 8 years old, where he develops a fear of bats. At a bat-themed opera, Bruce convinces his parents to let them leave, where his parents are shot and killed by a mugger. The mugger is not Jack Napier a.k.a. Joker as Tim Burton’s envisioning implied, however is Joe Chill, a neighborhood thug. Bruce forever blames himself for his parents’ murder. Bruce returns to Gotham City years later, intent on killing Chill. One of Falcone’s men, however, beat him to the punch given that Chill was to testify against Falcone. Bruce confronts both Rachel Dawes and Falcone about the crime getting different responses. He decides to go out and explore the criminal mind. He is detained in a Bhutanese prison, where he meets Henri Ducard, who invites Bruce to join the League of Shadows, led by Ras Al Ghul, where he overcomes his fears. The League, however, planned on using Bruce to destroy Gotham. When Bruce refuses to execute a prisoner, he sets the temple on fire, incidentally killing Ras and saving Henri, dropping him in a nearby village. Bruce returns to Falcone-ruled Gotham, where he makes friends once again with James Gordon and Rachel Dawes, while acquiring a tumbler vehicle (Batmobile) and Armored Suit (Batsuit) from Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). Bruce plans on taking down Falcone his own way. He disrupts a drug shipment, leaving the mob boss on a searchlight, making the first bat signal. He investigates a shipment of unusual drugs where Jonathan Crane is involved, who sprays Bruce with a powerful hallucinogen. Bruce’s butler comes to save him, and is saved by Morgan Freeman Lucius Fox. Crane a.k.a. The Scarecrow intoxicates Dawes with the vapor of the gas and plans on releasing it on the city. Batman saves Dawes, uses the vapor on Crane himself, and gives an antidote to Gordon. The police come shortly after to arrest Crane at Arkham Asylum. At Bruce’s birthday celebration, Bruce is confronted by the League of Shadows, led by Ducard who turned out to be the real Ras Al Ghul. Ras, who was working with Crane all along, plans on to destroy Gotham by distributing the toxin undetected via Gotham’s water supply, and then vaporizing it with a microwave-emitter stolen from Wayne Enterprises, and dismisses him. Ras sets fire to Wayne Manor, where Bruce and Alfred barely escape. The League sets Crane free from prison, now calling himself The Scarecrow. Batman rescues Dawes from a group of criminals and the Scarecrow, when Batman shows his real identity to her. Batman leaves Gordon in charge of the Batmobile to stop the train sending the toxins to the main water hub. Batman fights Ras aboard the train, and when Gordon takes out the rails with a missile from the Batmobile, Batman abandons the train, leaving Ras to his death. It’s worth mentioning however, that in the comics Ras is immortal. Bruce, after the battle, is regarded as a hero, and takes control of Wayne Enterprises. He installs Mor Lucius Fox as CEO, however loses Rachel who can’t reconcile her love. Gordon is promoted to Lieutenant, and the official Bat Signal is unveiled. A top the roof with the Bat signal, Gordon warns Batman of a new villain who leaves joker playing cards at the scene, “Has a taste for the theatrics.” Batman flies off into the night, set to investigate. 

The Ending, Below that is the Trailer-