The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is an engrossing film concerning the caped crusader’s struggle for a peaceful and orderly Gotham. This piece of cinema is visually stunning from the first shot of towering skyscrapers. The performances are all worthy of recognition and prestige. Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker is profound and ingenious. This captivating film is far different from any other action or comic book movie; it is darker, more twisted, more despairing, and more bleak. In the motion picture, the Joker is trying to destroy both Gotham and Batman through a simple campaign of fear and violence. In the end; however, The Dark Knight wins a Pyrrhic victory. All in all, The Dark Knight is a pristine example of cinema at its finest.

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Hellboy returns with an amusing romp of a demon’s fight against malfeasance. During Hellboy’s unflagging crusade against wrongdoers, he meets a plethora of interesting creatures and discovers more about himself and the mystical world around us. Back from his recent Oscar success, Guillermo Del Toro directs and writes this comic book adaptation. With a barrage of one-liners, Hellboy 2, though not as keenly conceived or nimbly executed as its predecessor, is still likable entertainment. This piece of cinema lacks substantive characters and plot, yet makes up for it with stunning visuals and well-choreographed action. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is a pleasurable flick.

The Children of Huang Shi

The Children of Huang Shi is a touching tale set against a backdrop of war, depression, and chaos in China during the years leading up to the Second World War. Based on true events, it centers on an English journalist’s struggle to help an orphanage grow and persevere. While dealing with a civil war, famine, and an occupying army, the youthful free-lancer defies all odds and succeeds in this improbable task. This daring Englishman is not without help though; an American nurse and a Chinese military leader who is in collaboration with the Communists aid him during this period of his life. The Children of Huang Shi tells an engrossing story of a remarkable man, but nevertheless it is not entirely overwhelming.

WALL-E

WALL-E is yet another masterpiece from the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios. This film is undoubtedly the superlative work of cinema I have ever seen that received a G rating. It is a solemn (though far from simplistic) fable, but it is also a disarmingly sweet and simple love story. The premise of this adorable motion picture is two automatons unflagging quest to inform humans of their newly habitable home planet. WALL-E is a pure gem of movie-making excellence in absolutely every element.

Mongol

Mongol is a stunning historical epic that humanizes the brutal emperor and conqueror. This piece of cinema can be defined by one word: panache. The scale was grand and epic, the battle sequences were stunning and brilliantly choreographed, the dialogue was well written and not jejune, and the histrionic art was impeccable. Although the historical accuracy was a bit questionable, historians and history lovers can find solace in the message Mongol displays. The film tells the tale of Genghis Khan's early years and his rise to power. This piece of cinema depicts the tale of an innocent child becoming a ruthless yet benevolent warrior. Mongol shows us why foreign cinema is a powerful force in art and storytelling. Mongol bodes well for the planned trilogy yet to come.

Wanted

Wanted, based upon Mark Millar’s explosive graphic novel series, is an action-packed thriller to say the least. In-between the visually stunning and well-orchestrated fray scenes, there is an almost undesired plot that lacks substance and thought. This piece of cinema deals with a very tricky and fickle element of filmmaking, self-awareness. (Self-awareness being classified as characters being aware of their presence in a film.) This motion picture is entertaining, but in no way is it a quality film. In conclusion, Wanted is pleasing in a visual manner but not intellectually.

Get Smart

Get Smart is yet another link in the chain of bringing back old television series. Maxwell Smart is once again trying to foil the amoral plot for world domination by the mischievous crime syndicate known as KAOS. Steve Carell, who plays the lead of this capricious film, once again proves himself as a thespian who possess the ability to always make the audience chortle. In between all the gags and all the action scenes, there is refreshing political satire that contains a true message of our government’s incompetence. All in all, Get Smart is a quality summer blockbuster destined to, at the very least, amuse you.

The Happening

The Happening is a horrendous piece of cinema that never should have happened. Nothing positive can be said about this motion picture. Every component of this film is dreadful and poorly thought, ranging from the dialogue to the science. The multitude ways in which this film is horrid lead the audience to believe that M. Night Shyamalan phoned this one in. To save you all the trouble of being curious of whom the culprit is, THE PLANTS DID IT. The flora of the world felt threatened and released a virulent toxin into the air. It was a force of nature humanity will never fully understand.