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andyrookjohnson
Reviews
The Dark Knight (2008)
Brilliant - but not quite perfect
The Dark Knight is a superbly made film. It and Iron Man are the two best films I've seen this year - 2008 has been kind to comic book film fans. This film comes across as epic, involving and complex - it gives comics the kind of treatment they have always deserved in cinema. The dark, gritty tone of the film is perfectly judged, and helps us put the camp tone of previous Batman portrayals behind us. Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker is absolutely superb - he just crackles whenever he appears, and we find ourselves waiting for the next scene in which he will do so. This is linked to one of my few criticisms of the film which keep me from giving it 10 out of 10 - it's more of a Joker film than a Batman film. Sometimes it seems Batman is hardly in it - he flits in and out of the plot, and Bale's ludicrous gruff voice when Batman talks is a constant irritation and completely unnecessary. It's somehow more annoying than it was in Batman Begins.
Another criticism would be of the fight scenes - they are edited in the kind of choppy, frustrating way we've seen in films like the Bourne trilogy. It's probably an attempt to inject more realism, but really it just obfuscates the action, makes it pass quicker, gives it less impact. That aside, the action scenes are superb - the tunnel chase, the hospital bombing, the opening bank job, and so on.
The Dark Knight is a brilliantly realised Batman film and one of the truly essential films of 2008 - and, frankly, of the decade. It feels vital, epic, exciting - but it's not quite perfect.
Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo (2004)
A hugely affecting, moving, brutal war film
I hadn't seen a Korean film before, but Brotherhood has proved to be a brilliant, if harrowing, introduction. The plot is epic, and incredibly moving throughout. The acting is superb, and one of the most striking things is the realism of the costumes, weapons and pryotechnics - Kang Je-gyu has an amazing eye for detail which shines throughout the film. Even though it is quite long, Brotherhood doesn't drag but rather continues to soar throughout its length - this is a hugely impressive film that should be seen by more people - another example of how Asian cinema continues to be innovative, thought-provoking and well-crafted. I shall definitely be looking out for more films by Kang Je-gyu as well as more Korean films generally. Seeing Brotherhood has been an inspiring experience.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
One the action genre's few true masterpieces
The Terminator was a great film built around a great concept, but it was constrained by its small B-movie budget, making it look dated today. Terminator 2 expanded on the concept hugely, and for once a massively bigger budget had only a positive effect on the film. The special effects in 1991 were ideal - not too cheap or understated, but also not too overblown or all-encompassing as they usually are today. Because of this, and the enormous attention to detail with which Cameron directed, T2 looks fantastic today and doesn't seem dated at all.
The action scenes are superlative throughout. Essentially, the plot dictates that T2 is essentially an extended chase film - but the plot is complex, convincing and unpredictable, aided by a fantastically deep script where the characters form an unlikely family unit and discuss time, war, fate and parental responsibility amid the gunfire and explosions.
T2 contains an amazing blend of intelligence and visceral thrills which only a tiny number of films have captured as well as this. Satisfying action fans and fans of serious drama and sci-fi, T2 is a masterpiece of action and sci-fi cinema and a timeless classic. Absolutely essential viewing.
Giù la testa (1971)
A superb, political character study framed around the Mexican revolution
Sergio Leone is well known as one of the greatest directors of westerns, with films like the brilliant Once Upon A Time In The West. This film is very different - although you can tell it's a Leone film (the long, near-silent takes, frequent close ups and use of slow motion), it's very different. Framed against the Mexican revolution, it's more political, showing us the brutality of the Federales and the determination of the revolutionaries. James Coburn is excellent, playing a really interesting character - a known killer and a wanted Irish terrorist who still has a sense of humour and honour. His main co-star is Rod Steiger, who perhaps overplays his role as a Mexican bandit, but is nevertheless fantastic - he has some wonderful lines and at times sounds more than a little like Tony Montana from Scarface! The explosives expertise of Coburn's character is put to good use, and there are some impressive explosions and action scenes, especially towards the end. But rather than being a straightforward western, this film has elements of tragedy, comedy and politics to go along with its brooding atmosphere and obligatory action. Whilst not quite up to the standard of Leone's more famous films, this is still a classic.