Hellboy II

My husband and I love comic book movies. Remember the "old" days when they were cheaply made and in general....well...sucked? Those days are pretty much gone. Now, not all comic book movies are wonderful. Some still lack a bit of something.

Enter Hellboy II. The first movie was great. Hellboy was a surprise hit and a great movie. The sequel was pretty good, but not quite up to the standards of the first one.

Ron Perlman is back as Hellboy, thankfully, but I think the makeup effects in this one have changed somewhat. He doesn't seem as big as he was in the first one. Even the chin is a bit different. Things like that tend to distract me some.

David Hyde Pierce did not return as the voice of Abe Sapien, which is a shame. I thought he was perfect for that character. Not that Doug Jones didn't do a good job, but something was missing.

The storyline was a bit "blah" to say the least. The movie's opening was at first a rehash, then just a few cliches thrown together. The voice-over, which I usually kind of like, just didn't flow well.

Whereas in the first movie, the characters seem to fit together well, in this one they seem to be struggling. The "chemistry" just isn't there. Even the dialog often struggles along as if the actors are having trouble spitting it out.

If you're a fan of the first movie, go ahead and rent this one. It's not real good, but I have seen worse.

Christmas Movies

What to watch for this holiday, that is the big question isn't it? There are so many "Christmas" movies out there, and many of them aren't worth the time. And then there are those that are shown over and over again during the holidays, and they don't have anything to do with this time of year at all.

Here are some that I would like to recommend.


Of course I have to recommend the movie with what is to me one of the two greatest Christmas songs ever written in the soundtrack. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. When you throw in the always wonderful Danny Kaye, what's not to like in this film?


As I write this, TBS is going into the second hour of its annual 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon. I love the idea of being able to flip over and catch favorite scenes from this movie any time I want. This is a fun movie, and if you haven't seen it yet, pick up that remote.


I have to admit that I haven't seen The Homecoming in years, but I do remember it fondly. I loved this movie, and what bad can be said about a movie that first introduced us to the Walton family? I loved this family, especially John Boy who was a major childhood crush for me. I used to wish my family could be as loving and "together" as this one.


Of course, there's It's a Wonderful Life and the totally terrific Jimmy Stewart. And I can't even count the number of versions of A Christmas Carol that are floating around out there (although my favorites are The Muppets Christmas Carol and the version done by Patrick Stewart). And don't forget Miracle on 34th Street, which also has many versions to behold. (I'm partial to the one with Richard Attenborough myself.)


In the end, the movies are just a small piece of the pie. Spending your day with someone you love, sharing the gift of your time with each other, is the whipped topping.


Have a great holiday.

Get Smart

When I was a kid, I spent some summers with my dad in Minnesota. He had a small, one-bedroom apartment and I slept on the pull-out couch, which was absolutely fine with me. I'd sit up late and watch reruns of great shows; Batman, Streets of San Francisco, Kolchak: The Night Stalker...

One of the shows I watched was Get Smart. I had all but forgotten about watching that one until I recently rented the movie. You can tell they did a good job with it since it brought back all the old feelings of the original.

Steve Carell did a great job as Agent Maxwell Smart. As a matter of fact, I can't think of anyone else who could have pulled it off. And Anne Hathaway was a good pick for the role of Agent 99. As a "team," they were a good fit and hopefully we will see them together again...either in a sequel or maybe even a different project altogether. And Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) was funny as heck. He's actually turning into a pretty good actor, and is not afraid to poke a bit of fun at himself even.

I caught one cameo by a veteran of the original series, and it was a quick one. But fun all the same. And I will say there was one scene I could have done without (I think I've mentioned my aversion to bathroom-type humor in earlier posts.), but it was a very short scene, so not much of a big deal.

This was a very funny movie. The only thing I can think of that would have made it better would have been for Don Adams to have been alive to make an appearance of his own. He would have like this one.

Tropic Thunder

OK, I am not a big Ben Stiller fan. For the most part, I can skip his movies completely and not be too terribly worried about it. But, I am a Robert Downey, Jr. fan. So, I decided to give this flick a chance.

I'm really on the fence about this movie for the most part. There were some scenes I could really have done without - not a big fan of bathroom humor and such as that. Jack Black digging around in his underwear trying to find a gun he'd hidden there was a bit much, and some of the opening scenes with the fake blood and guts were more than a bit much, but the movie was still pretty funny.

The last scene with the director made me laugh like crazy. I won't say what happened in case someone hasn't seen this yet, but I will say it was totally unexpected. Another hilarious moment near the end of the movie came when Ben Stiller was running out of the camp with the child on his back...well, you have to see it...and keep your eyes on that kid. Funny as heck.

Robert Downey, Jr. plays an Australian actor who had his skin darkened and such so he could play an African-American character. Since he has such a reputation of getting into his characters, I'd like to think he was poking fun at not only actors in general, but at himself specifically.

And when it comes to Tom Cruise, I am definitely not a fan. But even I have to admit he was pretty funny in this one.

This isn't a movie you would absolutely regret not seeing, but it's good for some mindless laughs.

Juno

Every so often a movie comes along that is just simply perfection from beginning to end. Juno is such a movie. I love this one. The acting is stupendous, especially when it comes to Ellen Page who plays pregnant teen Juno MacGuff. She was wonderfully flawless, delivering her lines as if they were written specifically for her. She was nominated for the Oscar for this one, and I'm really kind of surprised she didn't win.

J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney, two of my favorite actors, play Juno's father and stepmother and both do a great job. These aren't the usual teen pregnancy movie parents who go nuts and yell at their wayward daughter. Her news is met with surprise but also support for what is ultimately her decision. And Michael Cera as Juno's bewildered boyfriend Paulie Bleeker is funny and even sometimes frustrating. You wonder if he is ever going to really get his mind around what is happening.

Everyone in this cast did a great job, and the story manages to avoid being a cliche, which is amazing for a subject that has been done to death in the past. Diablo Cody is the writer of this little gem, and I really hope she can keep up this quality with her future works. The dialogue is snappy, witty and quick; and Cody's Oscar award is well-deserved.

If you haven't seen this yet, rush right out and rent it. It deserves five stars and then some.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

I have just one thing to say about this movie. I WANT THOSE 102 MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK!!!!

Stephen King's The Stand

I am a big fan of Stephen King...well, his older work anyway. His newer stuff just isn't up to par if you ask me. Out of everything his has written, The Stand is by far his masterpiece. Most people know, there are two versions of the book. I read the second, uncut version and loved it.

Which brings me to the 1994 mini-series based on this book, also a masterpiece. This movie stuck with the story pretty well, something that rarely seems to happen now-a-days. Now, it's not perfect since it was based on the original release of the book, a bit shorter than the uncut version. And of course some characters were omitted and others combined for the sake of simplification for television. But I don't think it loses much if anything along the way.

For those not familiar with the story, The Stand is set in a time when what appears to be a biological weapon is accidentally released from a military base. As Captain Tripps, as the illness comes to be called, tears its way through the population, survivors are drawn to two very different people who exemplify good and evil. Mother Abigail Freemantle (Ruby Dee) is a servant of God, while Randall Flagg (Jamey Sheridan) appears to possibly be the Devil himself. A great battle is brewing and the prize is the world itself.

Gary Sinese is great, as usual, and was a wonderful choice for the character of Stu Redman. Even Molly Ringwald, whom I had serious doubts about, did a great job as Frannie Goldsmith. The cast is a veritable who's-who of Hollywood talent, some very well-known at the time, some not so much. Out of all of them, I have to say Rob Lowe as Nick Andros was probably my favorite. He was great as the deaf-mute Andros and deserved more raves for his work than he actually received at the time.

Even after 14 years, this movie really holds up. I've even watched it in its entirety in one sitting and not been bored or frustrated. That's saying a lot for a mini-series. I haven't read the book in quite a while though. I think it's about time I dig it out again.

The Incredible Hulk

OK, we are going to forget Ang Lee's Hulk from 2003. Shouldn't be too hard since it was so utterly forgettable. I was very disappointed in that one. Ang Lee did amazing things with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, so I was hopeful when I heard he would be bringing one of the most well-known comic book characters to life. Boy were my hopes dashed.

This year we were "blessed" with director Louis Leterrier's version of the big green guy. The Incredible Hulk was much better than its predecessor. Edward Norton did a good turn as Dr. Bruce Banner, harking back to Bill Bixby in a way. Bixby's character from the television series was such a mild-mannered, likable guy; and Norton exudes the same type personality. Liv Tyler does a good job as well as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross. She and Norton seem to fit pretty well together, and I hope both return for any future sequels. (Come on. You know there's going to be a sequel.)

I have to say I loved the bit of a nod to the old series and Bill Bixby. First, as Norton is flipping through channels on the TV, he comes across a rerun of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Bill Bixby's series that ran from 1969 - 1972. Then at one point when Norton is walking down the road, we hear the familiar music that played at the end of each episode of the old series as Bixby left town. And Norton trying to say the old "Don't make me angry" line in Portuguese was hilarious.

This movie was great visually, and the storyline was well done. Stan Lee made his usual cameo appearance, and Lou Ferrigno was there as well. (Yes, they were both in Ang Lee's version as well, but we're forgetting that one. Remember?) William Hurt did well as General Ross, and Tim Roth was wonderfully power hungry as Major Emil Blonsky. (No redeeming qualities there.)

I wish I had seen this movie in the theater instead of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, but there's not much I can do about that now. It is definitely worth renting, and possibly buying. And watch the end for a tie-in with another summer hit. The way comic books work, they could make endless movies from the world of Marvel. (Hopefully they'll be good ones.)

The Bucket List

If you're looking for a funny, poignant movie full of sentimentality, this is it. The Bucket List teams up Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as two men suffering from terminal illness. Carter Chambers (Freeman) is a working class auto mechanic and Edward Cole (Nicholson) is a corporate billionaire who end up sharing a hospital room. They become friends and when Carter starts a list of things he wants to do before he "kicks the bucket," Edward adds his own items to the list and off they go.

I was worried this movie would fall into cliched drivel, as so many of these types of movies do, but it was actually pretty good. Yeah, it may be a bit of a cliche in spots, but it holds up well. Freeman is one of my favorite actors, and although I'm not a big Nicholson fan, I really liked him in this movie.

Sean Hayes, who was delightful as Jack in Will & Grace, does a marvelous turn as Edward's assistant. His scenes are really brief, but they work so well. He plays a great straight man in this one.

The Bucket List makes you think about what you would do if you had a short time to live. It literally asks the questions "Have you found joy in your life?" and "Has your life brought joy to others?" (Two questions everyone should ask themselves.)

Pretty good movie. I liked how the ending turned out. (Not quite as expected.) Worth renting.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I loved Raiders of the Lost Ark. I even thought Temple of Doom was pretty good. The Last Crusade was closer to the caliber of Raiders, and will always be one of my favorite movies. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...well, it was kinda pretty good.

Now, I'm not trying to be harsh. It wasn't a terrible movie, and I may even watch it again one day. But, it's not up to Raiders standards.

I will admit it was kind of nice to see Harrison Ford back in the fedora. Yeah, he's getting a bit old for this stuff, but the nostalgia factor was in full force with this movie. And connecting it around to the first one by having Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) come back into his life was a great step as well.

Another great choice was Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams. My husband and I have been watching him since the days of Even Stevens. He's a good actor with great comedic timing, and his talents are not wasted here. There are rumors that they plan on continuing the Indy franchise with him taking over the lead role, a rumor Steven Spielberg flatly denies. I think it would work, as Shia has shown he can handle action movies with no problem what-so-ever, but I really hope they don't do that. This movie should be it since loose ends have been well wrapped up.

As movies go, I've seen better, but if you're an Indy fan, you have to see it.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse

This movie may have come out in 1948, but it is still so very relevant today. (Anyone who has ever gone through the pains of renovating or building a home can attest to that.) After all these years, this movie is still delightfully fun.

Cary Grant is, to me, one of the greatest actors of all time...especially when it comes to comedy. He is such the straight-man, struggling to deal with the "crazies" around him. In this movie, those crazies are his kids, his maid, his wife, his best friend and the myriad of workmen who come together to build...well, his dream house. Myrna Loy, another favorite of mine from The Thin Man movies, plays Blandings' wife, and as usual, she is clever as heck. Melvyn Douglas plays the ever-suffering best friend and adds a bit of narration. They all come together to make a delightfully funny movie. Add in the "subplot" about the ad campaign for Wham (a "canned pork product" which I assume is loosely based on Spam) and you cannot watch this movie without laughing.

I am not a fan of "bathroom" humor, and toady's movies seem to be filled with those types of jokes. It's nice to be able to grab a classic like this and laugh without being embarrassed.

Good Night, and Good Luck

I had such high hopes for this one. I'm not a huge George Clooney fan, but I like him well enough. And David Strathairn, who plays Edward R. Murrow, is a wonderful actor. As a person who thinks censorship and the like is basically a mortal sin, I feel Joseph McCarthy is one of the most despicable human beings to ever walk the Earth. So, I was looking forward to this movie; a look at how Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly brought down the fear monger that was McCarthy.

OK, I knew it wasn't going to be an action flick. I guess you could say it's more of a docudrama maybe. But, did it have to be so boring?!?! I just could not get into this movie. It was slow, dull and disappointing.

Maybe I'll try this one again later. I've picked up novels that I couldn't get through at first, then tried again later on and really liked them. So, I've made a deal with myself to give this one another try in a few months. Who knows....

Iron Man

(Iron Man released on DVD today)

This is one of the very best superhero/comic book movies I have ever seen. Second only to The Dark Knight. I saw Iron Man in the theater this past summer, which is something I reserve for special effects-type movies. (Movie tickets are just too expensive now-a-days.) I wasn't disappointed in this movie one bit. The effects were way cool, the acting wasn't too over the top, the storyline wasn't too corny (as some can be), etc. Of course, it was a bit unrealistic, but it is a comic book movie after all.

I am a fan of Robert Downey Jr. from way back. He was great in Less Than Zero and pure genius in Chaplin. Of course, as the years went by, he spent more time in the news for his arrests and drug addiction. No sign of those problems here. Downey's acting is as stupendous as it ever was, and in some scenes, he even appears to be poking a bit of fun at himself. His sarcastic, smart alec style of humor is perfect for the part of Tony Stark. (And the fact that he's still pretty hot doesn't hurt either.)

With all the flying through the air and such, probably the most unrealistic part of this movie was Gwyneth Paltrow running around in those impossibly high heels. But that's a guy-created comic book thing. And I have to admit, this was one of the few (if not the only) times I didn't absolutely hate the superhero's "love interest." This movie didn't get all into that, as I'm sure the sequels will at some point, and her character was actually pretty likable. But I'm betting her feet were killing her at the end of the day.

If you didn't get to see this in the theater, or even if you did, rush right down and rent it now. Or, better yet, buy it. This is one worth owning so you can see it over and over again.

Paul Newman

On Friday, September 26, 2008, we said goodbye to Paul Newman, one of the greatest actors to ever grace the stage and screen.

One of Newman's best known movies, and the first pairing with Robert Redford.

My favorite Redford/Newman film.

This is not one of Newman's best movies, although he did win the Oscar award for his reprisal of the role he originated in The Hustler, Eddie Felson. I think the award was more for his history of work, as is often the case when it comes to the Academy Awards.

There so many great Paul Newman movies. Hombre, The Towering Inferno, Cool Hand Luke, Cars...the list goes on and on. If I put posters up here for my favorites, this blog would be much too long.

I think it's time for a Paul Newman film festival. What better way to celebrate his life and career.

The Forbidden Kingdom

It's about time someone decided to put together Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

This is one of those "kid gets beat up, kid escapes into a fantasy world, kid returns to own world and beats up the bully" movies. And it's a good one, too. Jason (Michael Angarano) is obsessed with Kung Fu movies. He buys bootleg copies at a shop in Chinatown, where he also comes across a staff belonging to the Monkey King. Through a series of events, he ends up in Ancient China where he teams up with Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), Golden Sparrow (Yifei Liu) and the Silent Monk (Jet Li) in order to return the staff to The Monkey King (also Jet Li). This is an action-packed ride and well worth renting, even if you've already seen it. The fight between Chan and Li will go down as one of the great martial art movie fights, and both men have some great funny moments as the story progresses. They really looked like they were having fun.

If you read my previous posting about the third Mummy movie, you already know I am a big Jet Li fan, and he doesn't disappoint this time around either. And putting him in the mix with Jackie Chan...well, there is just no way this wasn't going to be good.

Lost Boys: The Tribe

Loved the original so I was set to love this one as well. Boy was I disappointed in this straight to video piece of work. If you like senseless gore, give it a try. I made it about half-way through then gave up. Maybe you'll have better luck.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Remember this movie? I caught it this morning on one of the movie channels. What a hoot.

From 1984, this movie is about Buckaroo Banzai, a real renaissance man. He is a top neurosurgeon, particle physicist, race car driver, rock star and comic book hero. He is also the last hope of the human race when his latest experiments open the door to the 8th dimension and unwittingly start an interplanetary battle for the world.

And talk about an all-star cast. I did not realize how many "names" there were in this movie. Peter Weller of course is Buckaroo Banzai. Add to him Jeff Goldblum, Clancy Brown, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Christopher Lloyd...way too many to name them all. Wow! I think they just went through Hollywood and pulled in anyone who needed a job at the time. ;-)

This is a silly movie, but a lot of fun. If you haven't watched it lately, I'd dig it up and give it a look. Pop some real popcorn, not the low-cal microwave stuff we eat now, sit back and relive the 80's, Banzai-style.

Clerks

This 1994 movie is still hilarious today. Kevin Smith was hailed as a genius and for good reason. This is his first movie, and it was a masterpiece.

You ever wonder what those clerks in the convenience stores and video stores talk about? Well, watch this movie and you will know. It's a very subdued look at those who serve. And here they serve up the laughs and a study of life in general.

I love independent movies in general. They are usually bright, shining gems. And this is one of the shiniest.

The Life of David Gale

OK, I make no secret of the fact that I am a big Kevin Spacey fan. He can do almost no wrong in my eyes...I've loved everything I've seen him in.

That being said, this movie is stupendous, and Spacey is riveting in it. One summary on IMDB reads "A University of Texas professor of philosophy and capital punishment abolitionist, David Gale (Kevin Spacey), finds himself on Death Row convicted of murder. Days before his execution, skeptical journalist Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) is sent to conduct David Gale's final interview. Unaware that she would not be investigating Dr. Gale, Bitsey and her sympathetic intern leave to Texas for what is to become a story of a lifetime." The story is told partly through a series of flashbacks and grabs your attention from the beginning.

This is one movie that will make you think long and hard about your position on the death penalty, no matter which side of the issue you fall on. And even if you don't care one way or the other, this is a very good drama. The twists this movie takes will move you in one direction, then take a right turn into another direction. Just when you think you know who did what, you're proven wrong and off it goes again.

If you get a chance, check out The Life of David Gale. It is well worth a first, second or even third look.

The Mist

I was so disappointed in this movie. For the most part, it wasn't too bad. It's been a while since I read the original story, so I was willing to give it the benefit of a doubt. There were a lot of "name" actors in it, so the expectations were kind of high there as well. In some parts, there was just too much going on at once. In others, you were waiting for something to happen. But, the worst of all was the ending. Why they felt they had to change it from the ending in the story I'll never know. The story's ending was perfect, left you guessing. This one was one HUGE cliche. I really am getting tired of movies that fall back on the usual. What happened to original thought and pulling out the unusual?

If you are a big Stephen King fan, yeah, you'll want to see this. If you're local rental place has a cheap rental day, I'd get it then. Or better yet, catch it on one of the movie channels when it comes on. Why pay extra for what will be a bit of a disappointment?!?

Vantage Point

Not a bad movie. Reminded me a bit of the whole Kennedy thing, of course, but the different points of view leaves you pretty much guessing for most of it. Just when you think you have it all figured out, it takes a bit of a turn.

I have always like Dennis Quaid, and he doesn't disappoint in this movie. Add in Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Richard T. Jones, William Hurt....so many great actors...and you have a great cast going. This movie is worth a look.

One sticking point: William Hurt, who plays the president, made a comment about Quaid's character, who has come back to guard the president after taking a bullet for him a year earlier. Hurt says something about Quaid being hard on himself for what happened a year ago. They don't go any further into it, and I was wondering why he would be hard on himself. He blocked the bullet meant for the president, saving the man's life. Makes sense that he would be a bit shaky, but there's nothing for him to regret. Odd.

Other than that, and that is a SMALL point, the movie moves along well. You see the same situation from 8 points of view. They show you one point of view, rewind back and show you another, then do it again. I wasn't surprised at who turned out to be a bad guy, but was surprised at how he was discovered.

Good movie, great cast...'nuff said.

Jumper

This is going to be a short review. I had such high hopes for this movie, and it failed to live up to them. The premise was a good one and had so much potential, but it just didn't quite hit the mark. It was a bit boring in parts and never felt like the big cinema experience it could have been. To be honest, it felt more like the pilot for a television series, and would have done well in that venue. It's almost perfect for that as a matter of fact; a weekly series with an infinite supply of stories. I just hope they don't make a sequel to this. That would be like beating a dead horse. If you're really, really bored and just need to kill some time...rent this one; or better yet, wait until it's on television. Otherwise, I would steer clear.

Told you this would be short. :)

The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

The same day we saw The Dark Knight, we also saw The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. As a matter of fact, we saw this movie first and walked out wishing we had just skipped it. Disappointed? Yeah, you might say that.

I am a Jet Li fan. It's just amazing, watching him in his movies' fight scenes. He makes it look like a dance. So, when I saw how little he fought in this movie, that was a big disappointment. There was a fight scene with Brendan Fraser, but it just wasn't long enough to really show Li's prowess. Most of the Li fight scenes were actually done with the CGI creature he had become as the mummy.

The whole father/son relationship between Rick and Alex O'Connell (Brendan Fraser & Luke Ford) didn't fit at all. They just didn't connect. And as much as I like Maria Bello (Been a fan since her ER days.) there just wasn't any chemistry between her and Fraser either. I think it would have been a safer bet to write the character of Evelyn out as opposed to recasting it.

There were some good scenes in this movie. I loved the Yeti. They were pretty funny and helped to bring back some of the feeling of the original mummy movie. The scene where Fraser's character is hurt and they have to get him to the fountain....well, it was more than cliche. It was way over-done cliche. Reminded me too much of the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indy's father is injured and they have to get the holy grail in order to heal him.

This isn't the worst movie I've ever seen, and I'm sure I'll see worse in the future. But, if you haven't seen this one yet, it's worth it to wait until it comes out on DVD.

THE DARK KNIGHT

OK, let's set aside all the Heath Ledger talk for a moment and concentrate on the film in general.

This movie rocks, and considering it clocks in at two and a half hours, it has to in order to keep your attention. Not once did I feel like getting up out of my seat and walking around. Not once did I wonder out of boredom when it was going to end. Not once did I feel like it was too much already. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There are scenes that seem as if the ending is near, as if they are starting to come up to the ultimate climax of the movie. Then you're suddenly pulled back from that edge and pushed off toward another. It's like a roller coaster ride that never ends, and you never want it to.

Now for the inevitable discussion about Heath's portrayal of The Joker. Many people are saying that the only reason he is receiving such raves is because he's dead and this is one of his last performances. I don't know about some people, but that's not why I'm raving about it. He was wonderful. So very creepy and odd and insane. The psyche of The Joker has always been something to cringe away from and study all at the same time, and Heath brings you to the edge of the insanity and very nearly pushes you over. I think he will get an Oscar nod for this but am not sure about a win. This type of movie is not known for that kind of accolade. (If he does win, I'm thinking it will be more of a nod toward his performance in Brokeback Mountain, which he should have won for in the first place.)

Now let me say that I am a big Tommy Lee Jones fan, but he just wasn't the right person to play Harvey "Two-Face" Dent. Aaron Eckhart on the other hand was perfect. He has the wonderful good looks that Dent is supposed to have, and comes across well as the absolutely honest D.A. he is supposed to be. And when he becomes Two-Face, watch out. The makeup alone will creep you out. (I'm not posting a photo showing the full makeup because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie yet. If there is anyone out there who hasn't.) Even my husband, the comic book movie perfectionist, wasn't disappointed with this character. (As a matter of fact, the only thing remotely disappointing was what they did to Batman's voice. Bale does a slightly deeper voice when he's "playing" Batman instead of Bruce Wayne, which makes sense. Wayne would want to disguise his voice, and making it deeper also serves to make him more ominous. But in this movie, they also digitally altered it on top of that, going a bit overboard in the process. At times, he's a bit hard to understand.)

Christian Bale was great as Batman, as he was in Batman Begins. Sir Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman work well in what are really pretty small but very essential parts. They both act a bit as Batman/Bruce Wayne's conscience. Gary Oldman surprised me in the first movie as Jim Gordon, the ultimate honest cop, and he again handles the role as if it was written for him in the first place.

If you've already seen this movie, then you know it would be worth it to spend the money to see it yet again on the big screen. If you haven't seen it, what the heck are you waiting for?