Movie Info:
Writers: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, David S. Goyer, Bob Kane
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Monique Curnen, Cillian Murphy, Chin Han, Anthony Michael Hall, Nathan Gamble
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Warner Home Video

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: July 18, 2008
DVD Release Date: December 9, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.99

Heath Ledger deserves an Oscar. Period.

I’ve heard the naysayers, who claim Heath’s performance is just hyped up because he died, but to watch him is chilling. It’s complex, to truly understand all that he took on to embody such a diabolical character, as the Joker. I was spellbound by his performance, and that truly is very rare in this day and age. He had the kind of presence in a film you see from a Daniel Day Lewis (though who could imagine Day Lewis as the Joker?). The hype about Ledger as the Joker began before he died, and continued to swell after his untimely passing.

All things aside, The Dark Knight is a great film. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in 2008. The performance level by all of the actors (save for a few) makes this movie more than just a comic-inspired movie. This film is a fully packed, action filled, blockbuster, with the capability of appealing to a wide range of audiences. Still, this is not just a Batman movie. Nolan and his cast turn this into a work of art. Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it cannot have that bohemianly avant-garde feel to it. This was brought on by Ledger more than any other player. Just because a movie is popular, mainstream, and a blockbuster sensation doesn’t mean it can’t be deserving of Oscar-buzz. Some films are meant to transcend genres and expectations. The Dark Knight is one of them.

I haven’t seen the standard edition of this. I have no need to, because I own the Blu Ray. All I can say is, BUY BLU RAY. If you have a Blu Ray player, you need to buy this in Blu Ray. I was enveloped in this absolutely stunning, cinematography-filled, cacophony of blissful Batman-heaven. I love Batman. He’s my favorite comic book hero, but never have I seen such an excellent film adaptation of my favorite boyhood superhero. Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Nicole Kidman. None of them can hold a candle to the kind of performances we see from the cast of The Dark Knight. This film is epic and lived up to any and all of my expectations. Despite all the hype, this movie surpassed it.

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Written by Admin - Visit Website
I'm the Blu Ray Authoritay admin and I rock!

Movie Info:
Writer: Brad Anderson
Director: Brad Anderson
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Kate Mara, Ben Kingsley, Thomas Kretschmann, Eduardo Noriega
Rating: R
Studio: First Look Studios

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 18, 2008
DVD Release Date: November 4, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

Transsiberian has all the makings of a top movie except a proper chance. When I was watching this movie I kept asking myself why I had never heard anything about it. I might have heard a thing or two, because I think I remember saying that I wanted to see it, in passing, but this did not receive the media reception that it should have prior to the release of the film. This was treated as any other film might have been treated. Unfortunately that means some people will miss this and it will be a shame if they do.

The idea of this thriller is simple, but that doesn’t mean that it is boring or unimaginative. At the heart of things, there are elements of stories that have been told before. You have a middle-aged naïve couple traveling in a foreign country, cramped spaces, and the unknown looming all around. Drug dogs are sniffing out each area for drug traffickers and that’s just the beginning.

Transsiberian works because the direction and acting are solid. Brad Anderson has a way of making you feel closed in thanks to the train environment and the way in which he shoots each frame. The writing is handled in a way that makes some things so obvious, but leaves much sitting in the background until the time is right for it to be revealed. It is this that makes the movie worth watching. Even when you see something clearly and know it will happen you can bet that there is more to the story that you have yet to see.

Each actor seems to be perfectly cast for their role. Woody Harrelson stands out as the happy go lucky churchgoer, Roy. You feel the most empathy for him because it’s obvious that he is the best of the bunch and doesn’t deserve to be involved in all that occurs. Emily Mortimer plays Roy’s wife, Jessie. Unlike the happy Roy, Jessie appears incredibly somber. At one point you wonder why these two are together and if they will stay together much longer. Joined by Kate Mara who plays Abby and Eduardo Noriega (Carlos), a couple that seems shifty and yet welcoming to a degree, it is easy to see why this movie has been generally well received by critics and those that have had a chance to actually see it.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.