The Dark Knight

Best movie of the Year

Go see it

It surpasses the hype

It is everything a movie should be

A++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-The Sixth Sense is a masterpiece of the twist ending. It is one of the best thrillers made in the last few decades anddeservedlygot the nomination for Best Picture in the 1999 Oscar race.

-Unbreakable showed promise but was a slight step down from M. Night Shyamalan previous effort. Despite its flaws it was intriguing and satisfactory.

-Signs was Shyamalan's first truly "Sci-Fi" film and in that respect it delivered and went on to be a box office smash.

-The Villagecontinued this promising director's careerwith a mediocre outing. It was a good story with good production values but felt slightly contrived with its unsatisfactory twist ending.

-Lady in the Water barelyskidded by on the sheer fact that M. Night Shyamalan was telling a fantasy bedtime story. The movie abandoned reality or any guidelines and became its own creation. Again this barely worked.

The Happening has NO EXCUSE! Without further a due Shyamalan's latest movie goes beyond being his worst film to date and runs further to a point where I call it the worst film I have seen intheaters.

My Mind nearly blew as the sour, rotten,unfinishedmovie reeled before my eyes. The premise and director's name made me spend $9.75 to watch the film but after a short 10 minutes it was clear this movie was headed down a deep dark UNFULFILLING path. Without spoiling the movie (the movie tells you the twist 10 minutes into the mess -which by the way is not a twist at all-) The Happening is a shallow movie about the forces within the environment. It is laughably bad. From the boom-mics being visibleat the top of the screen to Mark Wahlberg talking to a tree The Happening is sunk from the get go. The sheer plot is totally jacked and you know what? Screw it! I will tell you because you need to know how bad it is. **SPOILERS** Trees and plants work as a united force by releasing toxins into the air to make human beings commit suicide because we mistreated nature. In other words the scariest moment the movie has to offer is watching a "menacing" tree blow in the wind. **End Spoilers** The movie is garbage. The production values are horrendous, the acting is pitiful (believe me you will feel sorry for mark wahlberg) and the script is pathetic. The idea is intriguing but with a script this bad there is no way this film could have ever gotten off the ground. The film literally had our audience of 700 laughing at least a dozen times. This is a bad movie. Plus they say the word "happening" over a dozen times over the course of the film.

1 out of 5

"It is not as easy as it used to be." -Indiana Jones early on in the film

It has been years since we first heard word of a fourth Indy movie. I remember hearing something as early as 2000. Well the least I can say is that it is a worthy sequel and packs everything that you know and love about Indiana Jones. That said like many people have stated, If you haven't fallen in love with the series yet, this movie will not change your mind. It is worth stating, however, that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the most well crafted in terms of production design and sheer action scenes. It goes without saying that Indy benefits well from some nice special effects even though many may miss the raw feel of Raiders. Everybody has their favorite Indiana Jones movie and some may dislike the direction taken in this fourth installment, but the supernatural twist only continues the trend started by the series. Remember, Raiders is about the ark and how fire consumes everybody who looked at it. Temple was about magic stones. And then Crusade was about the Holy Grail and how there was a 1000 year old man guarding it. Kingdom just continues the trend with another unbelievable premise. It totally works though.

As far as the script and plot, both are adequate both nothing special. I wish there had been more of an emotional presence from the characters but what we got was fine. Having a troubled, older Indy would have led to some good depths for the human soul part, but again it is Indiana Jones. How much do we need? This sequel is great. I like it a great deal and would dare to say it is as entertaining as the original even though nothing will ever beat Raiders.

If you are hesitant, just remember fans will love it, non-believers will just find something a little bit better than a national treasure movie.

4 out of 5

I just picked up:

2001: A Space Odyssey 2 Disc Collector's Edition (2007 Release)

The Shining 2 Disc Collector's Edition (2007 Release)

A Clockwork Orange 2 Disc Collector's Edition (2007 Release)

Add Dr. Strange Love or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Full Metal Jacket, Spartacus, Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut and I'd have myself I pretty well rounded "Kubrick Kollection." Regardless, not a bad start. Haha.

Four in a row.

Judd Apatow's brilliance continues.

Sarah Marshall is an awesome movie. You will laugh out load and split you gut a couple dozen times watching this movie. Don't worry this movie stands right next to Knocked Up and Superbad. Marshall is easily as good as either. I freakin' loved this movie.

Knocked Up ****out of****

Superbad ***1/2out of****

Walk Hard ***out of****

Forgetting Sarah Marshall ****out of****

Citizen Kane ****out of**** (obviously)

There Will Be Blood 2 Disc ****out of****

Cast Away 2 Disc Steelbook Edition ***out of****

Juno 2 Disc ****out of****

Tora! Tora! Tora! 2 Disc Collectors Edition

Patton 2 Disc Collectors Edition

Casablanca 2 Disc Collectors Edition

There Will be blood, if you haven't heard, is packaged terribly. The discs slide in paper sleeves that you have to grip like you are pulling out a business card from a slot. The box is cheap and flimsy. The 2 Disc box almost warped after it was open for a week so I took a little glue to it to fix it. Little drops of glue got on the box though which now left some light skuff type marks. Kinda pisses me off. Still I love the movie and it is worth it but the "enviormentaly friendly" packaging has to go. Film: ****out of****. Packaging: *out of****.