Month: July 2012

It’s an all-too-human failing that we’re unable to encounter new experiences without comparing them to previous ones. The Dark Knight Rises – third (and everyone says final) film in director Christopher Nolan’s Batman series – is action-packed, dark, dramatic, and consistently thrilling. It’s everything comics fans and ordinary moviegoers want in a summer blockbuster, and especially this one. Unfortunately, in the inevitable comparison with Nolan’s brilliant previous effort, The Dark Knight, this new instalment comes up short. While it’s by no means a disappointment, the feeling of something lacking nags at the back of your mind throughout.

Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/the-dark-knight-rises-movie-review/

Seth MacFarlane knows his audience. The creator of Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show has specialized in animated TV sitcoms that push the boundaries of appropriateness while simultaneously honouring their origins in classic family comedy. With Ted, his first live-action feature film, he provides a similar experience that should please his fans. But is it enough to justify the ticket price for the same kind of thing you could watch for free at home?

Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/ted-movie-review/

However much we might approve or object, the reboot has quickly become Hollywood’s tool-of-choice for the revival of successful franchises that have lost their lustre. For the creators, it’s a handy shortcut: by re-jigging the essential elements, they don’t have to do as much heavy-lifting as they might in creating a concept from scratch. And by linking in a new backstory, they have options to explore for future films.

There are limits to this technique, however. Sam Raimi’s highly-successful Spider-Man was released only a decade ago, and then followed by a sequel that some critics called the best superhero movie ever. When Spider-Man 3 faltered and failed to meet expectations, a decision to reboot was made, and now we have The Amazing Spider-Man. But while it’s largely entertaining, the memory of the older films is still too fresh for this new version to be fully engrossing.

Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/the-amazing-spider-man-movie-review/