'The LEGO Batman Movie' Review

I find it fitting that this review wasn't published till the film's release date that happens to fall on the third anniversary of my blog, and the exactly three years since I reviewed The LEGO Movie.

'The LEGO Batman Movie' Review

The LEGO Batman Movie revolves around everyone's favorite brick built bat LEGO Batman as he not only fights Gotham's criminal element but deals with the pressures of adopting a son. Somewhere along the way, LEGO Batman must learn the importance of teamwork if he's going to succeed in catching the villains set upon Gotham by the Joker.

The LEGO Batman Movie is the first of what looks to be a long line of LEGO spinoffs, in what I presume will be known as the LEGO Cinematic Universe, and it's only fair that the Batman gets the first considering his standout stint in The LEGO Movie and the simple fact *because he's Batman* (read in Batman voice). It's crazy to think we're getting another this fall with The LEGO Ninjago Movie, but at the same time it's not surprising Warner Bros. and LEGO want to proceed with as many of these movies they can possibly make considering the insane success of The LEGO Movie, a movie I was incredibly surprised by considering I was expecting a lazy feature length LEGO ad rather than a quality animated film with a huge heart.

Director Chris McKay's vision and imagination has no bounds as the film's plot plays out like an epic adventure only a child could imagine, appropriate considering the big twist of The LEGO Movie. One of the things that still astounds me is how animators utilized the plentiful plastic bricks at their disposal to construct animation that has the guise of a professionally-made stop-motion film using actual LEGOs. The animation is absolutely remarkable when you take into account that animators had to ensure each character and plastic piece onscreen exhibited the mannerisms and movement of a LEGO brick or mini-fig. So bravo to the group of animators and visual effects artists, your work was not forgotten. 

The LEGO Batman Movie brilliantly satirizes every aspect of the Caped Crusaders' legacy, both on and off-film, from the campy 1960s Adam West incarnation to the present brooding Ben Affleck take. The entire film is essentially a meta-commentary on DC Comics, and don't worry if you weren't a fan of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or Suicide Squad there's some jabs in there for you. The screenwriting team of Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern, and John Whittington responsible for the Dark Knight's zingers and commentary on the Caped Crusader. 

The screenwriters scope of Batman shows he's just a regular Joe; he misses his parents, swims in the Bat-cave's lagoon, and he heats up his leftovers in a microwave (a gag that plays out exceptionally well despite being in the trailers akin to the DMV bit in Zootopia). They're able to paint a plastic figure as what may just be the most human take on the character. 

An interesting component I'd like to touch on is the angle the story team viewed the Batman-Joker dynamic. The two need each other. It's not romantic, in fact it's the complete opposite, but when Batman can't tell Joker the three words "I hate you" or "You're not my greatest enemy" Joker is left an emotional wreck as though the two went through a bad breakup. Trust me, it's absolutely hysterical and plucks the heartstrings a little more than one would expect as you actually start to feel bad for the constructed clown prince of crime. 

My only issues are that sometimes the entire film felt like joke after joke after joke veering to be a little too kid friendly at times and that certain characters felt a little underdeveloped and cast off to the side in favor of serving the narrative theme. One thing many may be looking for is the next "Everything is Awesome" and while there's not an original song quite like that, there is in fact a heavy metal rendition of a Bat-rap about how awesome Batman is called "Who's the (Bat)Man" that's a hoot to listen to. Also, plenty of 80's hits can be found including "One" and "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" scattered throughout played to great comedic effect. 

The voice cast behind The LEGO Batman Movie is an immensely talented ensemble composed of A-list talent you would never expect to see behind a LEGO movie but I'll take it. Will Arnett's gravelly Batman voice remains an excellent play itself on the dark, gritty nature of recent incarnations of the character while he delivers one-liners and comedic bits with absolute ease and maintains an emotional, human aspect to his take on the Dark Knight. Michael Cera's giddy fanboy Robin, Ralph Fiennes' dry-cut Alfred, and Rosario Dawson's straight woman Barbara Gordon each provide excellent sources of comedy and pair well with Arnett's Batman. Zach Galifianakis' Joker is undeniably insane, not the best-nor worst take on Gotham's clown but easily the more multifaceted and somewhat sympathetic portrayal to date (as I briefly touched upon earlier).

All of Batman's rogues gallery are featured in the film to some capacity but I won't disclose the voices behind these iconic villains because that in and of itself can certainly be considered an entertaining trip to IMDB afterwards. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return for the buddy Superman-Green Lantern schtick along with fellow Justice League members for some brief cameo appearances. Oh and I can't forget that Siri makes her feature film debut as the Bat-computer or 'Puter for short.

In a strange turn of events The LEGO Batman Movie is the best love letter to Batman possible. While I don't think The LEGO Batman Movie was quite as good as The LEGO Movie, I can say it's a humorous and heartfelt family-friendly affair worth seeing in theaters.

Film Assessment: B+

Throwback Thursday Review: 'The Dark Knight Rises'

This week I'll be concluding my series of Throwback Thursday Reviews of The Dark Knight Trilogy with my review of The Dark Knight Rises. Next week look forward to a continuation of my Harry Potter Throwback Thursday Reviews with my review of  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and the following week I will review Saving Private Ryan since Sully, a film starring Tom Hanks will be released. In the meantime, I'm currently unsure of Ben-Hur (2016) and this weekends releases so I may review a few of those films and I may not, it just depends on if I find time to see these releases. However, I did watch Sing Street recently and plan to post a review relatively soon in addition to a post detailing what I believe to be the 5 Hidden Gems & 5 Biggest Disasters of the summer movie season.

'The Dark Knight Rises' Review

The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan's exceptional Dark Knight Trilogy, finishing strong despite not living up to it's predecessors. The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight where the audience finds that the Batman hasn't been seen in some time, Bruce Wayne remains secluded in his estate, and the streets are cleared thanks to the prop-up of Harvey Dent as Gotham's hero but everything changes when a brute cunning terrorist Bane arrives on the scene to terrorize Gotham. 

Unfortunately, The Dark Knight Rises has gone down as the weak link in the Dark Knight Trilogy, when in fact it's a lot better than people give it credit for. Yes, the film has problems. There are quite a few plot-holes, and it's certainly not perfect, but it's entertaining and takes the journey Nolan began with Batman Begins full circle. Nolan once again directs the film and co-wrote the screenplay with brother Jonathan Nolan and shared story duties alongside David Goyer. The writers ensure the realized world they've created remains intact as they continue to inject both complex characters and intellectual themes.

Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfizer brings some of their most striking visuals to date and the editing from Lee Smith helps to intersperse feelings of suspense throughout the film's runtime. Another element Nolan carries over is a reliance of practicality with believable action sequences and awesome gadgets for the Batman to utilize including the latest new vehicle, the Bat. As for the sound, Hans Zimmer brings about another exceptional score for the series that 's the epitome of the word epic. 

The performances from the capable cast are once again a highlight and some supporting characters get more time to shine. Christian Bale gets to do much more acting outside the suit as opposed to the preceding installments, and he brings a dynamic physical change in this film when he bulks up for his final confrontation with Bane. Bale's Bruce Wayne is made a more focal part of the story, a welcome change considering how character driven it made the story, while his Batman is terrific as well, showcasing Bale's ability to handle the duality of the role with relative ease. 

Michael Caine brings more sentiment to Alfred as his willingness to ensure Bruce carries on the Wayne legacy is brought to the forefront. Morgan Freeman is terrific in his role of Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman continued to be an excellent Gordon. 

Newcomers Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt all have scene stealing moments as the enigmatic Selina Kyle, sophisticated Miranda Tate, and courageous John Blake. 

Admittedly, the biggest letdown in The Dark Knight Rises is without a doubt Bane. Tom Hardy's Bane is ruthless as he exhibits wit, brute strength, and a strategic mind in his fight to take Gotham, but a third act twist neuters the character of everything that made him so fascinating as he's ousted to merely be a love-sick henchman. Tom Hardy certainly exemplified physicality and intellect to make for an intellectual and physical threat when compared to the hulking abomination in Batman and Robin. However, the mask he wears makes some of his dialogue discernible. Hardy's Bane was never going to be able to live up to the complex anarchist nature of Heath Ledger's Joker, but he does quite well with what he had to work with. 

The Dark Knight Rises may be remembered as the worst film in the trilogy, but it's not inherently bad at all, and actually is a very competent piece of filmmaking due to the talent involved both in front of and behind the camera. If anything, the reality that The Dark Knight Rises doesn't measure up to the previous installments goes to show just how amazing those films are, considering how terrific the conclusion to the Dark Knight Trilogy proved to be. 

Film Assessment: B+

Throwback Thursday Review: 'The Dark Knight'

This week I'm reviewing The Dark Knight to tie in with the release of this weekend heavily anticipated Suicide Squad since both feature incarnations of the Joker and I wanted to review the Dark Knight Trilogy which I already began with my review of Batman Begins and I'll finish it out when I review The Dark Knight Rises in three weeks. In between then and now expect Throwback Thursday reviews on Disney's older Pete's Dragon with the release of the new live action version followed by the beginning of my series of Harry Potter reviews with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone where I will be rereading the books and reviewing each Harry Potter film every two weeks till the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. New reviews you can expect in the next two weeks include Suicide Squad, a review I've already writen that will be posted immediately after this review is uploaded, Pete's Dragon (2016), Sausage Party, and 

Florence Foster Jenkins.

'The Dark Knight' Review

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actor; Heath Ledger, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects. 
Won: Best Supporting Actor; Heath Ledger and Best Sound Editing.

The Dark Knight picks up after Batman Begins. Batman's tidied up the streets of Gotham, but Joker has arrived to wreck havoc and unleash chaos. The Dark Knight is the summit of Christopher Nolan's exceptional Dark Knight Trilogy, and what a glorious peak it is! In the Dark Knight Trilogy, Nolan continues to transcend the superhero genre with a hyper-realized take on the Batman including complex messages and themes that explore the very meaning of Batman and Joker's ideologies. 

Nolan again takes up the responsibility of directing in addition to writing the screenplay alongside his brother Jonathan Nolan and working on the story with David Goyer. The trio craft a story that brings out an interesting message that darkness is hidden within all of us and that even the best of us can steep into darkness if molded correctly. Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfizer,  and editor Lee Smith brilliantly fabricate suspense, raise tension prior to big twists and turns, and the gorgeous scenery is all cut together seamlessly. 

The practicality Nolan focused on in Batman Begins continues as he introduces the Bat-Pod, a new vehicle in Batman's arsenal, and plenty of new gadgets for his utility belt. The practicality help make the action sequences more exhilarating and believable as they are marvelous to watch. Other remarkable technical elements include the costuming, makeup, and visual effects that look phenomenal. The Dark Knight not only look great but sounds awesome as well thanks to a tremendous score composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. 

Even better are the performances with Christian Bale once again delivering a solid dual-portrayal of billionaire Bruce Wayne and vigilante Batman. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are both great as Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox respectively. Gary Oldman remains to be a terrific Jim Gordon and this time around gets to delve into some more emotional ground. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal's Rachel is an improvement over Katie Holmes' depiction, serving less as a damsel in distress, but an important character in this story relative to her relationship with Bruce Wayne. 

Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent is commonly overlooked, but his performance is truly something! Eckhart is a bright spot of the trilogy as we see him morph into Two-Face and watch his descent into darkness, proving the best of humanity can be corrupted.

Heath Ledger brings the best depiction of the Joker onscreen, as a brilliant strategist intent on unleashing hell and anarchy to prove his point. It's tragic that Ledger died shortly after, as the role took it's toll on him and caused him to eventually overdose, considering it's one of the best villainous performances in recent memory. The entire cast deliver in spades and beyond in some cases.

In summary, The Dark Knight is a cinematic masterpiece thanks to technical precision, talent in-front-of and behind-the-camera, a rousing score, and an intelligent story with sophisticated themes about the truth of humanity. The Dark Knight is easily one of the best comic book films-to-date. 

Film Assessment: A+

Throwback Thursday Review: 'Batman Begins'

Sorry for the delayed review but this week I'm beginning my series of Throwback Thursday Reviews of the Dark Knight Trilogy. I'm spreading these reviews throughout the year given the release of some new DC Comic Films of both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. My main Throwback Thursday Review that will come the week Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice is released will be Man Of Steel, since it's both a Superman origin and the only film in DC's current cinematic universe. However I wanted to do both a Batman origin film as well as review the Dark Knight Trilogy this year so I figured Batman Begins was a great compromise. The reason this review is coming this week as opposed to closer to Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice's release is that from this week onward my schedule is booked for Throwback Thursday Reviews till August.

'Batman Begins' Review

Nominated For: Best Cinematography.

Batman Begins is the foundation for Christopher Nolan's brilliant Dark Knight Trilogy, and a rather solid foundation if ever there was one. Nolan broke ground for superhero films by being the first to take one completely seriously with a very realistic, grounded take on the Caped Crusader's origin story.

Christopher Nolan takes up the duties of director in addition to penning the script alongside  David Goyer, deciding to focus on character and story rather than spectacle going to the roots of the Batman and it's a wise decision. Nolan also makes the choice to utilize practical effects rather than CGI that leads to more authentic action sequences.

This practicality also oozes over in regards to Batman's arsenal gadgets and this version of the bat mobile, the Tumbler, that's more along the lines of a tank. I feel that the practical gadgets make perfect sense and love the explanation behind each trinket that Batman carries along with him. I also liked their use and purpose in various action sequences and felt that they certainly service the film.

One notable action sequence features the Tumbler abandoning the roads and resorting to jumping over rooftops as Batman is being frantically pursued by the authorities, and it was incredible.

Now, with that being said, this film does indeed have a few hiccups with a bit of lackluster action at times, but the film makes up for all with a phenomenal character-focused narrative. Another key piece to Nolan's larger puzzle are the performances being showcased.

Front and center we have Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and I felt he is certainly serviceable in the duality of the role, bringing both a suave Wayne and an edgy Batman. Now, many critics are a little harsh on Bale's "Batman voice," which sounds like more of a growl, but it makes logical sense to me that Wayne would need to disguise his voice to avoid being recognize in his escapades.

Also, the film makes a point to establish that this version of Wayne uses the playboy persona as more of a mask rather than the cowl itself, and I liked that concept and how it's developed across the course of the Trilogy.

The film's supporting cast are where the performances are just exceptional. Michael Caine brings new depths to Alfred showing that Wayne's butler is not only concerned with Bruce's safety but protecting the Wayne legacy as well. Caine is exceptional in the role as a phenomenal casting choice.

Morgan Freeman portrays Lucius Fox and his character is given more prominence than ever before in any adaptation, where it's explained Fox supplies the gadgets to Wayne and Freeman is phenomenal as per usual.

Now, Gary Oldman was the perfect match for Jim Gordon as he not only shared a physical resemblance to the cop, but also the emotional core of the character.

Katie Holmes plays the main love interest for Wayne as Rachel Dawes, and sadly is of little use to the story, only to serve at the damsel of distress in some of the darkest moments. Holmes is decent in the role, but you'll see she's easily replaced for the sequel.

In regards to villains, the film holds an ace up it's sleeve with Liam Neeson by hiding his true importance for most of the film, but the reveal of who he's playing is quite satisfying. Neeson acts as a great mentor and opposition to Wayne that's integral to the film and later brings the narrative full circle in the closing act of the Dark Knight Trilogy.

Cillian Murphy brings the first live action version of the Scarecrow to the screen, and oh, boy is he terrifying. Murphy plays second fiddle to the main antagonist but is terrific when utilized.

Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the Caped Crusader is really one of the greatest superhero origin stories to be told, that serviced the source material while making it accessible to the mainstream public.

Film Assessment: A-