Batman Begins
Rarely does a film come along that lingers long after the lights come up. This is the Batman film to end all Batman films. I'd go as far to say, this is the comic book movie to end all comic book movies.
Funny thing is, as gothic and dark as Tim Burton films are known to be, Christopher Nolan's (Memento, Insomnia) version makes Burton's films seem like child's play. This film is as nightmarish and gothic as it is thoughtful and complex. It continues the trend of allowing talented independent directors such as Sam Raimi (Spiderman) and Ang Lee (Hulk) to take the reigns of multiplex blockbusters.
Without saying much else, if you're in the mood for a light, fun, two-dimensional action/adventure film, you should probably check out Michael Bay's
The Island, or
The Dukes of Hazard. This isn't the film for you. But movie buffs will rejoice to find a blockbuster that lives and breathes in its subject, instead of exploiting it.
Most certainly one of the best films I've seen this year, or any.
Big Fish
OK, I realize I was a little behind in getting around to see this movie and I have to say that I approached it with some hesitation, and I'm not sure why. I finally got around to seeing it last night, and I'm very glad that I ended up seeing it.
To say that the film is visually stunning is an understatement. Ebert summed it up well that it is a grown-up's daydream, with all sorts of fantastical settings and surreal characters, and by the end, you wonder, did they ever exist? Was old Edward Bloom just spinning tales for his son or did they really happen? Only the final story scene and the real-life final scene will answer that question, and I won't spoil it if anyone hasn't seen it.
Overall, it was a very good story. It actually felt like what you would visualize in your head while the town elder related stories of his past. Burton does an excellent job of making the film what your mind's eye would make it if you were just hearing the stories, and I think that can be difficult to do. His use of colors and clever tricks (Edward walking through a circus scene that has been frozen in time) almost make these unbelievable stories believable.
If you haven't seen this one, its definitely a good exercise in dreaming and a feel-good-yet-sad story towards the end.
