The Dark Knight Rises

Watched: 5th September 2015
Top 250 position: 60 (correct at 22/11/2015)
Rating: 8.5/10 from 1,041,399 users (IMDB)

Who's In It:
Christian Bale
Gary Oldman
Tom Hardy
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Anne Hathaway
Marion Cotillard
Morgan Freeman
Michael Caine
 
Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Year: 2012
Duration: 2 Hours 44 Minutes
Accolades: Nominated for a BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects (surprisingly after the Oscar success of the previous two movies no Oscar nominations this time around!).

Plot:

Following from the events of The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne must start to recover from the events that have occurred, start to rebuild his life as Batman and come back from a self imposed exile to return order to the chaos that is now spreading in Gotham City under the tyranny of a new villain called Bane. 
 
Interesting Facts About the Film:

• In all three movies, Batman repeats a line of dialogue spoken to him by one of the villains. In this film he tells Bane, "You have my permission to die."
• Bane's voice was originally much more distorted. His lines had to be re-recorded for the final cut because it was nigh-impossible to understand what he was saying.
• Out of respect for Heath Ledger, the Joker is never once mentioned for the whole film.
• This is the first Batman movie created by Christopher Nolan that did not get an Academy Award nomination, and the second Batman film (after Batman & Robin (1997)) which did not receive a single nomination.
• Each movie from the Dark Knight trilogy is 12 minutes longer than the previous one (Batman Begins (2005) is 140 minutes, The Dark Knight (2008) 152 and The Dark Knight Rises 164).
• Estimated $250,000 to produce

(Source IMDB.com) 

Review:

This instalment picks up where the last one finished, then there is an 8 year gap where it is said that Batman hasn't been seen. Batman being battered and bruised, physically and emotionally and now in retirement.
Wayne enterprises is also making no money.

This movie feels a lot longer than the other two but still full of suspense and wonderful cinematography and acting.

It is a bit more confusing than Dark Knight I thought, with more flash backs being introduced (more like Batman Begins was).

I don't know what it is about Tom Hardy but he plays a good villain in whatever he is in. Also plays it with a debonair like charm.

There is good consistency of direction and writing. So many times with franchises there is a change of direction (quite literally) which loses some of the fluidity of a series of movies, so this makes a nice refreshing change.

Dark Knight Rises also introduces Catwoman, which gives this is different dynamic to the previous two films.

All in all it is no wonder that the three movies, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises are in the top 250. Superb work.
 

For more information about the film visit; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345836/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt

 

The Dark Knight

Watched: 17th August 2015
Top 250 position: 4 (Correct as of 22/11/2015)
Rating:  9.0/10 from 1,534,876 users  (IMDB)

Who's In It:
Christian Bale
Heath Ledger
Aaron Eckhart
Michael Caine
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Morgan Freeman
Cillian Murphy

Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Year: 2008
Duration: 2 Hours 32 Minutes
Accolades: Won 2 Oscars (Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger, awarded posthumously, and Best Sound Editing. Nominated for a further 6 Oscars; Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.

Plot:

The Dark Knight's resolve and determination are tested when The Joker starts to cause chaos and terror around Gotham City. Could this enemy be the end of the Dark Knight and those he holds dear?

Interesting Facts About the Film:

• Heath Ledger's sudden death on January 22, 2008 prompted immediate speculation over the film's state. Soon after Ledger's tragic passing was announced, Warner Bros. Pictures issued a statement that verified that Ledger had finished all of his scenes in principal photography, as well as post-production fulfillments (i.e., looping), thus making The Joker his final, completed film role.
• Heath Ledger designed the Joker make-up himself, using white clown makeup and cosmetics from a drugstore, reasoning that since the Joker himself would design and apply it, Ledger should do so as well. Once his design was approved, the makeup team was responsible for replicating the look each day for filming.
• The first comic book movie to ever win an Oscar for achievement in acting, specifically to Heath Ledger (posthumously) for his supporting role as The Joker.
• While filming the chase scene with the Joker and the SWAT vans, one of only four IMAX cameras in the world at that time was destroyed.
• The first film to be ranked #1 on the IMDb within two days of its theatrical release.
• Made more money than Batman Begins (2005)'s entire domestic run in only 6 days of release.
• Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow from Batman Begins (2005) in this film. This makes him the first actor to reprise the role of a Batman villain in the whole film series. He also reprises his role in The Dark Knight Rises.
• In their face to face confrontations, neither Batman nor Joker refer to one another by name.
• 39 vehicles are crashed, shot, blown up, bumped, or otherwise involved in some sort of violence in this film.
• Cost an estimated $185,000 to produce.

(Source IMDB.com)

Review:

On the back of watching Batman Begins last night I could not help myself but to watch the second instalment. It did not let me down.

With this movie I kept up a lot better with the plot twists and turns. It maintains the dark and sinister elements from the first film while building the characters and their interactions with one another.

Heath Ledger plays such a perfectly menacing villain. It is hard to believe his tragic death came after he completed the filming of his part of the Joker and would be his last completed movie. The Oscar he was awarded posthumously was very well deserved in my opinion.

The entire cast seem like a very coherent, well run machine, you almost wish that Maggie Gyllenhaal had been cast as Rachel from the outset of Batman Begins to maintain the continuity of the series. But other than that this is spectacular, if anything I think it should have won more Oscars.

This is what I would call a proper film and I would happily watch this many more times.
 
For more information on the film visit; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4

Batman Begins

Watched: 16th August 2015
Top 250 position: 109 (correct at 22/11/2015)
Rating: 8.3/10 from 889,803 users (IMDB rating)

Who's In It:
Christian Bale
Michael Caine
Liam Neeson
Katie Holmes
Gary Oldman
Cillian Murphy
Tom Wilkinson
Morgan Freeman

Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Year: 2005
Duration: 2 Hours 20 Minutes
Accolades: Nominated for an Oscar (Best Achievement in Cinematography)

Plot:

Bruce Wayne's (Christian Bale) parents are killed in front of him as a young boy. He flees his sorrows and trains to fight evil, mentored by Henri Ducard (Neeson).
Wayne returns to Gotham City, with the help of his trusted and valued employees (Caine and Morgan) he takes on the guise of Batman (The Dark Knight). But will he be able to conquer the evil that lurks in Gotham City? As well as keep his disguise from his childhood sweetheart (Holmes)?

Interesting Facts About the Film:

• Apparently Christian Bale found his Batman outfit so uncomfortable that it helped his performance as the Dark Knight as he was perpetually in a foul mood when wearing it.
• While shooting on the streets of Chicago, a person accidentally crashed into the Batmobile. The driver was apparently drunk, and said he hit the car in a state of panic, believing the Dark Knight's vehicle to be an invading alien spacecraft!
• Christian Bale performed many of his own stunts.
• When Christian Bale and Liam Neeson were fighting on the frozen lake they could hear the ice cracking beneath their feet. The next day, the lake was completely melted.
• Christian Bale lost his voice three times during filming after altering his voice while playing Batman.

(Source IMDB)

Review:

I watched this with a friend at University some years ago and was thoroughly confused by the storyline. This could have been due to the combined efforts of a small television, in a small room and the fact that we probably talked all the way through the movie. So to be honest I wasn't thinking I would actually enjoy the film.
How wrong I was.

This is such a good reboot of the old movies, but who would blame the need for a good reboot after Batman and Robin (no offence George Clooney). It is a bit darker in its take. But it is gripping (if sometimes a bit confusing when the storyline hops around a bit). The 2 hours and 20 minutes seemed to go quite quickly.

Christian Bale plays such a dark and brooding Batman which makes it more believable and gripping. I can not believe for a moment that he is Welsh though from watching him in this.

Being the total nerd that I am the name Bruce Wayne is synonymous with Batman. But I think now it is the name Christian Bale which will be just that as well to the name Batman. I cannot believe that they are doing more Batman films with a different actor.

I can't wait to watch the other Dark Knight films now.

Gotham City is so well designed and dark to show the sinister-ness of it all. No wonder this was nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar. It is well laid out and seems planned to show everything off to its sinister best.

There are famous faces everywhere in this movie.

With everything considered it not surprising that this movie cost an estimated $150,000 to make. And in my opinion it was well worth it, even though I got a bit lost (I'm sure I'll understand fully what's going on when I watch it again).

The suspense builds throughout the movie, ready to lead into The Dark Knight.....

For more information about the film visit, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/

Some Like It Hot

Watched: 7th July 2015

Top 250 Position: 110  (correct at 01/11/2015)

Rating: 8.3/10 from 161,387 user votes

Who's in it:

Marilyn Monroe
Jack Lemmon
Tony Curtis

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Year: 1959

Duration: 2 hours

Accolades: Won an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White. Nominated for a further Five Oscars; Best Actor In a Leading Role (Jack Lemmon), Best Director, Best Writing (Screenplay based on material from another medium), Best Cinematography (Black and White), Best Art Direction- Set Direction (Black and White).
 

Plot:

Two musicians (Lemmon and Curtis) witness a mob hit and have to go on the run to avoid a similar fate. In their search for new employment an opportunity to join a band arises, only problem is that it is an all female band. Hijinks ensue as our male leads join the band as Josephine and Geraldine, made even more complicated by the presence of the beautiful Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Monroe).   

Interesting facts about the film:

• Many people walked out of the original screenings but Billy Wilder stuck with the original cut despite calls to change it. Further screenings ended in standing ovations.
• Marylyn Monroe wanted the film to be shot in colour (as her contracted stimulated that she star in colour movies), however she was convinced to shoot in black and white by Billy Wilder. Turns out that colour would have shown up a very green tinge in Curtis and Lemmon's heavy make up.
• There are reports that many scenes required several retakes due to Marylyn Monroe forgetting her lines. Some reports suggest 50+ takes. 

(Source IMDB)

Review:

I watched this movie many years ago with a school friend, and since that time had completely forgotten why it was that Curtis and Lemmon had to dress as women, as well as other vital plot elements. I've seen it a few times since then as an adult and can say that it is a thoroughly enjoyable movie.
The cast works well together and any off camera problems don't show. Even though the movie is two hours long you can quite happily sit through it and not think you've wasted your time.

It's a far cry from modern comedy movies and I think some of the plot (if it were remade scene for scene) wouldn't quite work if it were remade. It has a 50's innocence about it which probably wouldn't quite translate today and the humour in some places is very mush of that time. However I love movies of this era and quite happily laugh along with the jokes and innuendos.

It is such a same that Marylyn Monroe didn't live long enough to see how much her films were loved and in particular Some Like It Hot which has stood the test of time, as she sadly passed away in 1962, just three years after this film was released.

There are moments where the plot could skip along a bit more but as a whole this is a very strong movie and worthy of its place in the top 250.

As the end line of the film states "Well nobody's perfect". Well I think this is close to it.

I would give this movie a very strong 9 out of 10 myself.

For more information on the film why not visit the IMDB page; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053291/