Casa de Brady

♫ Here's the story/of a guy named Brian
    who learned the Brady house was not far from his home
    so he went there/stood an awkward distance
    took pictures with his phone... ♫

Brian's Favorite Films of 2013

Here we are, the first week of January 2014, which can only mean two things: Kicking off the year-long advent for the arrival of hoverboards, and Brian's list of his favorite movies from 2013. 

I always like to note that these aren't necessarily my picks for the best crafted films of the year, just my most memorable and enjoyable film going experiences.
 
HONORABLE MENTION:  

BREAKING BAD
No, not a movie, but Breaking Bad's final season (and the entire series as a whole) was one of the most enthralling entertainment experiences of last year - or any other recent year for that matter. If I could wipe it from my memory and start over again I would in a heart beat. It was storytelling that, against all odds, remained strong until the very end. So. Damn. Good. 

And with that out of the way, onto the movies...!

8.  ANCHORMAN 2
My brother and I first saw this as a two-and-a-half-hour-plus test screening this past summer and the mood in the theater was like a rock concert. We left with our sides hurting from laughing so hard. I saw the theatrical cut recently and while it didn't pack the punch the first screening did for me, Ron Burgundy singing to a shark he's nursed back to health will always be funny to me.  

7.  GRAVITY
This film is more of an experience than it is anything else, but it's an exceptionally well done one at that. The real-time tension and enveloping visuals made this one of the most worthy reasons to get your butt into an actual theater this year.

6.  THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
The clever thing about this film is that I don't think it's a celebration of despicable people behaving despicably (though people with their priorities out of whack may revel in it that way), it's really a deceptive pitch from DiCaprio's disarmingly charismatic character, and occasional cracks in the facade he paints reveal what an unreliable (and deluded) narrator he actually is. Few people do sprawling rise-and-fall stories better than Scorsese and this is no exception. Three hours long and I never checked my watch once. I suppose it should be noted for more sensitive viewers that this movie doesn't hold back. Like, at all.

5.  PRISONERS
A dark, heavy story that had its hooks in me from the get-go as the mystery of two families' kidnapped children continued to unfold and change courses. A truly captivating film.

4.  AMERICAN HUSTLE
A goofier character piece than I think the Scorsese comparisons could lead one to believe. The whole ensemble is solid and once you realize the movie is less about the con they're trying to pull and more about the interplay and cons they're pulling on one another, the more enjoyable and entertaining the film becomes.

3.  CAPTAIN PHILIPS
A gripping story from start to harrowing finish. And Tom Hanks' confident and unrestrained performance reminds you that as an actor, there really isn't much he can't do.

2.  RUSH
With so many sports movies seemingly following the same, requisite fill-in-the-blank template, this one feels like a welcome breath of fresh air. Based on real life events, this is a solid character story about two opposite but equally interesting racing rivals that's packaged with all of the thrills that competitive sports movies bring along with them. An engaging, enjoyable story most people missed last year.

1.  HER
A love story that strives to be truthful featuring a romance between a man and his computer's operating system simply shouldn't work, but in the hands of Spike Jones, who crafts a credibly dreamy but grounded not-to-distant future, and Scarlett Johansson (as the program's voice) and Joaquin Phoenix's committed performances, this movie works as equal parts comedy, drama, satire, and unbelievably, genuinely affecting love story. 

And finally, I also enjoyed: 

BLUE JASMINE
A Grade A character piece about a deluded wealthy woman slowly deteriorating as her world falls apart around her. Her relationship with her far less worldly sister who only wants to help is sweet and at times awkward to watch. This one rattled around in my mind long after it ended.

ALL IS LOST
Basically Gravity on the ocean with Robert Redford. A much quieter and slowly doled out journey but an interesting, grounded, what-would-you do tale.

SAVING MR. BANKS
Sappy? Sure. Not entirely true? Most likely. But I still enjoyed it for the sweet and harmless story that it was. 

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
An ambling story about the trials of a penniless folk musician. Anyone not ready to watch a guy make frustrating decisions and play four or five songs in their entirety beware, but I thought the Coen Brothers made this slice of life story intriguing. Almost like you were a journalist following the lead around for a weekend, taking in what a struggling entertainer's life is all about.

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
A couple degrees off from what it was aiming for. But a nice, beautiful looking journey.

So there it is. And as I say every year, I'd love to hear what YOU loved from last year so put together your own list and send it my way. 

Have a happy 2014!

Coffee Break

Feeling the urge to shoot something again, I decided to make a mini-movie that would be fun and require the least amount of effort. So I picked up my iPhone, used the coffee cup already in front of me and made Coffee Break.

Check it out and enjoy!

MovieFilm Celebrates Its 1 Year Anniversary With Episode 27

If you had asked me a year ago if I thought Sean, Zaki and myself would still be standing on our little podcast legs this same time next year I would have said, "Who are you and why are you in my house?!"

I truly can't believe this humble operation has not only lasted this long, but that it has also grown and garnered the listenership that it has. So with that I want to say thanks for the support, and I hope you enjoy our latest episode where we are joined by Joblo.com News Editor and pal Paul Shirey. The four of us discuss Paul's Comic Con 2013 experiences, ponder the idea of a Batman-Superman movie, and share our thoughts on The Wolverine - among many other topics.

Sit back, hit play, and enjoy!

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Silver Linings Playbook Gives Romantic Comedies Their Dignity Back

Writer/Director David O. Russell tells relatively straight forward stories in slightly left-of-center fashion. His Gulf War heist film, Three Kings, about U.S. soldiers stealing a dictator's loot, somehow transforms from a thrilling comedy into an affecting drama about helping fellow human beings in need. His last film, The Fighter, about a boxer struggling to prove himself all while working toward "the big fight", follows all the familiar underdog story beats, but is arguably more of an examination of an intensely dysfunctional family. These films are Russell's takes on heist films and sports films respectively, which would make Silver Linings Playbook Russel's slightly left-of-center take on a romantic comedy.

The film opens with Pat (Bradley Cooper) being driven home from a court ordered stay at a mental institution by his mother, Dolores (Jacki Weaver in a subtly perfect performance.) Pat's forced stay was the result of a violent episode that has since alienated him from his wife. Now that he's back in the world, it is his life's obsession to improve himself and win her back. On his regimented journey toward self-betterment, Pat meets recent widower Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), herself prone to exhibiting destructive behavior worrisome to her family. Pat believes she may even be crazier than he is. Tiffany's tangential relationship to Pat's wife however encourages him to engage in a friendship with her and while she doesn't seem to mind his admitted ulterior motives, she decides to use his vulnerability to her advantage, forcing him to become her partner in her own current constructive outlet - a ballroom dance competition. 

Both Cooper and Lawrence are solid here, avoiding the easy slip of having their characters being little more than eccentric caricatures. Lawrence as Tiffany doesn't just say rude things, she's sad and curious and angry and fragile - in my opinion, earning every bit of her recent Oscar nomination. Cooper also crafts a man who is more than just mood swings. There's a lot going on behind his eyes - suppressed and unsuppressed rage, sadness, and an endearing and often times heartbreaking hopefulness.  

A particularly strong showcase for both begins in a diner where Pat and Tiffany are sussing each other out, discovering the other's buttons, and thanks to their unapologetic natures, pushing them. Tiffany in particular discovers just how broken Pat is and her realization of her power over him, as well as her sympathy for him, is the kind of stuff that makes this film a gem.

Also of note, of course, is Robert DeNiro as Pat's father, who is mostly able to hide issues of his own behind his befuddled but sincere attempts to understand his confusing son.

The end of the second act introduces a jarringly conventional story device that in any other film probably wouldn't have felt so out of place, but here felt oddly contrived only because the rest of the film had been operating in such an un-apologeticly grounded way. Fortunately, it all leads back to a solid place with a third act that's sweet and weird and spastic and truthful - just like its characters.

MovieFilm Podcast Episode 14

Once again the MovieFilm crew is joined by JoBlo.com News Editor Paul Shirey in this, our fourteenth installment.

This week we gents discuss what may in fact be Arnold Schwarzenegger's  "Last Stand", the fascinating sideshow surrounding Lindsay Lohan's upcoming movie The Canyons, as well as our thoughts on a few of the recent Oscar nominations. Additionally, Zaki interviews comedian Hasan Minhaj about Failosophy, the new show he's hosting for MTV. And if that isn't enough, we also unpack the trailers for RED 2, the remake of the horror classic The Evil Dead, and the upcoming "Die Hard in the White House" thriller Olympus Has Fallen.

You can stream it below, download at the link, or find this episode and a whole lot more at moviefilmpodcast.com. Like always, make sure you write a review or rank us on iTunes, and feel free to hit "like" and join us on our official Facebook page.

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Brian's Favorite Films of 2012

Now that a new year has begun, it's always fun to take a look back at the previous year and remember the movies that managed to stand out among the rest.

This isn't a traditional Top 10 list, and these aren't my picks for "best films of the year." Instead, these are simply my favorite movies and theater going experiences of 2012. Oh, and I should mention that as of this posting, I still haven't seen The Hobbit or Beasts of the Southern Wild. I will though. ...No, really. ...Stop looking at me like that!

REALLY GOOD
These film were the most memorable theater-going experiences for me last year:

            SILVER LINING PLAYBOOK
            A satisfying examination of two broken people 
            learning to live with each other's help. Great
            performances make this a fun and sweet story 
            to watch. 

MOONRISE KINGDOM
I love me some Wes Anderson. I've been on board with him since Bottle Rocket and while he seemed to be wavering a bit for a time, this was a lovely return to form. His confidence in his quirky voice brings this story of young love to life in a left of center, but most importantly, honest way.

LOOPER
An un-apologetically grim and heady time travel thriller. While the film proudly owes much to many films that came before it, it still manages to feel like a breath of fresh air.




ZERO DARK THIRTY 
I loved the no nonsense, laying-out-the-facts nature of the film, all leading to a cinematically thrilling reenactment of one of the most famous take downs of one of the most famous real-life villains in history.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Yes, it's too long. Yes, if I could, there are a few things I would want differently. But there was no other movie that grabbed me by the lapels and swung me around like this one did in 2012. From the opening airplane heist to Batman flying away, lugging a nuclear bomb, ready to die for his city, nitpicks and notes aside, this movie is a triumph of execution and I still enjoy it. 

GOOD TOO:

CLOUD ATLAS
Ambitious and intriguing, this nearly three hour epic spanning centuries isn't without its lulls, but the way the six or so stories are woven together - melding the beats and crescendos of each story with one another, seamlessly hopping back and forth between them - is remarkable, giving the film an exciting energy. While some stories work better than others, and ultimately the movie comes just short of the impact I feel it was building toward, I still found myself taken with it.

THE AVENGERS
 A popcorn flick of the highest caliber. It's effortlessly fun and pulls off what should have been a next to impossible juggling act of charismatic personalities, exciting set pieces, and impressive effects eye candy.

 

CABIN IN THE WOODS
While not my genre at all, this fun deconstruction of horror films (while actually being a darn inventive one itself) had me intrigued, laughing and hooked from the opening title card.

SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED

A sweet, offbeat tale about a guy convinced he's built a time machine, all he needs now is a partner to travel with him. For such a goofy premise, the film found a good hook with a lot of heart that keeps you invested in figuring out what's really going on.

CHRONICLE
Kind of can't believe this came from a major studio. Although a found footage film about teenagers, this is a thoughtful and kind of melancholy take on what would happen if regular kids inherited super powers. In spite of a teeny budget, there were still many memorable moments of the kids' powers on display in grounded, real-life settings.

CASA DE MI PADRE
Yup, the one where Will Ferrell speaks Spanish the entire film. Think Three Amigos meets Anchorman and you're on your way to an idea of what this bizarre and hilarious movie is like. All I know is my brother and I were laughing constantly.







HONORABLE MENTIONS:
SKYFALL, THE GREY, RUBY SPARKS, SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, SOUND OF MY VOICE, 21 JUMP STREET, and ARGO.

 
But you want to know what my favorite theater going experience was this past year? Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I somehow managed to catch three times on a big screen - once even with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg in attendance!  Watching a movie you've seen a million times in an actual movie theater is a special experience because that unparalleled immersion allows you to get invested in the film as if seeing it again for the first time. You take notice of things you've missed or forgotten about, sucking you into the story in a way you just can't experience at home. "If you have the means I highly recommend it. It is so choice."

And that about wraps it up! Thanks for taking a look and feel free to shoot me your thoughts on YOUR favorite films of last year.

MovieFilm Podcast Episode 11 - Star Trek Into Darkness, Oblivion, The Hobbit, The Guilt Trip and More

This week it's trailers ahoy on the MovieFilm Podcast as Zaki, Sean and Brian take time to ponder several recent offerings including Tom Cruise in Oblivion, Will Smith in After Earth, and the first full trailers for JJ Abrams' sequel Star Trek Into Darkness and Zack Snyder's Superman reboot Man of Steel.

In addition, the guys share a thought or two on the Golden Globe nominations, recount how The Hobbit nearly made Zaki throw up, and offer reviews of Jack Reacher and The Guilt Trip, all with a holiday-themed movie quiz to wrap things up.

Please feel free to stream it below or subscribe and download the episode at this itunes link. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send them along to MovieFilmPodcast@gmail.com, or to our official Facebook page. And from all of us at MovieFilm, we hope you have a safe and merry holidays!

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MovieFilm Podcast Episode 10 - Lincoln, Skyfall, Star Wars, X-Men!

Four score and seven days ago, Zaki, Sean and yours truly set forth to record what would become the 10th episode of the MovieFilm podcast. Actually, my math may be a bit off regarding the dates but the wording remains relevant because in this episode we discuss Steven Spielberg's recent critical darling Lincoln. We also share our thoughts, both the good and the bad, on the highest grossing Bond film to date, Skyfall. And just to sweeten the deal, we also delve into a wide array of topics including Lawrence Kasdan being tapped to write one of the upcoming Star Wars films, rumors of Joseph Gordon-Levitt possibly donning the cowl as Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie, and casting updates for the (what sounds to be pretty epic) upcoming X-Men film.

As always, you can stream the episode by clicking on this link, or download it by visiting our iTunes page here. We'd also love to hear from you so please send us your questions, comments or anything else you want to share to MovieFilmPodcast@gmail.com or visit our official Facebook page. 

MovieFilm Podcast Episode 9 - Skyfall, Flight and All Things Zemeckis

Hello, friends! Episode 9 of the MovieFilm Podcast is here! This week is a special episode as Zaki shares an exclusive interview he conducted with Tripp Vinson, producer of the upcoming Red Dawn remake. In addition to that we also discuss potential directors for the forthcoming Star Wars sequel (how long until it doesn't feel weird to type that?), as well as Zaki's take on Skyfall, our thoughts on the World War Z trailer, and Sean's musings on Wreck-it Ralph. Then, after we opine a bit on the film Flight, the three of us share our thoughts on all things Robert Zemeckis. 

Check it out by either streaming at this link, or download the show through iTunes which you can do by clicking here. It's the perfect listening material for your walk around the block or weekday commute!

And please send any questions or comments to us either through the official MovieFilm Facebook page, or email us at MovieFilmPodcast@gmail.com. 

Flight's Turbulant Story Soars

In spite of what trailers would have us believe, it turns out Flight isn't so much a slick drama about an accidental hero with a dilemma, but instead a surprisingly down-and-dirty, intimate tale of an out-of-control addict who won't even let a brush with death keep him from his destructive behavior. Starring Denzel Washington and directed by perpetual crowd-pleaser Robert Zemeckis, Flight is a bit of a risky hybrid: a gritty addict drama made by a filmmaker with blockbuster sensibilities. And for me, it works.

Washington plays commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker, whose destructive behavior is made quite clear to us in the opening minutes of the film. After an all night bender of alcohol and cocaine, Whitaker shows up to fly per usual - though to the dismay of his straight-laced co-pilot (Brian Geraghty). When the plane malfunctions, Whitaker shows unflinching poise and executes a radical maneuver that ends in a controlled crash landing that saves nearly all the passengers on board. Waking up in the hospital, Whitaker should be readying himself to be declared a hero, the problem is his incriminating blood - swimming with illegal substances - was drawn at the scene of the accident.

What's interesting is that Flight chooses not to show its audience much of the world reacting to the accident. It instead keeps us primarily at the hip with Whitaker, who chooses to escape the media frenzy by retreating. Though a court hearing looms in the background - with Don Cheadle playing the pilot union's lawyer - the film's focus remains fixed on Whitaker's tug of war with the demons that are poisoning his career, his relationship with his estranged wife and son, and a friendship with a former colleague desperately trying to be an ally (Bruce Greenwood.)

The only other character we truly follow is a heroin addict and kindred spirit named Nicole (Kelly Reilly) who Whitaker meets at the hospital. Keeping us in exclusive proximity with these two characters allows this surprisingly effortless 2 hour 20 minute character study room to breathe, entrusting its audience with occasional moments of quiet - and it's this quiet that allows the bigger moments their impact. Of course Denzel sweeping up the floor with his ability to play everything from calm and confident, to sad sack, to a loose canon provides a sturdy anchor throughout.

After losing Zemeckis to motion capture animated films for over a decade - his last live action film being Cast Away in 2000 - I'm happy to report that his brand of storytelling and exacting camera work are back in play without a hitch. Thanks to subtle but powerful technique, alcohol itself almost because a tangible villain. I nearly found myself yelling out loud "Don't do it!" whenever a drink was in proximity of Whitaker. Additionally, Zemeckis shoots his films in a more classical style, free from today's tendency of excessive cutting, which allows the frame to move and explore, revealing information rather than presenting it, effectively turning the camera into less of an observer and more of a silent narrator.

Flight is an expansive, involving, and often times frustrating look at addiction and the wake it can create. Its unexpected weight is what will surprise most audiences I imagine, but it's what also makes Flight worth the trip.

MovieFilm Podcast Episode 8 - The Future of Star Wars

"Star Wars lives!" The Mr. Boy gang was all set to discuss a variety of different topics for the latest MovieFilm episode, then Mr. Lucas dropped his little bomb mid-week, and that changed our trajectory somewhat. So this week, in addition to the answering listener e-mails, debating the role celebs should have in politics, and dissecting the trailers for Gangster Squad and Iron Man 3, the centerpiece of Episode 8 (or rather Episode VIII) is an extended discussion about the impact of Lucasfilm's acquisition by the Disney company, the impending open-ended continuation of the Star Wars saga, and what it all means not only for the brand, but for the film industry, and heck, even for society. We had a blast recording this one, so hopefully you'll have just as much of a blast listening. Stream it below or download it at the link. Send any questions or comments to us through the official MovieFilm Facebook page, or e-mail MovieFilmPodcast@gmail.com.

Seven Psychopaths: The Review I Didn't Write (But Totally Agree With)

Ever have one of those films that everyone you know seems to love up and down, and so you finally get around to checking it out and you're left thinking, "I mean, it was all right...?" One of those films for me was In Bruges. Maybe I just need to watch it again sans the hype and I'll enjoy it from a less anticipatory perspective. But to quote a co-worker of mine: "No you won't."

Which brings us to Seven Psychopaths. I kind of assumed that since the film was from Martin McDonagh, the writer/director of In Bruges, it would probably be a similar experience. Fortunately, I was able to attend a screening of Psychopaths this week and I'm glad I did because as it turns out, I enjoyed the heck out of it.

It's the story of a frustrated screenwriter who can't think of the story to back up his already predetermined title: Seven Psychopaths. What follows is a dark, occasionally gruesome, surprisingly touching at times, shaggy dog story within a shaggy dog story as we encounter the psychopaths our hero meets who foster his imagination, as well as the ones he conjures up for his own screenplay - which we get to see brought to life.  

I toyed with writing a review of the film but I soon read TK's write up over at Pajiba and felt he said almost exactly what it is I would have tried to put into words. So if you're interested, check out his review here. 

How The Simpsons Should End

First things first, this inspired take on how to end one of the longest running television shows in history was not my idea. I was browsing Reddit one sunny afternoon when I stumbled across a post written by LittleMonkey69 (ah, the internet.) He was responding to the question "How Would You Properly End The Simpsons?" What I read was a rough but poignant premise for what I agree would be a satisfying farewell to this monumental fictional family - who have been continuously serving up brand new adventures for over 23 years and counting.

Here is the original (unedited) text:

The show begins with the family watching Itchy and Scratchy. They announce that the show is coming to an end and the entire family gasps in horror. They then announce that the last episode will be aired in a years time, and until then, a contest will be running; this contest will offer the winner the chance to write what will happen in the finale. The entire Simpson family applies.

Krusty is in charge of choosing the winner. He falls in love with one of the Simpson's idea and puts it in [the] winners box. He makes a mistake though, he puts all five of their ideas in the box by accident. He goes on his show to announce the winner and pulls out five cards out of the box. Stumped, he reads all five names out, "Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie." 

Flash forward a year later and Bart is in class describing his take on the Itchy and Scratchy finale to Milhouse, while showing us Itchy and Scratchy with Bart's voice-over. He finishes and the class is silent, Edna Krabappel is staring at him and says, "After-school detention." The scene then cuts to the power plant and Homer is describing his finale to Lenny and Carl. He finishes, a bell rings and he gets in a radiation suit. The scene cuts to a supermarket and Marge is describing her take to Helen Lovejoy, she finishes and strolls Maggie in the trolley to another aisle. Here, Maggie sees the unibrow baby and starts describing her take via waving and motioning. She finishes and the scene cuts to Lisa, she begins describing her take to Sherri and Terri. She finishes and picks up her saxophone to go to music practice. She walks in the music room sits down and then sees the time. She realises the show is going to be on in ten minutes. She plays the Itchy and Scratchy melody on her sax and bolts out. It cuts to Bart, he's writing on the black board: "I will not talk in class ever again" he hears a bell, realises the time and runs out. Cut to Homer holding some plutonium at a conveyor belt when a bell rings at the plant and he too realises the time and runs off, dropping some plutonium. Cut to the supermarket and we see Marge and Maggie checking out and running through the exit doors. Cut to a birds eye view of their home and we see everyone rushing to take a seat in the couch. They look at each other, they smile, the Itchy and Scratchy music plays, and it cuts to credits.

It would be pretty difficult to try and top crafting a story around reaching that final moment, am I right? You can find the original post here.  

MovieFilm Podcast: Episode 6 - Looper and Time Travel Movies We Love

Believe it or not, here we are at Episode 6 of the MovieFilm podcast. This week we answer viewer mail, discuss everything from ALF to Taken 2 to the Die Hard 5 and The Lone Ranger trailers. Then, following a brief discussion on the new time travel head-trip Looper, Zaki, Sean and I discuss our personal favorite time travel movies. (I'll give you a heads up, one of mine is Flight of the Navigator.)

 

You can download the episode here and please feel free to drop us a note at MovieFilmPodcast@gmail.com.

Spielberg and Williams: Movie Magic In The Making

My love of movie maestro John Williams' work is a long and storied one. It began with me seeing The Empire Strikes Back as a wee one, then having my mom continually take me to the Wheaton Public Library so I could check out all of Williams' soundtrack LPs.

Eventually, like any of my favorite Beatles songs, I could similarly recognize most of Williams' work from just a few random notes. Case in point, I was just at Hollywood's Magic Castle this past weekend and was taken out of a show for a moment when I realized they were using an obscure portion of score from Jurassic Park.

With that in mind, it goes without saying that the clip embedded below brought me a lot of joy this morning. In it we see Steven Spielberg and Williams working out the now classic, but at the point this was recorded yet-to-exist, score to Spielberg's masterpiece E.T.

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Is There Anything Fluffier Than A Cloud...?

I've always found that no matter how I feel, or no matter what I'm trying to explain, there's always a moment from The Simpsons I can reference that probably says it best.

With that in mind, here's how I plan on spending most of my upcoming weekend:

MovieFilm Podcast: Episode 3 - Tony Scott

A new episode of the MovieFilm podcast has been posted! In addition to discussing movie news, the new Jack Ryan reboot and Huey Lewis, Zaki, Sean and I take a look back at the prolific and influential career of late, great director Tony Scott. 

Recording these shows has been a lot of fun and the further we go, the better I think the episodes are turning out (especially technically speaking.) So if you're looking for a fun, film-centric back and forth between movie geeks to listen to on your drive home from work or during your walk around the block, go ahead and subscribe to the MovieFilm podcast over in iTunes and enjoy our latest episode.  

How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Appreciate The Dark Knight Rises

*Be ye warned, there be spoilers in these waters.*

Watching a film that you are anticipating with childlike excitement for the first time is a risky proposition. Personally speaking, you either have an experience like Inception, where you feel like you've just seen cinema furthered, or you get The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - or what I like to refer to as the "there is no Santa Claus" moment of my adult life.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises was easily my most anticipated movie of the year so going in I was as excited as I was nervous. I saw it with equally enthusiastic friends on a true IMAX screen and the best word I can think of to sum up the experience would be "colossal." Leaving the theater, after being properly wowed, I knew that I'd liked it, but there were also a few nagging thoughts that popped into my mind. What followed was a week's worth of internet reading where article after article picked apart every last thing they could about the film. I soon found my own opinion of the movie becoming a list of criticisms ending with, "but I still liked it." 

Knowing that the first viewing of a film I've been waiting to love for this long is hardly enough to make a fair assessment, this afternoon I watched  Rises a second time and while there are still a few things I wish were a little different, I found that most of the more frequent criticisms being brought up could either be explained away or I just plain didn't care. It's a movie. Who cares why Bane decided to fly Bruce halfway across the world  to his prison pit. He just did. And it's one of the greatest character moments for Wayne in the entire film.

While the movie still felt like it was busting at the seams, it was much easier for me to navigate and get on board with now that I knew where the map was headed. Even more, in spite of already knowing what was going to happen, I still found myself getting emotionally moved or charged up at all the appropriate moments.What I guess I'm saying is, now that I have the movie I'd built up in my head cleared away and allowed myself time with what Nolan saw fit to present to us, I'm having an easier time appreciating The Dark Knight Rises for the, yes, occasionally flawed, but still entertaining and gargantuan undertaking that it is. 

Okay, now that I've told you I like it, here are the two things I would still nominate for a change/slight tweak for me to be able to completely stand behind this film:

1. The movie should not have begun with the last sighting of Batman being the night of Harvey Dent's death. I get that the Dent Act cleaned up the streets leaving Batman without a lot to do, but I still feel he should have been fighting crime for at least a few more years so that it makes more sense for him to be the battered, bitter person we see at the beginning of the movie. This would add more weight to Batman's legend status in Gotham City, as well as Bruce's spiritual journey.

2. In spite of a few friends disagreeing, I don't mind knowing that Bruce is alive and well somewhere, retired from donning the cape. However, I wish it was for two combined, alternate reasons: A. He's physically unable to do it, having given nearly all of himself to the cause (ie: how he appeared to be in the beginning of the film) and B. Because due to his heroic actions in the third act of the film, we see that Gotham's citizens have risen up for themselves and begun following Batman's lead in reclaiming their city. Bruce told his doomed love Rachel he would only be Batman until there wasn't a need for him anymore. While there will always be a need for a Batman - and we see someone else beginning to take on that mantel at the end - it would be nice to know Bruce only left because he felt he had done what he needed to do to turn Gotham around, and did it until he couldn't any longer. Now that there is an able person to pick up where he left off, we can feel good about Wayne finally having a moment's peace in his life.

Those two things aside, I've really come to embrace the film Nolan's made. It's a challenging, engaging, entertaining spectacle of an experience that, in my opinion, brings this unprecedented take on the character of Batman to a pretty satisfying end. 

I'll leave you now with this cartoon that would have saved you the time it took you to read my ramblings. I think most people would probably agree it does a good job accurately describing the experience of watching a Christopher Nolan film.

(Click to enlarge image.)

Comic created by: Brent Bailey