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 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.

Film 167/365, Day 172/365 – Se7en

Dark, gritty, intense.  These are just some of the words you could use to describe Se7en.  It is also a fantastic film with some great acting and a story that will keep you gripped right up until the end, and probably another couple of hours after that.  Still one of the best crime thrillers ever made.  Brilliant!

Synopsis:  Two detectives, one on his last job, one of his first, are trying to piece together a series of bizarre murders which appear to have a biblical reference to the seven deadly sins.  Will they be able to catch the murderer before he completes all seven murders?

Film 143/365, Day 153/365 – Lucky Number Slevin

Excellent script that turns you inside out.  I do like a good script and with Lucky Number Slevin you really get that, and it’s is very well delivered by some excellent actors.  It’s dark, funny, clever and thoroughly engaging.  The story continues to grow and twist from the start all the way to the end.  Definitely worth watching.

Synopsis:  Slevin is mistaken for someone else, someone who owes two rival gangsters money.  Now they expect him to pay off the debt regardless of whether he is who they think he is.  But with no money Slevin is going to have to work off the debt!

Film 82/365, Day 87/365 – Dreamcatcher

Watching a film based on the novel by Stephen King can be very risky.  Sometimes they are exceptional, some times they are not.  This, sadly, falls into the second category.  The back story, which I assume is covered in more detail in the book, would have made a much better film.  Watch out for the ridiculous aliens!  Not really worth it!

Synopsis: Four school friends meet up every year at an isolated cabin to drink and catch up.  These four friends also have some very unusual powers gifted to them by an unusual boy called Duddits.  Whilst at the cabin they encounter a man that has been lost in the snow for a couple of days and he’s not doing so well.

Film 60/365, Day 63/365 – RED

RED, Retired and Extremely Dangerous, follows recently retired CIA operative Frank Roses who is struggling to adjust to normal life. Then one night, out of the blue Frank is ambushed at home, and when he neutralizes the team he goes on the run with his pension handler Sarah and soon reunites with a number of his ‘old’ colleagues. Chased across the country they must find out why they have become a target and who is responsible.

With plenty of action and lots of laughs RED is an enjoyable film. Although once you get over the idea of these pensioners running around and kicking arse it could just be another non-specific action film. The story is OK, although the postcard cut scene thing gets a little annoying. John Malkovich was a particular highlight for me. It’s good but not great.