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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Batman Year One: An Entertaing Variation to the Origin of The Dark Knight


Rating:
***1/2
By: Da'Mon Guy


Batman: Year One is an entertaining, insightful tale that induces a more humanizing perspective to the larger than life persona of one of the more iconic characters of modern folk lore. This humbling narrative also creatively establishes the symbiotic relationship that lies at the heart of the Batman universe. The film depicts a real world outlook on the early exploits and origins of one of the modern day icon. The film features the voices of Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad “TV series), Ben McKenzie (88 Minutes), Eliza Dushku (Doll House “TV series”), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica “TV series”), and Alex Rocco (Smokin’ Aces).


     Batman: Year One is an eye-opening, realistic undertaking that uniquely interweaves a dual perspective on the beginnings of a pair of the core characters of the Batman universe. This is the latest animated movie from DC comics that was inspired by the comic of the same name that premiered in 1987. Batman: Year One chronicles the arrival of Jim Gordon, the rise of Selena Kyle to the character of Catwoman and Bruce Wayne/Batman and impressively intertwines them all to create the foundation of this story. It’s a fantastic showcase that details the early struggles and duress that each faced on their way to joining forces to rid the streets of Gotham City of corruption and crime.


     The courageous exploits of Batman’s early career are mostly a back-story of the narrative as they are shown in quick flashes as Batman: Year One isn’t really The Dark Knight’s story. It predominately focuses on the Jim Gordon dynamic of the story. A unique, advantageous perspective of Jim Gordon’s rise is utilized and shows some of the never before seen elements of his origin. The tale gives a detailed, dated monthly account of their symbiotic genesis. Gordon’s story is the more interesting of the two perspectives. It adds a fresh take on the story. This approach also adds a humanizing, very sympathetic element to the larger than life super hero element of the tale.


     An intriguing story of corruption which manages to infuse many of the well known aspects of the origin Batman. It showcases Batman in a new light. He is unsure, uneasy, not the confident, self assured hero that he is known as. This iteration is about him trying to find his niche.


     The film shows an extremely dramatic version of the source of motivation for Bruce Wayne’s inspiration for the use of a bat to make it his namesake. It also infuses and adds a twist to one of the more famous scenes from Batman Begins. Last but not least, this enlightening expose manages to incorporate a number of characters from a combination of multiple incarnation of the usage of Batman, from the movies to the comics Vicki Vale, Commissioner Leob, Detective Flask, Carmine Falcone, Harvey Dent all make appearances in film.


     Batman: Year One is a fairly entertaining, enlightening perspective of the ascension of Bruce Wayne to the mantle of the Dark Knight. The story features a some eye-opening aspects that will delight fans of the character. However, it moves at a very slow pace and isn’t the most action packed usage of the character. Hardcore fans will have a greater level of appreciation for “Year One.“ It is a good watch but not a must see.


Continue reading on Examiner.com DVD review: Batman Year 1: An entertaining variation on the Dark Knigh's origin - Baltimore Animation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animation-in-baltimore/dvd-review-batman-year-1-an-entertaining-variation-on-the-dark-knigh-s-origin-review#ixzz1f699f0HA

Wonder Woman: The Best Depiction of DC Comics's Fabled Heroine


Rating:
****1/2
By: Da'Mon Guy

Wonder Woman is a pragmatic, multifaceted epic that entertainingly updates and recreates the origin story of one of the oldest characters in comics. The film is an animated celebration of femininity that aptly depicts the character of Wonder Woman as a superhero on par with the more highly touted male superheroes. The movie stars Keri Russell (Extraordinary Measures), Alfred Molina (Rango), Nathan Fillion (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights), Rosario Dawson (Zookeeper), and Virginia Madsen (Red Riding Hood).

  
  Wonder Woman is a hardnosed, revitalizing adventure that sheds a new perspective on one of DC comics “Holy Trinity” of cornerstone superheroes (The other two are Superman and Batman).The film is an exciting modernization of the oldest female heroine in modern comics. The character of Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston and debuted in All Star Comics #8 in 1941. This is an action-packed undertaking that features an unmatched level of brutality in a DC comics animated feature.


Continue reading on Examiner.com DVD review: Wonder Woman (2008): The best depiction of DC's fabled heroine - Baltimore Animation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animation-in-baltimore/dvd-review-wonder-woman-2008-the-best-depiction-of-dc-s-fabled-heroine-review#ixzz1f65CAvie

Justice League: New Frontier (2008):


Rating:
****
By: Da'Mon Guy
   
     Justice League: New Frontier is an enthralling, hardnosed perception on the formation of the Justice League of America. The film is a adult-themed, clever commingling of many of the stories of the characters that comprise the DC universe. The film features the voice talents of David Boreanaz (Bones "TV series), Neil Patrick Harris (Beastly), Miguel Ferrer (The Manchurian Candidate), Kyle MacLachlan (), Lucy Lawless (Spartacus: Blood and Sand "TV series"), Keith David (Lottery Ticket), Brooke Shields (Midnight Meat Train), Kyra Sedgewick (Gamer), and Jeremy Sisto (Unknown).


     Justice League: New Frontier is an entertaining animated feature that premiered in 2008. The film implements a mature-themed outlook on the creation of the Justice League of America (JLA) that employs a real life outlook on the world of DC comic’s famed characters. The movie occurs in early 1950’s also known as the Silver Age of comics. It’s an engaging story that unfolds like an old fashioned mystery of the era that the story occurs in. It manages to interweave the origins of a few of the Leaguers such as Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter, as well as what made Batman choose a sidekick. It’s an creative use of the characters of the DC universe. New Frontier allows for many other characters from the various titles in the DC universe to make an appearance in the film as well. In addition to the JLA, there are characters that are introduced such as Blackhawks, Adam Strange, Wildcat, Mr. Freeze, and Gorilla Grood just to name a few.


Continue reading on Examiner.com DVD review: Justice League: New Frontier (2008): - Baltimore Animation | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animation-in-baltimore/dvd-review-justice-league-new-frontier-2008-review#ixzz1f61OvsA1


The Ghost Writer: A Lackluster Mystery that Misuses a Talented Casts


Rating:
**1/2
By: Da'Mon Guy

     The Ghost Writer is a painstakingly boorish, lifeless pilferage that is a complete and unmitigated waste of the talented actors that comprise the film. This insufferable calamity is a torturous chore of viewing that drearily drags the audience through its tedious attempt at a mystery. The film stars Pierce Bronsnan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief), Ewan McGregor (The Men Who Stare at Goats), Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City 2), Olivia Williams (Hanna), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton), Timothy Hutton (The Last Mimzy), and Jim Belushi (Cougars Inc).


     The Ghost Writer is an inexcusable, second rate snooze fest that attempts to induce a level of suspense into an awful, mundane story that barely entertains. This anesthetic mishap surrounds a secret manuscript of Adam Lang, a former prime minister who has been charged with war crimes. The film is based on a book by Robert Harris.


Continue reading on Examiner.com DVD review: The Ghost Writer: a lackluster mystery that misuses a talented cast - Baltimore Movies | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/movies-in-baltimore/dvd-review-the-ghost-writer-a-lackluster-mystery-that-misuses-a-talented-cast-review#ixzz1f5z7CqkV


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Immortals: Superior imagery combined with a substandard story


Rating:
***
By: Da'Mon Guy


     Immortals is a graphic, visceral extravaganza that implements the use of stunning visuals as well as an extremely high level of violence and brutality as subterfuge to mask the shortcomings of a lackluster, dreary story. It’s a dreary, melodramatic tale that makes a mishandled attempt to reintroduce some of the elements of great Greek tragedies to a modern audience but it simply comes up short. The film stars Henry Cavill (Stardust), Mickey Rourke (The Expendables), Stephen Douriff (Buck Larson: Born to be a Star), Freda Pinto (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Luke Evans (The Three Musketeers), John Hurt (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Pt. 2), and Anne Day-Jones (Source Code).

    
     Immortals is a violent, brutal exhibition that miserably tries to intermingle some of the timeless elements of age old story telling such as tyranny, treachery, and faith with modern groundbreaking visual effects. It’s a bungled waste of terrific visual effects as the boorish nature of a dreary narrative deprive the true enjoyment of it. The film is the story of a faithless man who was able to attain a place amongst the Greek gods.


Continue reading on Examiner.com Movie review: Immortals: Superior imagery combined with a substandard story - Baltimore Movies | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/movies-in-baltimore/movie-review-immortals-superior-imagery-combined-with-a-substandard-story-review#ixzz1dyfActG8

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs: A Great Watch


Rating:
****1/2
By: Da'Mon Guy


Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an imaginative, wondrous happenstance that creatively intertwines a theme heavy story with an outrageous premise to create a great family-friendly tale. The movie is a quirky story that encourages its viewers to follow and never giving up on their dreams. The movie is complimented by an extremely talented cast that features the voice talents of Bill Hader (Paul), Anna Faris (What‘s Your Number), Mr. T (Not Another Teen Movie), James Caan (Henry's Crime), Bruce Campbell (Cars 2), Mr. T, Benjamin Bratt (Trucker), Neil Patrick Harris (Beastly), Andy Samburg (Friends With Benefits), Al Roker (Robots), Will Forte (MacGrubber) and Lauren Graham (Flash of Genius).


     Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a clever, universally appealing journey into imagination. This story applies a light-hearted and extremely up-beat approach to a story to deliver a number of warm messages about the truly important things in life. The film is based on the popular children's book of the same name.


Continue reading on Examiner.com DVD review: Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (2009): A great watch!!! - Baltimore Movies | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/movies-in-baltimore/dvd-review-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-2009-a-great-watch-review#ixzz1dMT5F9KS

Soul Men (2008): A hilarious film about the uneasy transition of life


Rating:
****
By: Da'Mon Guy


     Soul Men is a hysterical, uproarious experience that focuses on the journey that two former music partners undertake as they try to reconnect after a 30 year separation from one another. The film is a hilarious singularity about the uneasy transition of life that is chocked full of obscenities and vulgarity. The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson (The Other Guys), Bernie Mac (Ocean's 12), Mike Epps (35 & Ticking), and. It also features appearances by Vanessa Del Rio, and John Legend (Loverboy).

     Soul Men is a humorous, spirited debauchery that revolves around the world of the music industry. It
premiered in 2008. It’s a clever comedic outing about an uneasy partnership of two former 60’s performers that came to an end because of a dispute over love for the same woman. It’s a movie about two former entertainers who had an a estranged friendship that has withstood the test of time. The film is laced with themes about life, love, and forgiveness.


Continue reading on Examiner.com DVD review: Soul Men(2008): A hilarious film about the uneasy transition of life - Baltimore Movies | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/movies-in-baltimore/dvd-review-soul-men-2008-a-hilarious-film-about-the-uneasy-transition-of-life-review#ixzz1dMRUcVNH