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10/10
The Best Batman movie yet
1 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Anyone who says differently has never read Batman.

None of the live actions movies have ever been good. None. For once, the filmmakers stuck to the story, and it's something that can't be overlooked or understated.

This was absolute perfection, and Jay Oliva and Bob Goodman deserve accolades for being consistent to the character - for doing him justice.

I will only touch, briefly, on the Nolan movies, because someone mentioned them as good - and that was offensive.

So - in the Batman live actions, he went to a ninja school. Whether it was a Phd course or not, we never find out - but how is he able to beat the other 30 grads who learned everything he did? Also - Katie Holmes (I forget the character's name. She never existed, outside the film) tells him at the end of the first movie to continue getting shot and stabbed and all sorts of horrors, and one day - when the city is free, no less - they can be together. How generous.

The critical element missing in all of the live action films was sense. Nothing made sense - ever. The Joker, even, was evil, yes - but not the embodiment of chaos he's supposed to be. Watch "Mask of the Phantasm", and compare it to the Ledger creation (RIP).

The Bane character is so much more than the farce they made of the last film. Look him up - maybe even google and read the wiki story on him. You'll understand the butcher's job that was done to him, and to the Batman story.

The woman who dies in the last film? That's the mother of his only child, and the teacher of his ninja school is supposed to be the immortal grandfather. Nothing of that is conveyed.

In short, if you're looking for an awesome and riveting Batman story that is consistent with who Batman is, what he stands for and how driven he is ("when you fall, you get back up? What sort of nonsense is this for a butler, who raised him from birth and only wished for him happiness, to say? Wouldn't he say "Run for your life!! Live!!!"? Why are all his supposed loved ones pushing him, when his resolve is low? Wouldn't they have then prompted his hiring a private task force, or something? What possesses a man to do such as Batman does? None of the Nolan movies ever examine this in depth, and without that, it's just some rich guy playing hero.) then you will be pleased and excited for part 2.

I am not only a fan, but I work in film - and studied at one of the top schools on Earth, and I'm telling you all the excuses for changing story lines is garbage. This is proof that staying true to the story can be done within the time frame allotted for live action movies.

Go buy "The Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller, and compare it to this film, before you become willing to listen to anything less than 10/10. Also - start demanding more intelligent filmmaking - especially when the story is already written, and all they have to do is shoot as is already drawn in the comic, which is essentially storyboards, anyway.

There is just so much depth and richness to these stories, that it is tragic how they are consistently vandalized in live action.
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Good Deeds (2012)
10/10
Amazing Film : Thank you for delightfully surprising me
9 March 2012
I am "Mr.Deeds", so I can tell you right off the bat that not only is this very real - but for once my new friend Tyler finally made a respectful black film.

I am going to go see this a second time in the theatre, and I will buy a copy for home when it comes out.

I am very happy to say this was a great - an awesome film. Yes - black people have good jobs, are educated, and we do have normal life problems and this film reflected all of that and more.

Well done!

~~I have to say, again: this truly spoke to me. This is almost to the tee my particular tale, and it was a cold shiver to see it.
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1/10
A Terribly Awful Film - Just like the first one
26 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Overly dramatic with no substance and lacking in authenticity with regards to reactions to situations.

The first intro to Ghost Rider is a perfect description: a slow cut/up pan is done - presumably to add to the sense of presence, though it fails utterly - then when we finally see him in full he does a Michael Jackson like fist to chest thump with one hand and the other in the air, while holding his chain.

He did this in front of a group of "bad men" who are about to kill a lady and their child - and no one remarks about the flaming skull guy being...a flaming skull guy. Instead, the boss tells the guys to shoot Ghost Rider and for some reason Ghost Rider is unable to capture everyone or at least knock them down or kill them - because he wanted to concentrate what should have been his "Penance Stare" - when people feel the weight of their crimes - but instead is some form of soul sucking, and so the bad guys get away with the kid.

Funny thing is, the kid is supposed to be the point of the Ghost Rider's search - so why did he essentially just stand there and watch everyone pile into a car and drive away with him? There's another point in the tale, earlier, where a "business man" finds the lady at a coffee shop somewhere...and because she's at a coffee shop he solicits her for sex...because any lady at a coffee shop is a prostitute.

He took of his wedding ring as he noticed her staring, and then he asks her if she's a gypsy, because...he was leading to say gypsies are prostitutes.

I'm not sure why people make awful films - Ghost Rider is actually a pretty great story, and it's already written and selling for about thirty years, now, so it's not like they couldn't have taken an episode from one of his comics if they so badly lack material - but this film is so awful I think an angel lost its' wings and there will be no Christmas for some because of it.

So far, only the Iron Man and the Thor movies are anything like they should be, in comic world - and the Thor one was vandalized when they made up a love interest that wasn't the woman Thor has always had.

I keep hoping Stan Lee will get mad and stop the madness...but, sadly, it has continued in a big way in this new ruin of a movie.

I am struggling, in parting, to find some element that would be a "plus", some salvageable bit that would be an "at least..." to this tale...but there is none.
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10/10
Absolutely stunning
11 February 2012
It's always an amazing and thrilling experience to come across art that hits you with its' depth.

I tried to watch the film when I was tired and looking to have something on as I slept, and something wouldn't allow me to. I'm glad I waited until I was awake and alert the next day to see this.

I've always believed that great work can't easily fit into a genre, and this is one of them.

I highly recommend for those that don't seek explosions and loud noises as entertainment, but something that captures the attention.

The story is crazy. So much is being said that it's almost overwhelming.

Well done.
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Red Tails (2012)
There is too much Hollywood politic to make this what it could have been
25 January 2012
Red Tails is a well made movie purposely made to be shot poorly. I think that was the price that George Lucas paid: that it not be too inspirational.

If you know what the break down for making war movies is, then you will notice that at all the high/inspirational moments it just tapers off, and there are areas where the mood is diluted.

It's a very well shot movie: you will see precision in the way it is shot. However, it was shot to disallow us to connect with the characters, or to find it touching.

It's a good start, and I'm given hope, as George Lucas actually fought to make it made. That he was willing to fight for it (and that he had to fight to-Mr. Star Wars, here) was very telling.

I recommend seeing it in the theater. Bringing in a good return will be incentive to push other positive black (i.e. no caricatures or incest rapes of children by HIV positive dads) roles and stories.

I hope everyone sees it in the theater.
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10/10
Awe Inspiring: Absolutely Humbling
16 December 2011
If you've read the book by Ayn Rand then you would truly appreciate the beauty of this work of art.

It is for projects of this magnitude that I left the business world and became an actor/filmmaker.

Absolutely awesome. I am struggling to find a way to describe without giving anything away.

There are pieces that are a commentary on life as it is-and then there are pieces that provide illumination as to how it could be...and this is one.

It is the curse of great minds that they are not truly appreciated in their time, and I hope that Ayn Rand is out there somewhere happy with how this was done. I'm going to watch it again now.
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