This time, McG directs. And most of the movie takes place in the future post-apocalypse.

Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) is on death row in 2003. He donates his body to science. In 2018 he wakes up to discover the world is a post-apocalypse, and killer robots stalk the ruins.  How did he get here?

Meanwhile, John Connor (Christian Bale, who, as we’ve seen on the Internet of late, takes his movie-making ****ing seriously!) leads the Resistance against the robots, getting the few survivors to fight.

Skynet, the killer computer network, has new Terminators at its command; motorcycle-Terminators and underwater-Terminators.

And young Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin, who’s having a good summer, since he also played Chekhov in Star Trek), destined to go back in time to be John Connor’s father in the first Terminator movie, is in danger here, and John Connor has to take steps to save him.

Bryce Dallas Howard is apparently playing the character that Claire Danes played in the third movie.

This is a pretty good action movie. As Terminator movies go, it’s not in the same class as the first two James Cameron ones, but it’s better than the third one (which is still a fun movie).

And, really, the first three movies are all variants on the same basic structure. This one does manage to do something new.

This is the second summer-movie blockbuster in two weeks to revolve around time travel (Star Trek being the other). Without giving spoilers, I think it is arguable that the time travel here doesn’t seem to quite work the way it does in the other movies; but that’s part of the fun of time travel movies; drawing diagrams on a beer-soaked napkin and arguing about what would and wouldn’t work with a completely impossible thing.

Apparently this is going to be a trilogy of movies with Christian Bale. So he’ll be back. And he’ll be back…again.

Christian Bale returns to play Bruce Wayne and the Batman.   The movie pretty much picks up right where Batman Begins left off.   Bruce is in control of Wayne Industries, Alfred and Lucius are trying to keep his head on straight.   Rachel is assistant DA to new star District Attorney Harvey Dent.  Jim Gordon is moving up the police ranks.   And oh, there’s a real nutbag on the loose known only as The Joker.

Say what you want about Heath Ledger, but old Brokeback’s performance as The Joker make him one of the best movie villains since Hannibal Lecter.   This is not your typical comic book camp.   Dont expect to see him dancing around to Prince songs when he’s of a mind to make some moogie.   And do not expect this movie to be a background piece.   It gets right down to action instead of spending the first hour teaching us how Joker got his scars.   This is a good thing.

Were it not for Batman’s wonderful toys, we would easily forget this is a comic book movie.   In all fairness, it must be considered a thriller or intense crime drama.   Just like the series it is based upon, The Dark Knight is a very dark rendition of Batman.   If you take your 7 year old to see this, it may be the reason they end up paying big bucks to a shrink when they’re 30.

The Dark Knight is an instant classic.   This is a full on 5 star movie that we’ll no doubt buy on DVD and catch ourselves watching anytime it’s on TV just to relive some of the moments over and over.   There’s very few faults to find, the performances are excellent, the action is outstanding and the effects are so smooth the letters “CGI” never enter your brain while you watch it.   If there is a major fault, it is the length, but even that is a good thing.   Just when you think the movie is almost over, it winds back up, and takes the intensity even higher for another few chapters.   Go see it, even if you have no idea who Batman is.

Yes, it’s the return of “the BIG western”, the one film genre that is more identified with Hollywood and American film making more than any other. As a huge fan, I’ve been more than a little annoyed that westerns have been out of fashion for many years. I guess our America-hating producers, directors and studio heads can’t stand the idea of being associated with movies that portray traditional values and inspire love for our country. But I digress…

Russell Crowe really stretches himself here as he plays Ben Wade, a violent, sociopathic leader of a gang of outlaws who royally screws up and allows himself to get caught by the local constabulary. Christian Bale is the poor rancher Dan Evans whom fate places right in the middle of the situation. Being rather desperate for a break, he uses the opportunity to try and turn his luck around and clear his debts by helping escort Wade to the town of Contention where he’ll be placed on a train (the 3:10 to Yuma, you reckon?), shipped out, and tried for a zillion murders.

The movie unfolds as a great “cat and mouse” game between the makeshift posse escorting this most deadly of outlaws…and his loyal, dedicated gang who are hell-bent on rescuing him. To that end, Ben Foster does an OUTSTANDING job as Wade’s right-hand psychopath, Charlie Prince, who reveals himself to be one seriously bad-ass mofo.

The action is top notch and the surrounding scenery is exquisitely shot, as is expected in “the BIG western”. More importantly, the acting is better than amazing. Crowe and Bale were perfectly cast and Peter Fonda is great as the grizzled old Pinkerton hired gun and, as already mentioned, Ben Foster rules the screen anytime he is on it.

All these positives aside, however, the movie has a serious flaw that I found to be aggravating enough to pull this down from a 5 star rating to 3 stars. Several times in the movie something would happen on screen that would cause me to wrinkle up my face and want to yell, “Bullshit!” Everything from characters acting WAY against their nature…or doing something WAY too stupid for their position…or just violating the laws of nature (such as a character that gets a really NASTY gunshot wound to the gut, loses a ton of blood, but suddenly seems good as new right after a bandage is placed around his belly).

These things were so glaring…and so UNNECESSARY! You could have easily written around all of these things without affecting the story in any way. But, no, they chose to be stupid and expect us, the audience, to be stupid as well. Sorry, but I ain’t buyin’ bushel of bat guano.

But…while it’s not a bad movie, it’s not great. Indeed, here’s a prime example of a movie that is way less than the sum of its parts. It works on some levels quite well, but fails miserably on others.

The story, as we see it unfolding in some jarring flash-back and flash-forward scenes, involves two young magicians: Rupert Angiers (Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Bale). They are friends but after a tragic accident resulting in the death of Rupert’s wife, the friendship is over and a rivalry begins. Both men obsess over the other one’s magic tricks as well as their own.

The rivalry escalates over time and becomes reasonably violent until…until Rupert witnesses a new trick performed by Alfred that, as he describes it, is the greatest magic trick ever performed. From then on, the race for supremacy becomes total and all-consuming. Some of the most wicked, dirty tricks ever conceived are then brought to bear. As for what happens then, you’ll just have to see it for yourself.

On the plus side, the casting was about as good as you could ask for and everyone involved turned in some nice performances. Most notable in my eyes were Michael Caine, who nearly steals every scene he’s in, and David Bowie who turns in a surprisingly good job as famous (and infamous) scientific maverick Nikola Tesla.

The visual effects were quite good as well. The use of some of Tesla’s monster machines was a very nice touch and I can only imagine that the production crews were just a bit intimidated while trying to work nearby while they crackled and spat lightning bolts all around.

Nolan’s directing, however, is where I start to have a couple of problems. Or, more specifically, his editting (or lack thereof). This movie DRAGS in more than a few places. It is eight minutes over two hours long but it feels closer to two and half hours or more. Several scenes could have been (and should have been) cut down or cut entirely and it would have made for a much better flow.

Additionally, there is a major plot point that will, if you’re not ready for it, cause you to sit up in your seat and yell, “Aw, that’s HORSESHIT!” at the screen. I’m all about suspending belief, but one of the major points of the movie at the end requires you to completely throw any science you know out the window and accept something that makes about as much sense as claiming that pouring water over someone’s head will cause them to sprout extra arms.

These very bad areas balance out a lot that is good in the movie and, as such, I can only say that I marginally enjoyed watching it. Thankfully, there’s not much room for a sequel, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a spin-off movie wherein Bowie reprises his role as Tesla and builds some more amazing machines. In the mean time, don’t go out of your way to see this one and just wait for the DVD.

DC has been getting their hiney’s handed to them for about 15 years (after Batman in 89) by Marvel at the box office so, I was glad to see the new DC offerings might be able to hold their own and bring honor back to the DC name. Rant over… back to the review.

The key to making a successful comic book movie that fanboys and nonfanboys alike are going to enjoy is a very simple. Just use the source material the creators intended with a story that is true to the character and it will WORK. Warner Bros. left Chris Nolan and the writing staff alone and let them use Bob Kane’s source material (with a couple of deviations) and managed to make the single best comic book movie ever. I have seen other movies and praised their efforts as far as this genre goes but none of them compare to the genius that went into this one.

Christain Bale is the first actor to play both Batman/Bruce Wayne and truly display the duality and depth of character inside the Dark Knight. Other actors could play one or the other convincingly but none of them were good at both. Keaton was a good Batman but a crappy Bruce Wayne. Kilmer was a good Bruce Wayne but a crappy Batman, Clooney… well he was sheeot all the way around. If anyone here can say his performance in Batman and Robin was anything more than cashing a check I will quit writing and sell pencils at the airport. Not sure if it was all in Nolan’s direction or if it was just an understanding on Bales part of how this character’s two sides should be played and to be honest I don’t care. I just know he nailed it.

The plot of this movie is short and sweet; Batman’s origin. Where the suit, car and cave come from, to the how and why he does what he does. Or, should I say why they do what they do. This is also the origin in some form or another of Commissioner Gordon (Oldman) that focused on the beginning of Batman and Gordons long time friendship. This really added a very nice touch to the finished product.

But what do we care about more than anything? The bad guys and he villains this time although EXCELLENT are not the star of this movie, Batman is which is exactly how the others should have been but somehow each of those focused more on the actors ‘pretending’ to be the characters on screen than the characters themselves. Ra’s Alghul (Watanabe) and Scarecrow (Murphy) are the villains and unlike another film starring Ahnold, that made me want to cry – These guys were menacing and convincing and added to the story not an intentional ploy to distract you from subpar writing and pathetic character development. Oops, I might have ranted a bit so I need to quit now.

Go see this movie ASAP and enjoy seeing what has driven the readers of the most interesting comic book hero of all time to keep buying his books after all these years. Three words; Depth of Story.

Sophie is a teenager who takes life entirely too seriously and apparently doesn’t allow herself to be happy very often. She’s the type who would rather stay at work to finish up something while everyone else goes out to shop or play. There’s something to be said for a good work ethic, but she is a teenager after all and should really lighten up. One day she bumps into a wizard who “devours the hearts of pretty girls” but he merely helps her out of a situation, so she of course assumes that it’s because she’s “not pretty”. We’ve all known girls like this, and the girl-who-thinks-she’s-ugly-but-is-really-pretty-and-eventually-figures-that-out story line is nothing new.

Later that evening when she makes it back to the shop, she’s visited by the Wicked Witch of the Waste who puts a curse on her, turning her into an old woman. This suits her attitude about life, and she does the practical thing and leaves home in search of someone who can help lift the curse. She ends up with Howl in his moving castle, and the rest of the story is about her coming to grips with her feelings, Howl coming to grips with his feelings, the Witch with her feelings, etc. etc.

While the movie takes itself seriously and makes statements about war, politics, relationships, desires… there are a lot of funny bits. The castle is powered by a fire demon (voiced by Billy Crystal) who steals every scene he’s in, there’s a silent but quite communicative scarecrow, and an old dog who has a wheeze instead of a bark. The cast of characters is excellent and the voice acting is top notch. Even so, the movie only gets 3 stars from me because it moves a bit too slow through it’s 2 hour length.

If you’ve got kids asking to go to this one, go ahead and take them. If my audience was any indicator they’ll have a good time and you’ll enjoy yourself as well. Otherwise, just add this one to your Netflix queue so you don’t forget about it, it is worth watching.

In the year 2010 a tunnel project breaks through into a cavern that turns out to be a dragon’s nest. Pretty soon there are millions of dragons covering the earth, scorching the planet and killing every human they encounter. Mankind fights back with everything they have including nukes to no avail.

The movie picks up in the year 2020 where the survivors, led by Quinn (Christian Bale), find themselves in a post apocolyptic environment with little in the way of food let alone technology. They live in hiding just hoping to outlast the dragons who are also starving. But along comes a small group of soldiers who specialize in dragonslaying. They are led by Van Zan played by Matthew McConaughey who is so buffed up that we wonder if he has been on the Ken Caminiti/Jose Canseco work out program.

The storyline exists only as an excuse to show us some cool dragon combat and action sequences. The graphics and effects are good, but they’re certainly not on par with something like Jurassic Park. And the action isn’t bad, but you’ll wonder why these guys use small arms and even things like axes while much larger weapons sit dormant. If you start analyzing things too closely this movie is one that will drive you nuts with logic and storyline problems.

If you can suspend enough of your disbelief and just enjoy the eye candy on the screen, Reign of Fire isn’t a total waste of a couple of hours of your life. However it is definitely a movie that can wait for DVD especially considering the amount of competition it has at the box office this summer.