The Dark Knight Rises

Fours year ago today I wandered over to my local cinema at 8:50 in the morning grabbed a cup of tea and sat down to watch The Dark Knight, which was excellent.  Well this is the exact same team that made that, so... should you expect anything different?  No, not really this is yet another excellent film from Christopher Nolan, it's dark, edgy and ultimately very satisfying.

My only criticism would be that I saw the ending coming a mile off and it would be nice to have another motive for the villain other than destroying Gotham City, but it was still a very good way to end the trilogy.  Who will pick it up from here?

Film 350/365, Day 361/365 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Much better than the first part, but still not quite to the level I was expecting from the hype.  The script was very much to the same standards as the previous films and at times seemed unsure of where they were going, how many horcruxes that had or hadn’t found/destroyed.  The final battle was epic but again failed to live up to expectations.

Synopsis:  Harry, Ron and Hermione have only a few horcuxes left to find, but they also need to avoid Voldemort who is even more determined to catch them than ever before.  To complete their tasks they will need to return to Hogwarts and face Voldemort in the final show down.

Film 349/365, Day 360/365 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

The thing that makes Harry Potter special is the world in which it takes place.  Well for the most part this film does not take place in that world, instead it’s just various areas around the United Kingdom.  The characters seem to spend too much time just aimlessly moving around without any sort of direction or purpose, plus the horcrux seems to be a rip off of the One Ring.

Synopsis:  Voldemort has taken control of the Ministry of Magic and has started a campaign to remove all muggles.  Harry, Ron and Hermione have gone on the run to attempt to find a way to defeat Voldemort.  All they have to go on is a number of items left to them by the late Dumbledore.

Film 348/365, Day 360/365 – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Much darker than the previous films.  The story itself is very good and only finally reveals the answers at the end, although not all of the answers.  It has some elements that remind me of the Lord of the Rings in the style it’s filmed which is not a bad thing.  At times however the script still seems to be full of little unnecessary bits of dialog.  Altogether better than the previous film.

Synopsis:  With Voldemort finally revealed Hogwarts is turned into a fortress to protect Harry and the other children.  A new teacher of potions is brought into the school because Dumbledore believes he holds the secrets on how to defeat Voldemort.  Harry discovers a book that once belonged to the Half Blood Prince which contains lots of powerful spells and potions.

Film 347/365, Day 360/365 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Pretty standard Harry Potter this one.  It’s a good fit to the series without really being great.  The visuals are very good and the action is ok.  Sometimes the script seems a little forced or juvenile but then it is aimed at children.

Synopsis:  The Ministry of Magic refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned and instead is determined to see that Harry Potter and Dumbledore and to do so they send Dolores Umbridge to watch over Hogwarts.  Soon she has taken full control and Dumbledore is on the run.  Can they get Voldemort to reveal himself?

Film 247/365, Day 262/365 – The Fifth Element

Zany, incredibly stylish and brilliant.  Luc Besson directs a thoroughly enjoyable film and with the help of Jean Paul Gautier they have created a future that still looks like it could be possible even though it was made 14 years ago.  Bruce is great, Milla is fantastic and Chris Tucker is hilarious.  I love it, great film.

Synopsis:  Korben Dallas, a former special forces opperative, has been called out of retirement to assist a female who is supposed to be the key to ultimate weapon and the only thing that can stop an evil entity on the other side of the universe that is determined to destroy Earth.  Problem is there are more than one group of people trying to find the ultimate weapon for their own reasons.

Film 225/365, Day 241/365 – Lost in Space

I have two words for Lost in Space, Guilty Pleasure!  I know it’s not the best film but I can’t help but enjoy it.  If I’m going to be critical I would have removed the time travel stuff, I think being lost in space is enough without being lost in space and time.  Also can’t help but enjoy Matt LeBlanc in a serious role!!!

Synopsis:  The Earth is dying and the only hope of Humanity is the creation of a space gate to the distant world of Alpha Prime.  The Robinson family are going to travel through space to prepare the gate at Alpha Prime to enable to the human race to begin colonisation.

Film 200/365, Day 212/365 – The Dark Knight

A fantastic way to follow on from Batman Begins.  The Dark Knight has everything that made the first film excellent but this time we have a villain worthy of the Batman.  Three years ago today I was sat in the Vue at 08:50 in the number one screen with a cup of tea and ten other people to watch The Dark Knight, that was the first film the last time I tried to watch 365 films in 365 days.  Heath Ledger was well worth his Oscar in my opinion.  Brilliant.

Synopsis:  Batman is starting to get to the criminals, they are getting nervous and turn to an unpredictable psychopath known as the Joker to help them get rid of the Batman.  And with a new District Attorney called Harvey Dent the criminals look like they have nowhere to hide.

Film 199/365, Day 212/365 – Batman Begins

Excellent action and a great way to restart the Batman franchise after the abhorrent Batman and Robin.  Christian Bale is excellent as the conflicted Bruce Wayne and Christopher Nolan has given Batman a very real feel.  Batman Begins is a dark and exciting journey.

Synopsis:  When the man that murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents is released from prison Bruce gives up on justice and Gotham City and goes in search of another answer.  On the other side of the world he discovers another way under the tutelage of Ra’s Al Ghul.  When he returns to Gotham City it will never be the same.