Month: October 2017

Today’s quick review: RocknRolla. When rockstar Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell) steals a painting entrusted to Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson), a crooked real estate tycoon, by his Russian partner Uri (Karel Roden), it falls to Lenny’s right-hand man Archy (Mark Strong) to get it back. Meanwhile, Stella (Thandie Newton), Uri’s accountant, hires the Wild Bunch (Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, and Tom Hardy), a trio of small-time crooks, to steal millions of Euros from her boss.

RocknRolla is a crime comedy written and directed by Guy Ritchie. RocknRolla follows in the footsteps of Ritchie’s classics Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels: a punchy crime flick set in the London underworld, with a touch of black comedy, a large cast of characters, and a complex, weaving plot. Ritchie brings his signature style to the film, producing a film that is energetic, entertaining, and clever.

Gerard Butler heads an ensemble cast as One Two, a local criminal and part of the Wild Bunch. His two million pounds of debt to Lenny prompts him to take up Stella’s offer of work, starting a series of events with far-reaching consequences. Gerard Butler plays the role with the right mix of affability and fallibility. His chemistry with Thandie Newton gives the movie a bit of romantic spark, while his banter with the Wild Bunch feels natural.

The rest of the cast is just as strong. The other members of the Wild Bunch are Mumbles and Handsome Bob, played by Idris Elba and Tom Hardy, respectively. Much like One Two, the characters are underdogs with a likable, casual air about them. Tom Wilkinson plays a suitably detestable Lenny, an influential player in the London real estate scene engaged in all kinds of shady dealings. His inflated ego coupled with real power makes him an interesting character.

The cast is rounded out by Toby Kebbell as Johnny Quid and Mark Strong as Archy. Johnny Quid is Lenny’s hated stepson, a rockstar and junkie who recently faked his own death. Johnny occupies an oddly central role in the plot, with a warped but keen intelligence that keeps him in the middle of things. For his part, Mark Strong delivers an excellent performance as Archy, Lenny’s lieutenant, the film’s narrator, and a uniquely competent and level-headed criminal.

Fans of Guy Ritchie’s work will appreciate RocknRolla for its great cast and slick presentation. Its only real failing compared to Snatch or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is its weaker plot. The world feels smaller than usual, with a few more unnecessary coincidences than Guy Ritchie’s other films, and the climax rolls around with little sense of build-up. First-time viewers may also have a hard time keeping up with the tangle of plot threads and characters.

Still, RocknRolla is a better than average crime movie in terms of cast, writing, humor, and presentation. Watch it when you are in the mood for a complicated, entertaining, and rewarding peak into London’s criminal underworld. Skip if you are looking for straight action. For a more dramatic take on similar plot elements, check out Layer Cake.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for interesting characters, a fun plot, and punchy direction that lacks the impact of its predecessors.

Today’s quick review: The Italian Job. After a successful job in Italy, professional thief Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) and his crew are betrayed by one of their own. Steve (Edward Norton) kills Charlie’s mentor John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) and steals the job’s $35 million in gold. When he resurfaces a year later, Charlie recruits Stella (Charlize Theron), John’s daughter, to help his crew steal back the gold from Steve’s Los Angeles home.

A remake of the 1969 Michael Caine film of the same name, The Italian Job is a tidy heist film with an unusually good cast. The premise is simple: a gang of thieves attempts to get revenge on the man who betrayed them by stealing his fortune. With an interesting heist, decent excitement, and low levels of violence, The Italian Job is an entertaining watch with few weaknesses.

The cast is what sets The Italian Job apart from other crime films. In addition to Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Edward Norton, the cast includes Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland, who are all well-used. The characters are simple but effective, and their offhanded banter gives the movie its undercurrent of comedy. Though not the focus of the film, the characters give it a sense of liveliness that similar films often lack.

Beyond its cast, The Italian Job is a well-executed but standard crime film. The plot revolves around the heist, with only a light dusting of drama sprinkled on top. The heist itself takes a few liberties with computers, but otherwise relies on a good mix of planning, adaptation, and stunt driving. Compared to the original Italian Job, the remake has more action and better characters but lacks the original’s style and finesse.

Watch The Italian Job when you are in the mood for a light heist film with a good cast. Fans of Ocean’s Eleven will appreciate The Italian Job as a somewhat weaker but still worthy film in the same vein. Skip it if you are looking for a drama or a thriller.

7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for good characters and an interesting plot.

“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” —Charlie Croker

Today’s quick review: The Italian Job. Charlie Croker (Michael Caine), a criminal just released from prison, receives a gift from an old friend: a daring plan to steal $4 million in gold from an armored car in Turin. To pull it off, Charlie will need the backing of Mr. Bridger (Noel Coward), a well-connected inmate, as well as an expert crew, perfect timing, and three Minis. But between the police and the Mafia, Charlie and his crew will be lucky to escape alive.

The Italian Job is a crime comedy about a crew of British thieves who have their sights set on a massive score in Italy. Starring a young Michael Caine, The Italian Job offers a light and enjoyable take on the heist genre. The heist is impressive, the European atmosphere is charming, and the soundtrack is odd but catchy. Between its pleasant tone, likable characters, and dashes of excitement, The Italian Job makes for a fun watch that is often overlooked.

The tone is one of the movie’s greatest draws. The Italian Job captures the excitement of a well-planned heist without the need for drama or violence. The comedy comes from understated British humor, subtle quirks of dialogue or character that amuse without disrupting the flow of the movie. The action comes from the film’s impressive heist and iconic car chase: three Minis fleeing the police through the streets and rooftops of Turin.

The movie does not spend much time on character development, but what little there is works well. Michael Caine is a joy to watch as the likable rascal Charlie Croker, while Noel Coward as Mr. Bridger is an anomaly: a scrupulously patriotic prisoner who practically runs the prison from his cell. Charlie’s crew has the same sort of half-competent, half-goofy air as Charlie does, and even the Mafia shows class in its own sinister sort of way.

The film’s age makes it an odd watch by modern standards. There is next to no violence, the soundtrack is light and cheery, and Charlie has no great revelation or change of heart. The sole focus is on the heist and the antics accompanying it, not revenge, love, or politics. As such, The Italian Job is a film that must be taken patiently, on its own terms, to be properly enjoyed. Those who go in expecting to be blown away will be disappointed.

Watch The Italian Job if you are in the mood for a light heist film with old-school style. Though not as thrilling as modern crime movies, The Italian Job achieves exactly what it sets out to do. Skip it if you are looking for deep characters, a complicated plot, or raw action.

7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for fun and charm.

Today’s quick review: Dark City. John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in a hotel room with a mutilated corpse and no recollection of his past or how he came to be there. With only a cryptic message from Dr. Daniel Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) to help him, John attempts to piece together the clues to his identity. But Inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt) is not the only person after John: strange men with odd abilities pursue him at every turn.

Dark City is a science fiction noir from writer and director Alex Proyas. Boasting impressive atmosphere, a well-told mystery, and a suitably expansive premise, Dark City merges the puzzling plot and dark visuals of the noir genre with the flexibility of the sci-fi genre. Rarely enough for this type of movie, Dark City plays its mystery well, with a good progression, interesting plot twists, and a payoff that justifies all the paranoia along the way.

The movie deals with themes of reality, memory, and control. The situation John finds himself in is only the tip of a much larger conspiracy. Everything John thinks he knows is a lie, from who he can trust to the nature of the city around him. The film does veer hard in a sci-fi direction, but the core conflicts are ones of information, the unraveling of a mystery as grand in scope as any story from The Truman Show to The Adjustment Bureau.

Dark City has a striking visual style that combines a shadowy, oppressive cityscape, noir lighting, and unsettling camerawork. In the entire film, only a handful of shots last longer than five seconds. The brief shots and abrupt cuts give the movie an edgy quality that reflect its mood of danger and uncertainty, while the off-noir atmosphere heightens the feeling of oppression without remaining faithful to any one particular location or era.

Dark City shares eerie similarities to The Matrix, which came out the following year. The movies share similar themes, visual styles, and even certain camera shots. But where The Matrix opts to show its hand early, Dark City takes a more cerebral approach, steadily revealing pieces of a secret that is altogether weirder than anything The Matrix has to offer. Which film is better is a matter of taste, but The Matrix has better production values and broader appeal.

Unlike its counterpart, Dark City has only some action. Its special effects are somewhat tacky, but they work well with the city’s artificial feel and the film’s selective glimpses of the extraordinary. The film focuses more on its atmosphere and mystery than its thrills, carefully cultivating a sense of paranoia that its handful of action sequences only serve to heighten.

Watch Dark City when you are in the mood for a well-written sci-fi mystery with great ambience. Dark City is a strange enough film and a tough enough watch that most viewers will not appreciate it, but for a niche audience of devoted science fiction fans, it is an overlooked gem. Skip it if you are looking for action or an ordinary noir, or if you cannot get used to the brusque camerawork.

7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for compelling science fiction; your score will vary depending on your taste for its particular themes and style.

Today’s quick review: Devil’s Advocate. Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), a Florida defense lawyer with a legendary winning streak, gets called to the big leagues by John Milton (Al Pacino), the head of a wealthy New York City law firm. But as Kevin begins to understand the darker side of his new job, he finds that it could cost him his marriage, his scruples, and possibly even his soul.

The Devil’s Advocate is a drama with horror elements set against the backdrop of the upper echelons of the legal profession. The Devil’s Advocate features solid acting, an unsettling progression, and a strong premise. Kevin Lomax faces all manner of temptation from his influential boss and the money and power he commands. But these perks come at a price: his integrity, his peace of mind, and the life he once led.

The main draw of The Devil’s Advocate is its acting. Al Pacino lets loose with a powerful performance as the charismatic, morally dubious John Milton, coming across as immoral yet eerily trustworthy. Keanu Reeves straddles the line between everyman and legal shark, mirroring the conflict for Kevin’s soul. His performance in the courtroom scenes, his commanding presence, and his confrontation with Milton are highlights of the film.

These virtues are offset by a handful of flaws, many of which come down to taste. Horror fans looking for death, demons, and suffering will be kept waiting for a long time, while viewers looking for a simple drama will be upset when supernatural elements appear abruptly halfway through the film. Fans of the niche in between the genres will find the film tasty, but The Devil’s Advocate lacks the payoff of most dramas and the excitement of most horror flicks.

The film also misplays some of its strengths. Keanu Reeves’ character only gets a handful of moments to shine, turning what could have been an active, dynamic protagonist into a mere bystander. Charlize Theron does a good job as Kevin’s wife Mary Ann, but she follows his lead as a helpless victim to the horror aspects of the plot. Many of the smarter points in the movie also could have been achieved with greater impact without the crutch of horror.

Watch The Devil’s Advocate if you enjoy drama and have a taste for horror. The two lead actors are solid picks, but the downward spiral of events and gradual descent into the supernatural distract from what could have been a compelling moral drama. Horror fans may enjoy it as a high-pedigree, dramatic take on the genre, but others are better off steering clear.

7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a decent premise and good acting with a mishandled blend of genres.

“This is precisely the sort of thing no one ever believes.” —Baron von Munchausen

Today’s quick review: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. When Baron von Munchausen (John Neville), the renowned fabulist, stumbles upon a theater in a war-torn city presenting his adventures as fiction, he takes the opportunity to set the record straight. His tales capture the imagination of Sally (Sarah Polley), the daughter of the lead actor, and together they set off on adventure to reunite the Baron’s old compatriots and save the city from Turkish siege.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a fantasy adventure from director Terry Gilliam. Adapted from the famously improbable travel memoirs of Baron Munchausen, the movie portrays a world of actors, oddity, and wonder in Gilliam’s signature style. While its strange tone and inconsistent payoff keep it from living up to its full potential, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen does offer refreshing amounts of charm and creativity.

The story revolves around Baron von Munchausen, an aged adventurer, and Sally, a young girl and one of the few people to believe his stories. Setting out in a hot air balloon, Sally and the Baron travel as far afield as the Moon in their search for Berthold (Eric Idle), Adolphus (Charles McKeown), Albrecht (Winston Dennis), and Gustavus (Jack Purvis), Munchausen’s extraordinary crew, now some twenty years removed from their prime.

The themes of the movie are similar to Terry Gilliam’s other work. Prominently featured elements include the theater, the boundary between reality and fiction, larger-than-life adventures, and strange imagery. The fickle nature of the story boosts its sense of wonder but hurts its dramatic impact. The sense of whimsy is also marred by a few macabre moments and a couple of adult jokes, but on the whole the movie stays within the boundaries of a family film.

Neither the plot nor the characters are particularly deep, but good performances and the nature of the story keep these issues in check. Sally and the Baron tumble into trouble as easily as they escape it, and the adventure progresses with all the capriciousness of a children’s book. The conflict between the Baron’s irrational adventures and the “Age of Reason” of the world around him is a potent one, but the movie opts for a shallow treatment of it.

Watch The Adventures of Baron Munchausen when you are in the mood for an odd, family-friendly fantasy. The movie has similarities to everything from The Man of La Mancha to The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and Terry Gilliam fans are sure to find something to chew on. But the far-fetched plot, odd tone, and peculiar ending make The Adventures of Baron Munchausen a movie with only niche appeal.

7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for daring fantasy with mixed execution.

Today’s quick review: The Lego Movie. Emmet Brickowoski (Chris Pratt), a perfectly ordinary construction worker, gets dragged into an extraordinary adventure when he meets Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), a mysterious woman on an important mission. With the help of Batman (Will Arnett), the wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), and a wide array of colorful characters, Emmet and Wyldstyle race to save the world from the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell).

The Lego Movie is a family comedy based on Lego toys. Drawing from Lego’s many incarnations over the years, The Lego Movie tells a brand new story that is one part kids’ adventure, one part comedic romp, and one part love letter to the Lego brand. With sharp writing, a strong sense of humor, impressive visual detail, and a talented cast of voice actors, The Lego Movie is an entertaining watch for children and adults alike.

The story revolves around Emmet Brickowoski, whose generic personality and lack of talent lead him to wonder if anything about him is special. When Wyldstyle discovers that he is the hero destined to defeat Lord Business, she takes him to the Master Builders, an eclectic group capable of building amazing creations using just the Lego bricks around them. To fulfill his destiny, Emmet must discover what is special about him and become a Master Builder himself.

The world of The Lego Movie is composed of all kinds of genres of Lego pieces, from the City to the Old West. The realms are kept separate by Lord Business, and only Master Builders can slip between them. Lord Business has succeeded in driving the Master Builders into hiding, and his master plan to bring perfect order to the world is nearing completion. Only Emmet, a thoroughly underqualified hero, can stop him.

The Lego Movie uses CGI animation to replicate the look of real Lego. Almost everything in the film can be built with real Lego pieces, from the buildings and vehicles to the dust clouds and fire effects. The colorful CGI and freedom from conventional physics give the animation a very energetic feel, while detailed backgrounds, fast pacing, and some truly clever builds pack each scene with plenty to pay attention to.

The ability to draw from any Lego set ever released lets The Lego Movie mash up genres and franchises in a way that resembles any mixed bin of actual Lego pieces. The original characters appear alongside classic Lego minifigures, minifigures from themed Lego sets, and other characters as far-flung as Batman and Abraham Lincoln. Few of these characters earn more than brief cameos, but the sheer breadth of what is included is a testament to Lego’s many, many products.

The Lego Movie also features an all-star cast of voice actors that bring its jokes to life, including Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Alison Brie, Will Arnett, and Charlie Day. The comedy works in quite a few subtle jokes alongside its more obvious, kid-friendly gags, and the detailed humor and fast pacing ensure that there is almost always something amusing happening onscreen.

There are drawbacks to The Lego Movie’s unique style. The various parts of the Lego universe never feel cohesive, and the supporting characters tend to be deliberately shallow. The sentimental parts of the film are a result of the characters and voice acting more than the story or world-building. The humor can be forced at times, relying too much on randomness and eccentricity, and the rapid pace can be difficult to keep up with.

But to its credit, these tradeoffs are conscious ones that let The Lego Movie achieve just what it wants to: the sense of unbridled creativity one gets from playing with a pile of mismatched Lego pieces. The jumbled setting, the flat world, and the token plot are all deliberate themes that the movie works with. The payoff is a free-spirited, entertaining movie with a nice message about finding identity and meaning in a world that is missing them.

Watch The Lego Movie if you are in the mood for a creative, energetic, and well-executed family comedy. Its unique blend of elements gives it a strange feel, but the humor, characters, and acting talent are more than enough to make up for any oddness. Skip it if you are looking for a movie with a more sedate tone, a more cohesive world, or a deeper plot.

7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for childlike energy and great humor.

“Iron Man sucks.” —Batman

Today’s quick review: The Lego Batman Movie. After Batman (Will Arnett), Gotham’s egotistical protector, foils the Joker’s (Zach Galifianakis) latest scheme, the supervillain hatches a plan to prove that he is Batman’s greatest villain. With the fate of Gotham on the line, Batman must learn to work with Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson), the new police commissioner, Dick Grayson (Michael Cera), his adopted son, and his butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) to save the day.

The Lego Batman Movie is a family action comedy from the creators of The Lego Movie. Packed with the same wacky humor as its spiritual predecessor, The Lego Batman Movie serves up a potent combination of absurd humor, silly action, and Batman parody. Its breakneck pacing, attention to detail, and kitchen sink approach to comedy make it an energetic and often hilarious watch for anyone with even a passing familiarity with Batman.

The film embraces all the extremes of the Batman mythos, from his expansive rogues’ gallery to his legendary fighting prowess to all the goofiest moments of the character’s decades-long history. But the story itself breaks the typical Batman mold. The heart of the movie is an exaggerated lesson about teamwork and overcoming emotional distance, delivered using the same loose, eclectic storytelling as The Lego Movie.

The movie kicks off with a quick, Joker-led caper involving a ridiculous number of Batman villains, but from there it veers into new territory. The movie’s parodies and exaggerations give it an identity distinct from any canonical incarnation of Batman, with a story cut from whole cloth. These departures make The Lego Batman Movie more a flight of fancy than a direct riff on the Batman formula.

The film’s sense of humor is its greatest strength. The rapid-fire jokes run the gamut from simple sight gags to jabs at the genre to obscure Batman references. The movie is packed to the brim with in-jokes for savvy fans, but it never loses its general appeal. The sheer intricacy of the scenes ensures that there will always be something funny going on. For every joke that misses the mark, there are two more that hit.

The comedy is backed by an impressive cast of voice actors. Will Arnett dominates with his self-absorbed caricature of Batman, a role that justifies the movie’s existence by itself. His childish personality, inflated ego, and penchant for beatboxing make for a character that is consistently funny. He is joined by Michael Cera as Robin, whose over-the-top innocence and vulnerability make him a foil to Batman.

The rest of the cast is solid as well. Ralph Fiennes voices Alfred, Batman’s surrogate father figure and a natural fit for the British actor. Rosario Dawson plays Barbara Gordon, Batman’s ally, professional rival, and dubious love interest. Zach Galifianakis makes for an odd but competent Joker, never topping Mark Hamill’s take but working well nonetheless. The rest of the cast contains a number of familiar names tucked away in unexpected roles.

Watch The Lego Batman Movie if you are in the mood for a hilarious parody of the superhero genre. Fans of The Lego Movie will find a lot to love in its spiritual successor, and Batman fans will enjoy the movie’s thorough treatment of the character. The rapid pacing, childlike storytelling, and genre-bending flavor may be enough to sour some viewers, but for most, The Lego Batman Movie will be a fun watch.

7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for excellent humor.

“Your punishment must be more severe.” —Bane

Today’s quick review: The Dark Knight Rises. Eight years after the disappearance of Batman, Gotham has entered a new era of prosperity and Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has secluded himself from the world. But the arrival of Bane (Tom Hardy), an outcast from the League of Shadows, in Gotham sparks a chain of events that pull Bruce out of retirement. To save his city, Bruce must confront his demons and once again take on the mantle of Batman.

The Dark Knight Rises is a superhero movie and the final film in the Dark Knight trilogy. Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises raises the stakes one last time as Bane threatens Gotham itself. The movie features the same talented cast, tight writing, and clear vision as the previous two films, making it one of the better entries in the superhero genre and a fitting end to an impressive trilogy.

The Dark Knight Rises departs from the tone established by the previous two films in several ways. Between the time jump, Bruce’s early retirement, and the sweeping plot of the movie, the viewer gets the impression that something has gone wrong. Gotham has been saved, but its heroes have fallen. The sense of discomfort is deliberate, mirroring Gotham’s complacency and Bruce Wayne’s lost sense of purpose.

At the same time, The Dark Knight Rises keeps the mainstays of its predecessors: a realistic tone, crime drama elements, and a brooding Batman. Drawing inspiration from the iconic The Dark Returns graphic novel by Frank Miller, the movie takes these elements one step farther to show a Gotham that no longer needs Batman and a Bruce Wayne who is unable to move on. Themes of obsession and loss add a layer of maturity to the trilogy’s crime thriller formula.

The plot revolves around the masked terrorist Bane and his plan to bring Gotham to its knees. The task of stopping him falls to Batman, whose years of absence and lingering injuries put him at a severe disadvantage. The plot takes offers just as many twists and turns as The Dark Knight’s, but it takes more risks along the way. The plot threads are not as tightly woven, yet they still deliver plenty of action, mystery, and excitement.

Bane’s scheme sweeps up a number of supporting characters in its wake: Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), a cat burglar looking for a clean slate; John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young detective who once looked up to Bruce; and Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard), Bruce’s partner on a failed clean energy project. Their varied roles in the plot, ranging from minor to pivotal, give the story its complexity and sense of unpredictability.

The core conflicts of the film are once again ideological. Bane considers himself Gotham’s reckoning for decades of corruption in a bastardized offshoot of the League of Shadows’ credo. Selina Kyle offers a more balanced take, disdainful of the rich but uncomfortable with Bane’s brutal methods. John Blake is an echo of the hero Bruce once was, while Alfred Pennyworth is his long-neglected voice of reason.

The characters in The Dark Knight Rises are as strong as ever. While no one manages to top Heath Ledger’s Joker, the cast brings together a number of the most respected actors in Hollywood with no real misses. Christian Bale handles his character’s transformation well. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman return as Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon, and Lucius Fox, respectively and are all given important supporting roles.

The new additions to the cast help flesh out the world of the Dark Knight trilogy and set up the movie’s plot and themes. Tom Hardy plays a suitably meancing Bane, whose ruthless tactics and muscular build make him a formidable foe for Batman. Anne Hathaway presents a nuanced Selina Kyle, a thief caught between conscience and self-interest. Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes for a strong secondary protagonist as John Blake, an honest cop who shakes Bruce out of his languor.

Watch The Dark Knight Rises if you enjoyed either of the first two films in the trilogy. Although a shade less compelling than The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises is still a polished film with excellent writing, acting, and direction. It makes for a gripping watch and serves as a worthy finale to the series.

8.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for incredible quality all the way around.

“Let’s put a smile on that face.” —The Joker

Today’s quick review: The Dark Knight. With the masked vigilante Batman (Christian Bale), veteran cop Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and the fearless new district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) cleaning up the streets of Gotham, the city’s remaining mob bosses turn to the Joker (Heath Ledger) to rid the city of its heroes. A demented criminal genius, the Joker unleashes a sadistic crime wave that threatens to shatter the city’s fragile grip on law and order.

The Dark Knight is a superhero movie with heavy crime drama and thriller elements. The second entry in the Dark Knight trilogy from director Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight picks up six months after the events of the first movie, as Batman’s example begins to improve Gotham. The execution of the film is stellar, with a phenomenal cast, memorable writing, and plenty of action, making The Dark Knight a rare superhero film that appeals to fans across genre lines.

The Dark Knight offers the same dramatic, realistic take on the DC superhero as the first film. Bruce Wayne is not a billionaire in spandex, but a uniquely driven man with the years of training and arsenal of tools needed to wage a one-man war on the criminals of Gotham. This tone works remarkably well, combining the grit and dramatic potential of the crime genre with the flexibility and staunch moral conflict of the superhero genre.

The Dark Knight is even more grim than Batman Begins, but it has an undercurrent of heroism and faith that keeps it from becoming bleak. Where Batman Begins was an intricate origin story for Gotham’s first superhero, The Dark Knight is a dramatic clash of symbols: heroes and villains wrestling for the soul of Gotham. With a few welcome additions to the main cast and a few new gadgets for Batman, the second film enriches and expands upon the tone of the first.

The plot is a complex, twisting affair involving a city on the verge of redemption, its desperate remnants of organized crime, and an anarchic wildcard who sends the situation spiraling out of control. The Joker proves his seriousness as a villain with a series of crimes that hit Gotham where it is most vulnerable. Between his elaborate schemes and the heroes’ frantic attempts to keep up, the plot quickly becomes tense and unpredictable.

The heart of the film involves the relationship between Gotham’s three greatest defenders: Batman, Jim Gordon, and Harvey Dent. The conflict between them is driven by one simple fact: for all his effectiveness, Batman can never leave the shadows. And while Harvey Dent has shown what can be done in the light, his actions have made him a target. At this crossroads, the appearance of the Joker complicates the difficult question of what kind of hero Gotham truly needs.

The movie’s plot is backed by a deep cast and a set of strong performances. Heath Ledger steals the show as the Joker, a maniacal villain with an uncanny talent for staying two steps ahead of the law. Ledger’s take on the character is different from any before it: sinister, unnerving, and memorable. The classical elements of the character meet new quirks and a renewed sense of lethality, all held together by Ledger’s potent acting.

The rest of the cast is impressive as well. Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne and Gary Oldman’s Jim Gordon are pushed further by the trials they undergo. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman return as Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox, respectively, Bruce’s friends and mentors. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, Bruce’s last tie to normalcy. Finally, Aaron Eckhart does a fantastic job with the pivotal role of Harvey Dent, Batman’s charismatic counterpart.

The Dark Knight boasts tight execution all the way around. Hans Zimmer provides a tense, dramatic soundtrack that sticks with the viewer without being overtly catchy. The film is well-paced and maintains excellent tension throughout. Its direction is solid, and its script is filled with memorable lines. Despite a few flaws, such as a difficult plot and a lengthy finale, The Dark Knight is a powerful feat of filmmaking.

Watch The Dark Knight if you have any taste for crime dramas or superhero movies whatsoever. Its magnificent execution and quasi-realistic take on the superhero genre give it broad appeal. Only the truly disinterested should skip it.

9.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 to 9.0 for outstanding vision and execution.