The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Rated: PG-13

Length: 165 min.



In one of the most anticipated summer blockbusters of all-time...The Dark Knight "Falls." I am disappointed to say that my original hypothesis that this film would be completely ridiculous and over the top came true. I wanted so badly to be wrong about my sequel policy; that any film that goes for the three-peat, fails epically in trying to outdo the two already incredible films that preceded it. The Dark Knight is easily one of my favorite films of all-time and I was absolutely taken in by the film from start to finish. One of the main reasons being Heath Ledger, and the astounding job he did as The Joker. Tom Hardy (Bane) was also a very entertaining villain in this film, but he reminded me too much of a beefy Hannibal Lector. Unfortunately this film could not even be saved by up and coming star Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Blake). In all honesty, the best performance of the film goes to Anne Hathaway (Catwoman), which is surprising even to me, considering I had little to no respect for her work prior to this film. Overall, the film dialogue was extremely poor and the plot was incredibly absurd and hard to follow; however, the cinematography, music synchronization, and battle sequences were all top quality, as to be expected from a Christopher Nolan film.The final verdict on The Dark Knight Rises is obviously to go see it, and see for yourself if you agree with my conclusion. All critiquing and film dissection aside, my heart goes out to all the victims lost in the Aurora cinema shooting; I just hope we can soon again feel safe and find comfort in going to the movies as a family.

Wanderlust (2012)



Director: David Wain

Rated: R

Length: 98 min.



In this story of a couple who seem to have lost their way but find their true selves in an intentional community (hippie commune), Paul Rudd is the only moderately comical part of this film. Jennifer Aniston, who is always fun to look at, doesn't even scrape the surface of how entertaining she was in films like Horrible Bosses and The Break-Up. The only part worth watching in the entirety of this film involves a monologue in which Rudd is giving himself a motivational speech for his future sexual encounter. I can only hope that Rudd will continue to produce comedies on the level of I Love You, Man and Role Models. All in all, I would say this film (which was recommended to me by a friend) failed to reach the full potential I expected from this uproarous cast. Even for all you un-bathed tree-huggers out there who enjoy a good story about those who find themselves in love, laughter, and happiness; not even you will fall under the spell of this hippie b.s. In the few times I did happen to laugh at this poor excuse for a romantic comedy, I quickly lost interest in yet another predictable plot outcome. I mean what the hell does Wanderlust even mean?! Let me know if ya figure it out...

Project X (2012)

 Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Rated: R

Length: 88 min.

In a firsthand portrayal one of the most belligerent house parties known to man, Project X is a fun filled adventure from start to finish. With great syncs of both soundtrack and slow motion shots, this mockumentary displayed a number of scenes with incredible transitions. However, with a poor dialogue and level of absurdity that reaches a point of unbelivability; this film fails to reach its full potential. As a kid we all dream of throwing a party of this magnitude, but we also are not completely ignorant to the consequences of our actions like our boy Thomas here. There is a fairly good message on display in this film, for it shows us the significance of being responsible, but also tricks us into believing "if you build it, they will come." Overall I found the film to be highly entertaining, but also moderately ridiculous at the same time. If you're looking for loud music, naked women, and excessive partying, this is the film for you.

The Skin I Live In (2011)

 Director: Pedro Almodovar

Rated: R

Length: 120 min.

In one of the most sexually disturbing thrillers I have ever seen, director Pedro Almodovar creates a world of unforgivable fate for those who have taken advantage of the weak. With some of the most gracefully synchronized cinematography and soundtrack since A Clockwork Orange, there are multiple scenes throughout the film that evoke an intense emotional outpour from the audience. This "in your face" thriller will keep you consistently on your toes. Not only does this film have a spectacular back drop in the city of Toledo, Spain; but it also inculdes the likes of stunning Spanish actress, Elena Anaya (Vera Cruz). And for those of you (like my mother), who can't handle a healthy amount of sexual passion and nudity, just stick to The Notebook in the PG-13 safety zone;) However, I must admit that even I found myself questioning my own emotional reactions to the plot as it unfolds onscreen. All in all, I'd say I enjoyed the film, for it produces an ample amount of audience involvement; even though it struggles on the fronts of dialogue and supporting cast. I have always said that the ending to a film is all that truly matters, and this film's conclusion will leave you to ponder about how optimistic you'd be about the possibility of a new life...I think we all need to take a step back and take a good hard look at The Skin I Live In.

Prometheus (2012)

 Director: Ridley Scott

Rated: R

Length: 124 min.

Surprise, surprise...For the umpteenth time a sci-fi thriller failed to produce the level of excitement that it had been hyped up to be. With incredible scenery and astounding special effects that rival that of Avatar, this film still fails on all the truly important aspects of film; plot, direction, and dialogue. The subsequent prequel to what some regard as the best sci-fi film of all time, Alien (with the exception of Star Wars of course;), this was nowhere near the level of astonishment that I had expected from a Ridley Scott film. For those of you who enjoy the visual appeal of a film, this delivers on all counts; but for all you science buffs out there looking for a truly epic scientific adventure, go ahead and just watch the re-run of the original Star Wars trilogy on Spike TV. The unfortunate part about this film is that it had so much promise to be an intriguing film at its beginning; but with little to no plot explanation, this film was extremely hard to follow. Not to mention the fact that the originality of this film was about a 2 on the shock and awe scale. I mean how many times have we seen space explorers reach another planet to find extra terrestrials? I remember my first sci-fi film (it was E.T. and I was 9). When are we going to move on from this obsession with aliens? I mean grow-the-f@*% -up. Prometheus.

The Avengers (2012)

 Director: Joss Whedon

Rated: PG-13

Length: 143 min.

After walking out of what claimed to be this summer's superhero blockbuster (next to The Dark Knight Rises of course), I left the movie theater feeling only one thing...disappointment. With the exception of the always entertaining Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), the cheesy dialogue and ridiculous special effects made for another over dramatized superhero melodrama. I expected more from the star studded cast that included the likes of the ever-so elegant Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and timeless stars like Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury). Although filled with action from start to finish, this film lacked any sense of plot direction to which I became easily bored with the story onscreen. Don't let yourself be drawn in by gigantic explosions and flamboyant costume design, this is just another cheap imitation of a comic that didn't translate well onto the big screen. Hopefully Christopher Nolan's Batman will save the summer superhero film by producing another quality chapter to his already impressive collection. As for The Avengers, I think its time for them to pack up and call it day. We can only hope that the studio doesn't subject us to another abysmal excuse for a sequel to this mediocre film. The Avengers.

Carnage (2011)

 Director: Roman Polanski

Rated: R

Length: 80 min.

In this Roman Polanski film about the difficulties of parenting violent young adolescents, we find that our children can help bring out our truest emotions. Polanski, who has directed such great films as The Pianist, does a terrific job with both role reversal of characters and portrayal of absolute absurdity. Michael & Penelope Longstreet (John C. Reilly & Jodie Foster) play the parents of the abused child who are trying to find a civilized way to work out a solution for the brutal altercation that took place between the two children. On the other hand, Alan & Nancy Cowan (Christoph Waltz & Kate Winslet) could care less about their child's violent course of action. Waltz portrays the inconsiderate corporate businessman to a tee, which is reminiscent of the antagonist he played in Inglorious Basterds. As the film progresses and the Cowans can't seem to leave the Longstreet household for a number of ridiculous reasons, the true emotions of the characters are unveiled. What was originally a civilized conversation between adults, evolves into a therapeutic session for both couples to work out their own marital issues. The obvious noticeable difference in social class is particularly apparent in the film's beginning, but the consistent variation in character bonding breaks down that barrier and makes for a fun filled adventure with a very realistic conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this film from start to finish, and Polanski does a fantastic job in displaying the oddity of the situation at hand. I would suggest this film to all you oddballs out there who enjoy a good laugh and can appreciate the awkwardness of everyday life. Carnage.