The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Review

Rated PG-13 (Brief War Violence, Sexual Content, Language and Smoking)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 46 Minutes

Cast-

Brad Pitt-Benjamin Button

Cate Blanchett-Daisy Fuller

Tilda Swinton-Elizabeth Abbott

Taraji P. Henson-Queenie

Mahershalalhashbaz Ali-Tizzy Weathers

Jason Flemyng-Thomas Button

Jared Harris-Captain Mike

Josh Stewart-Pleasant Curtis

Elias Koteas-Monsieur Gateau

Phyllis Somerville-Grandma Fuller

Rampai Mohadi-Ngunda Oti

David Ross Paterson-Walter Abbott

Faune Chambers-Dorothy Baker

Christopher Maxwell-Vic Brody

Joshua DesRoches-Rick Brody

Joeanna Sayler-Caroline Button

Donna Duplantier-Blanche Devereux

Julia Ormond-Caroline Fuller

Jacob Wood-Martin Gateau

Troi Bechet-Filamena Gilea

Richmond Arquette-John Grimm

Joel Bissonnette-David Hernandez

Don Creech-Prentiss Mayes

Ed Metzger-Theodore Roosevelt

Myrton Running Wolf-Dennis Smith

Paula Gray-Sybil Wagner

Rus Blackwell-Robert Williams

Directed by David Fincher

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," an atypical film in David Fincher's filmography.

If it's Christmas, then you know that's when all the movie studios start releasing their potential Best Picture nominees. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, is one such film and is based upon the short story of the same name written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1921, though aside from the title and its premise, it bears little resemblance to the source material. This isn’t the first time Pitt and Blanchett have been together on-screen as they were last seen in 2006’s “Babel” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Despite its long running time, David Fincher's “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is one of this year’s best films, with the story leaving a lasting impression on its audience whether young or old.

'I was born under unusual circumstances.' So begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" as we see the titular character born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended. However, Benjamin (Brad Pitt) has the appearance and physical limitations of an eighty-five year old man. His mother dies shortly after and horrified by his appearance, his father, Thomas (Jason Flemyng), leaves him on the front porch of a nursing home with eighteen dollars. Adopted by the kind nurse Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) and Tizzy Weathers (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), it soon becomes apparent that as Benjamin ‘ages,’ he is growing biologically younger. At the nursing home, he meets a little girl, Daisy (Cate Blanchett), and is immediately taken with her despite their massive age difference (by appearance anyway). Benjamin soon embarks on his own to make his mark on the world but through his travels, Daisy is always on the back of his mind as he yearns to be with her.

At its core, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a celebration of life told from the point of view of a man who is different from everybody else and how the sum total of his experiences defines him. Much is made of how similar old age and childhood are but the most important message is the constant reminder of our own mortality and to cherish life while it lasts. Benjamin is not entirely sure what happens when he grows so young that he can’t take care of himself. However, he’s not going to stand around waiting to find out as he decides to live his life to the fullest. Life is often mundane yet it is the smallest occurrences that result in the biggest changes. This is shown as a hilarious running joke where an elderly man admits that’s been struck by lightning seven times! What really drives home this fact is an excellent vignette where a number of unrelated events from unrelated individuals all help contribute to a car accident. Just altering any of these, and anything is possible. Although Benjamin faces many changes, there is always one constant that has kept him going and that is love. It is this love that can help squash any doubts or fears one may have and while there is always that impending threat of Benjamin’s condition, the important thing is that he spends what time he has left with Daisy, because it will never come again. The only major flaw which has been repeatedly pointed out by critics is that its plot is too similar to 1994’s “Forrest Gump.” Unsurprising really, because Eric Roth was the writer for both and though many of the themes presented are certainly not new, it helps to be reminded once in a while of the ‘little things’ in today’s whirlwind society.

For a drama, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” features fantastic CGI and makeup that often rivals many of today’s summer blockbusters. Brad Pitt endured hours to make him physically look eighty-years-old and through the marvel of today’s technology, his head was superimposed over a body double. This is accomplished so seamlessly that the thought of all this being done by a computer never even crossed my mind. Likewise, Cate Blanchett is also de-aged, although whether its just makeup or CG is hard to tell. The production design is flawless as Fincher's film takes place in many locations, such as wintery Russia, where the snow sparkles, or the dizzying glamour of Times Square in 1950’s New York. One visually impressive scene took place in the dead of night and then explodes with blinding machine gun fire as a leaky tugboat tries to ram a German U-boat submarine during World War II.

The performances are of the highest caliber with Brad Pitt at his best despite being lathered in old-age makeup and forced to stare at a computer screen for motion capture for hours on end. He brings a sense of wonder to Benjamin but also a sense of sadness due to his appearance. In one touching scene, he tearfully asks Queenie ‘What’s wrong with me?’ after Daisy’s grandmother scolds him that he ‘ought to be ashamed of himself’ when she catches him with her granddaughter. Cate Blanchett is amazing as the love of Benjamin’s life, both spirited and daring. While I cannot predict whether either of them will win at next year's Academy Awards, I can say with certainty that they will get nominated. The supporting cast makes the most of their limited screen-time. Standouts include Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth Abbott, whom Benjamin has a fun but short-lived affair, and Captain Mike, played by Jared Harris, serving as his guide during his adolescence years, which include taking him to a brothel for his ‘first time.’

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was released on Christmas Day to generally positive reviews with 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics agreed that the film ‘is an epic fantasy tale with rich storytelling backed by fantastic performances.’ However, common complaints include its length and similarities to “Forrest Gump.” I was sure that the film would debut at number one at the domestic box office but unfortunately, people would rather see the generic dog comedy "Marley & Me," which grossed $52 million while “Benjamin Button” settled for third place with $39 million. Its near-three hour running time did limit the amount of screenings per day. Some will no doubt grow restless at its length but "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is an amazing film that's full of wonder as it celebrates life and all its little moments. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, Fincher's film must be experienced and you will, without a doubt, leave the theater deeply affected by it.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"My name is Benjamin Button, and I was born under unusual circumstances. While everyone else was agin', I was gettin' younger... all alone."

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Superman Returns Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Some Intense Action Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 34 Minutes

Cast-

Brandon Routh-Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman

Kate Bosworth-Lois Lane

Kevin Spacey-Lex Luthor

James Marsden-Richard White

Parker Posey-Kitty Kowalski

Sam Huntington-Jimmy Olsen

Frank Langella-Perry White

Eva Marie Saint-Martha Kent

Kal Penn-Stanford

Tristan Lake Leabu-Jason White

Marlon Brando-Jor-El (archival footage used)

Directed Bryan Singer

Superman returns to Earth after a five-year absence to find that Lois Lane has moved on in "Superman Returns."

Note: Part of the "Superman Motion Picture Anthology" Blu-Ray set.

Superman is without a doubt one of the world's most iconic comic book superheroes. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938, Superman has thrilled readers ever since as the flagship character for DC Comics, alongside Batman. Many films were based upon the character but none stood out until 1978's "Superman" directed by Richard Donner and starring then-unknown Christopher Reeve. Reeve became famous as the character, in fact I consider him to be a real-life Superman, and starred in three more films, though each one proved to be of lesser quality which prompted Warner Brothers to put the franchise on hiatus in 1987. As the years went by, numerous directors, screenwriters, and actors became attached to a fifth Superman film, but nothing came out of it. That is, until Bryan Singer signed on to direct, targeting a release date of summer 2006. However, this created a few problems, as he was working on pre-production work on the third X-Men film at the time but seeing this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Singer couldn’t pass up a chance to direct a Superman film. Although he fully intended to return to the X-Men franchise after, 20th Century Fox was impatient and moved ahead anyway, replacing Singer with Brett Ratner and resulting in the underwhelming “X-Men The Last Stand,” also released in summer 2006. Although highly underrated, “Superman Returns” ranks up there as one of the best superhero films ever made, focusing not only just the conflict of good and evil but of love, proving once and again that Lois and Clark will always be one of the most beloved couples ever in comics. 

Five years have passed since the events of “Superman II” and Superman (Brandon Routh) himself has disappeared in a futile hope to see if Krypton is truly destroyed. The world has moved on without him. When he finally makes his triumphant return, he finds that Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) now has a son and is engaged to Richard White (James Marsden). Superman realizes that everything he has known, everything his has loved, has changed. How will he readjust himself in a world that has learned to survive without him? To make matters worse, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has stolen technology from the Fortress of Solitude in an attempt to finally kill his nemesis once and for all. 

When you’re watching “Superman Returns,” you’ll have to forget everything you know about comic book movies as Singer has crafted a sweeping romance more than an action film. A large amount of time is spent with Superman pining for Lois, invoking ancient mythologies of God-like beings falling in love with mortals. Although there is no doubt that Superman is powerful, he is just as human as anyone else and Singer drives home that fact, particularly when he has a heart-to-heart with Lois on the roof of the Daily Planet. If it weren’t for his responsibilities, his duty to protect, Superman would spend an eternity with Lois, and that is fantasy romance done right in a way that can provoke an emotional response. I found that “Superman Returns” often touches upon similar themes seen in “The Dark Knight” but at two different extremes. Batman is dark and faces enemies that are insane and cruel, calling into question whether he is just as insane as the villains he fights. Gotham’s citizens look upon Batman as everything that is wrong in their city, saying to themselves whether we even need a ‘hero’ who acts more like a vigilante. For Superman, Singer has opted for a messianic approach. Lois bluntly points out that ‘the world doesn’t need a savior.’ Yet Superman believes otherwise; he has to believe because then his life would have no purpose. The world may have moved on and look upon Superman as a relic, but even if they do not realize it now, Superman knows it in his heart that they ‘cry out for a savior.’ With many comic book films going the ‘tortured hero’ route, it’s refreshing to see a character so earnest and so honest in his purpose that all we can do is stand up and cheer for him. That is the essence of Superman. 

There are some issues but they’re relatively minor compared to the scope of the film. Singer does go for the nostalgia factor of Donner’s films too hard and it gets to the point where he’s emulating the previous films without providing this one with a proper identity. The acting is overall good, especially Brandon Routh. His resemblance to Reeve is uncanny and he captures the bumbling aspects of Clark Kent and the confidence and vulnerability of Superman perfectly. There is a slight nervousness to his performance but who wouldn’t, stepping in the shoes of an iconic character played equally by an iconic actor. Kate Bosworth is definitely the weakest link out of the cast as we never actually feel she’s a newspaper journalist, partially due to her young age. Nonetheless, she does her best with Lois’ conflicting feelings between Superman and Richard. Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor is cut from the same cloth as Gene Hackman, something that has never really sat well with me because it tended to skew toward cheesy comedy. If a sequel is ever made, it would best to follow Michael Rosenbaum’s portrayal from TV’s “Smallville.” Luthor is still obsessed with real estate and ‘beach front property’ but there’s also a bitterness, possibly sadistic side to him. This is apparent when he and his cohorts begin to torture Superman. There’s also a hint of jealousy in his demeanor and wants to set out to prove to others, but most importantly himself, that a mortal can destroy a god. The rest of the cast includes James Marsden as Richard White, who has the impossible task of vying for Lois’ affection against Superman, Parker Posey as Kitty Kowalski, playing a role similar to Miss Teschmacher from the first film, Eva Marie Saint as Clark’s adoptive mother and conscious and finally Marlon Brando, courtesy of today’s cutting edge technology. 

“Superman Returns” doesn’t feature any action scenes but there are several breathtaking set-pieces. Superman goes through much trouble saving a space shuttle and a Boeing 777, marking his triumphant return. Finally, there’s the endgame where he uses all his abilities at his disposal to prevent the destruction of Metropolis. However, the climax invoked the same mixed feelings I had when Superman turns back time by flying around the Earth backwards in the first film. You’ll know it when you see it as it involves a massive amount of kryptonite. Some will complain that he never punches anybody but really, that’s not even a complaint worth bringing up. 

The Blu-Ray is impressive though the video quality can look too clean and sterile since the film was shot using HD cameras. This gives it somewhat dull looking palette that focuses on primary colors, like those on Superman’s costume. Darker scenes also tend to be fuzzy but nonetheless, you’ll have no problem enjoying this film on your plasma screen. Audio is reference quality material and the set-pieces really come alive from the shrieking metal of the Boeing 777 to the flapping of Superman’s cape against the wind. This is an aural experience like no other. Looking at the back cover, you’ll find the special features are quite bare but appearances can be deceiving. What you get is a 2 hour and 53 minute documentary on the making-of the film that goes into detail about every aspect from pre-production to the final day of shooting. Finally, there’s 16 minutes of deleted scenes and a look at integrating Marlon Brando’s archival footage into the film. 

Released on June 28, 2006, “Superman Returns” received a mostly positive reception with 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics called ‘Singer's reverent and visually decadent adaptation gives the Man of Steel welcome emotional complexity.’ With a whopping budget of $270 million due to marketing and false starts, there was much pressure for the film to do well like “Batman Begins.” Unfortunately, while it had a solid, though unimpressive, opening weekend, “Superman Returns” barely limped to $200 million domestic and $391 million worldwide. Sure, this is by no means a disaster but after lying dormant for close to nineteen years, most people were just skeptical if another Superman film was even necessary. The larger question remains if Singer will return for a sequel and despite the fans mixed response, I hold he does, as he truly does care about the character and Routh certainly has the capacity to become this generation’s Man of Steel. “Superman Returns” may lack action but it makes it up for emotional complexity; this film is ‘beyond Super. It's superb’ (Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine).

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father and the father becomes the son."

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The Incredible Hulk Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Action Violence, Some Frightening Sci-Fi Images, and Brief Suggestive Content)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 52 Minutes

Cast-

Edward Norton-Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk

Liv Tyler-Dr. Elizabeth 'Betty' Ross

Tim Roth-Major Emil Blonsky/The Abomination

William Hurt-General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross

Tim Blake Nelson-Samuel Sterns

Ty Burrell-Leonard Samson

Christina Cabot-Major Kathleen Sparr

Peter Mensah-General Joe Greller

Paul Soles-Stanley

Débora Nascimento-Martina

Robert Downey Jr.-Tony Stark

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Incredible, indeed.

Second chances are very rare in Hollywood, but Marvel’s famous antihero, the Hulk, has been given the reboot treatment à la “Batman Begins” with “The Incredible Hulk.” The first film, simply titled “Hulk,” was directed by Ang Lee, one of the most critically-acclaimed directors working today. “Hulk” received massive amounts of hype when it was released five years ago during the summer of 2003 but trouble brewed when fans reacted negatively to the CGI that was used to bring the titular character to life. Although Lee's film had an excellent opening weekend debut with $62.1 million, it unfortunately dropped by 70% in its second week of release. Many felt that the director's introspective interpretation of the character was banal and that there just wasn’t enough smashing. After reacquiring the rights to the character, Marvel decided to wipe the slate clean and “The Incredible Hulk” was born. Director Louis Leterrier’s take on the not-so-jolly green giant is less-nuanced than Lee’s but the action is definitely better and delivers on what we expect out of a Hulk film.

After the opening credits—which recount Bruce Banner’s (Edward Norton) origin of how he became the Hulk—we find Banner hiding out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in an effort to try to cure himself of his affliction. After a small mishap at the factory he works at, General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt) manages to track down Banner and sends Russian-born British Special Forces Agent Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) after him. The attempt is unsuccessful as Banner escapes by transforming into the Hulk. Ross decides to authorize the use of a discontinued ‘super-soldier’ serum in order to give Blonsky the edge he needs but the soldier quickly becomes addicted to it. As Banner becomes close to finding a cure after reuniting with his estranged lover, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), he discovers that he must unleash the monster within once more and battle Blonsky, who has become an ‘Abomination.’

The story in Leterrier’s "The Incredible Hulk" is a lot more straight-forward this time around, shedding most of the Greek tragedy aspects of Lee’s version and drawing its inspiration from the 1970’s Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno-led television series of the same name. Zak Penn's script treats Banner's transformations like a disease while the previous film—which Marvel Studios likened to a parallel universe one-shot comic book—tried to psychologically explore why the gamma radiation triggered such a reaction. Much of the first hour resembles a Bourne film as Banner is chased through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to a college campus in Virginia. After that, “The Incredible Hulk” remains in action mode with a few pauses along the way, leading up to an explosive battle of epic proportions. There are some issues with the film, largely stemming from the pacing and the way it was edited as it makes certain character beats feel truncated. Although the story doesn’t spend too much time on it, we do get a sense of the toll it takes on Banner every time he transforms. For one thing, he always wakes up with nothing but a pair of ripped pants and has to go searching for clothes. This also prevents him from having sex as seen in a funny scene where he tells Betty that he can’t get too excited. Poor Betty for not getting any because her boyfriend could spontaneously change to a green-skinned, muscle bound creature! Fans will also get a kick out of several references that include Doc Samson and the Leader, as well as several elements lifted from Bruce Jones’ five-year stint on the comic.

The reason Leterrier’s film works better compared to Lee's version is largely due to the smart casting of Edward Norton. He even looks the part as Banner is often depicted as a thin, unassuming man. His portrayal bears some similarities to Eric Bana’s since both see their character as a tortured soul whom fate had dealt a bad hand. Norton also had a hand in writing the script, although he’s uncredited. The rest of the cast deliver performances of varying degrees of quality. Tim Roth chews the scenery as amoral Special Forces soldier Emil Blonsky but his descent into madness isn’t handled all too well and feels rushed. Liv Tyler is rather flat as Banner's estranged girlfriend Betty Ross. I just didn’t quite feel the ‘spark’ between her and Norton. While William Hurt comes closest to being on par with Norton as the obsessive General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, I have to say, I preferred Sam Elliot's performance.

The CGI is definitely much better, given the amount of time that has passed since Lee's film. The Hulk himself has been shrunk down to a more realistic size with a wider range of expressions. Hell, every time he flexes his muscles you can see all the veins just popping out! However, some fans might take issue with the Abomination as the villain bears little resemblance to his comic book counterpart. Instead of being dark blue-green, he's now pale yellow. There are several action scenes, one taking place mainly in shadow as the Hulk makes short work of Blonsky and his troops while another is set on a college campus with the U.S. military bringing out all the stops. Finally, there's the climactic brawl between the Hulk and the Abomination. They trade giant blows throughout the streets of Harlem but the CGI used here can get a little excessive. Of course, the Hulk has always been one of the harder comic book characters to bring to life on the big screen. It’s either CG or paint some muscleman green like in the television show.

The Blu-Ray release doesn’t disappoint, with stunning detail on the Hulk that reveals every individual pore. Blacks are solid and CGI-heavy scenes fortunately don't look flat or obvious. As for the audio quality, it features a brute force soundtrack with plenty of smashing. However, the supplements included are rather disappointing. There’s an informative audio commentary with Roth and Leterrier but Norton is noticeably absent. Also included is a making-of featurette that doesn’t really offer anything substantial as it runs only thirty minutes long. The real meat of the extras is the deleted scenes—forty-two minutes worth!—that includes an alternate opening set in the Arctic. It's notable for featuring a blink-or-you'll-miss cameo from a certain Star-Spangled Avenger incased in ice. Perhaps they may be interwoven back into the film as a potential director’s cut but most of the scenes don't add to the story all that much.

Released on June 13, 2008, reception to “The Incredible Hulk” wasn’t all that different from the 2003 version, with a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, critics agreed that it 'provides the action and excitement to please comic book fans and re-ignite this fledgling franchise.' The film has grossed $134.8 million domestic and $263.4 million worldwide, which is only slightly higher than the original. There’s been no word on a possible sequel but “The Incredible Hulk,” while not as nuanced as Lee’s version, provides ample entertainment and delivers on what the fans want. Marvel Studios is certainly on a roll after "Iron Man" so I hope they can keep this up.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

Bruce Banner: I'm sorry, I can't get too excited.

Betty Ross: Not even a little excited?

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Daredevil Director's Cut Blu-Ray Review

Rated R (Violence and Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 13 Minutes

Cast:

Ben Affleck-Matt Murdock/Daredevil

Jennifer Garner-Elektra Natchios

Michael Clarke Duncan-Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin

Colin Farrell-Bullseye

Jon Favreau-Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson

Joe Pantoliano-Ben Urich

Ellen Pompeo-Karen Page

Erick Avari-Nikolas Natchios

Artis Leon Ivey Jr./Coolio-Dante Jackson

Derrick O'Connor-Father Everett

David Keith-Jack Murdock

Directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

After the critical and commercial success of "X-Men" and "Spider-Man," Marvel let loose in 2003 with three films based upon their popular characters. One of them was "Daredevil," created by writer Stan Lee and illustrator Bill Everett in 1964. The character has a status somewhat similar to Iron Man as he’s not well-known outside of comic book fans. Released on February 14, 2003, the film received a mixed reception from critics and was derided by fans. Nonetheless, it proved to be a modest box office success. A year after its release, director Mark Steven Johnson released an R-rated director’s cut which restored almost 30 minutes cut from the theatrical version, which is the subject of this Blu-Ray review. While the original version of "Daredevil" was entertaining if largely forgettable, this new edition is vastly superior but is still bogged down by an uninspired script and some cheesy elements.

Twelve-year-old Matt Murdock lives in New York City's Hell’s Kitchen with his father Jack (David Keith), a washed-up boxer who also works as an enforcer for the local mob. Matt is always pushed to excel in school but one day, he comes upon his father beating another man. Horrified, he runs away and is exposed to radioactive waste that blinds him. However, his other four senses have been heightened to near superhuman levels and he develops a radar sense that allows him to ‘see.’ When Jack is murdered for refusing to throw a fight, Matt vows to avenge his father's death. He grows up to become a lawyer with his best friend, Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson (Jon Favreau) but at night, he prowls the rooftops of New York City as the costumed vigilante Daredevil (Ben Affleck). While pursuing a case involving a murdered prostitute, Murdock comes face to face with the leader of the criminal underworld, Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) and his assassin-for-hire, Bullseye (Colin Farrell). In addition, Murdock also has to contend with Elektra (Jennifer Garner), who believes Daredevil had murdered her father.

"Daredevil" features a standard superhero origin that often recalls Spider-Man and a tone similar to Batman. The theatrical cut moved at a very brisk pace with a heavy emphasis on action and 'there [were] times when important nuggets of information are missing–not because they have been intentionally withheld but because the scene(s) in which they were revealed are not in the final cut' (James Berardinelli, ReelViews). The director's cut adds in an entirely new subplot to the film which fleshes out the story. It illuminates Murdock’s activities as a lawyer, where he tries to defend a drug addict played by rapper Coolio. This helps tie into how he proved that Wilson Fisk was not the honest business man that most people believe him to be. Less emphasis is placed upon the romance between Murdock and Elektra, which I feel is a good thing because the film should be focused more on Daredevil and his journey alone. There are still flaws, such as the origin being too rushed. It’s a mystery as to how Murdock managed to become so acrobatic without being trained by someone and some of the moves he does almost border on being superhuman, which is true in relation to his radar sense but not in terms of physicality, which is on par with Olympian athletes. Johnson also tends to over-compensate since he's not that good of a writer. What’s really puzzling is why this version wasn’t released in the first place and the answer was studio interference: 20th Century Fox wanted a brisk, faster paced version. Well, at least the director’s cut managed to make it although one can’t help wondering how much better the film would’ve done if this version was released in the first place.

Ben Affleck never really feels comfortable as Daredevil. It’s not a bad performance per se but it’s not very good either. The leather costume he wears doesn’t look all that great since the DD symbol is so tiny you can hardly make it out. While we do learn more about Murdock here, I believe that Johnson could’ve gone deeper with what he deals with psychologically and the toll it takes on him. There are also other changes such as the casting of Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin, who was Caucasian in the comics. That's not big deal but Duncan just doesn't come across as very menacing and feels more like a cartoon villain. Colin Farrell brings a mixed performance to Bullseye as well and fails to capture the character’s sadistic nature, coming off as second-rate Joker. Only Jennifer Garner seems to nails down her part as Elektra despite her costume being black instead of red like in the comics. Too bad the spin-off movie turned out so horrible.

The action scenes are well-choreographed but the CGI comes off as too obvious in certain parts. None of the fights ever stand out with the exception of Murdock and Elektra playing basketball while flirting with each other. It's one of the cheesier scenes that somehow manage to work despite how ridiculous it looks at first glance. There's also too much music and it feels like it was made and edited by MTV. The cinematography from Ericson Core goes for an appropriately dark look that recalls Batman with its gothic architecture. Although there were talks of a sequel after its release, five years later and there’s been nothing, no script, no actors committed or anything. The best thing 20th Century Fox should do is just go the Batman route where they reboot the whole thing and hopefully give us comic fans a superior movie.

As for the Blu-Ray release, the transfer is excellent and there is a slight film grain filter that keeps the style dark and gritty, just like how Alex Maleev did it in the comics. Audio is also strong, particularly the use of ambient sound in relation to Daredevil’s powers. Special features include an audio commentary from Johnson and producer Avi Arad where they talk about the differences between the two versions and how they were forced by the studio to drastically alter the film. In addition, there are two one-hour documentaries on the making of the film and the evolution of the comic character, a series of production featurettes, music videos, still galleries and trailers.

"Daredevil" was originally released on February 14, 2003 to mixed reviews with a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found it to be 'passable if derivative as entertainment…but the film is not up to par with recent superhero films.' The film grossed $179 million worldwide, a modest success considering it was made for only $78 million and released during a slow season. There’s no way to gauge how many people liked the director’s cut of "Daredevil" but it’s safe to assume that most people will find it vastly superior to the original theatrical version. Unfortunately, there are still issues with the script and the dodgy acting with hit-or-miss special effects brings a mediocre film up to a merely average superhero flick.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

"Hell's Kitchen is my neighborhood. I prowl the rooftops and alleyways at night, watching from the darkness. Forever in darkness. A guardian devil."

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Iron Man Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Some Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Action and Violence, and Brief Suggestive Content)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 6 Minutes

Cast:

Robert Downey Jr.-Tony Stark/Iron Man

Terrence Howard-James 'Rhodey' Rhodes

Jeff Bridges-Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger

Gwyneth Paltrow-Pepper Potts

Leslie Bibb-Christine Everhart

Shaun Toub-Yinsen

Faran Tahir-Raza

Clark Gregg-Agent Coulson

Paul Bettany (voice)-Jarvis

Directed by Jon Favreau

Robert Downey Jr brings heart and humor to the role of Tony Stark in "Iron Man."

Summer 2008 started off with a bang with the highly anticipated "Iron Man," based upon the comic book character from Marvel and created by none other than Stan ‘The Man’ Lee in 1963. I remember my excitement level was so high that I rushed to the AMC in Manhattan to purchase tickets for the first showing on May 1st (Paramount decided to do early screenings). Now, the armored avenger has arrived on Blu-Ray with a bang. "Iron Man" doesn’t make it obvious that it’s all about the special effects, and with an impressive performance from Robert Downey Jr., this is one of most fun comic book films that even non-fans will enjoy. 

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a wealthy billionaire who owns a massive weapons manufacturing company called Stark Industries, inherited from his father, Howard Stark. With his best friend, Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes (Terrence Howard), Stark travels to war-torn Afghanistan to demonstrate a new prototype weapon. However, he is captured by a terrorist group called the 'Ten Rings' during the drive back to base and is mortally wounded by one of his own missles. Stark awakes with another captive, Yinsen (Shaun Toub), who reveals that shrapnel has been embedded into his heart (due to the missile) and is only alive due to a makeshift electromagnet holding the shrapnel from penetrating deeper. Together, they devise an escape plan where the built a makeshift suit of armor. Yinsen is killed during the attempt, and this experience changes Stark deeply. Finally coming home, he decides to shut down any weapons program in production at his company and becomes Iron Man to right all the wrongs that his company did. This catches the attention of his partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), setting up a final showdown between the former friends. 

At its foundation, "Iron Man" is really no different than other standard superhero origin stories but what makes it stand out is the way it’s presented. There are plenty of comic book references such as the War Machine foreshadowing which drew laughs from the audience and the presence of SHIELD (make sure to stay for cameo) but for those who are not bona-fide comic book geeks like me, they’ll still enjoy the film thanks to the humor and excellent visuals. Robert Downey Jr. nails the character and not only captures Stark’s over-confidence but also his heart, his conviction to make things right. The humor never gets in the way or turns cheesy. You see Stark getting a one-night stand and during the plane ride to Afghanistan, he tries to convince Rhodes to drink, who steadfastly refuses. The scene then cuts to a few hours later with Rhodes completely drunk and all the stewardesses prancing around on stripper poles! The most hilarious scene is when Stark was testing his Mark II armor with the help of his robotic assistant, Jarvis (voice of Paul Bettany), who constantly follows him around, prompting Stark to say, ‘Please don't follow me around with it either because I feel like I'm going to catch on fire spontaneously. Just stand down. If something happens, then come in!’ In the hands of a less capable actor, the humor would've either came off stupid or awkward but Downey manages to balance the playboy and serious sides of Stark without any effort. Much of the dialogue was actually created by the actors and actresses themselves, allowing the crew to focus more on the story and action. All the other supporting characters also do a great job. Gwyneth Paltrow has great chemistry with Robert Downey Jr. with some cute sexual tension and it's nice to see a girl that is pivotal in the final battle rather than just a damsel-in-distress. Terrence Howard is too soft-spoken as James Rhodes but nonetheless turns in a good performance. Unfortunately, due to a salary dispute, Marvel has decided to replace him with Don Cheadle, who will portray him as War Machine in the sequel. Jeff Bridges also nails his character as the villain, perfectly showing he has all the ambition of Stark, but none of his intelligence or, more importantly, his heart. 

The action scenes in the film are nothing short of amazing; watching Iron Man fly across the screen is just awesome with his vibrant red-and-gold armor packing a visual punch. All the suits go through a natural evolution with the first being clunky and looks like it’s pasted together with junk parts; the second is more refined with the final version being the definitive one. You’ll see Iron Man fly through the skies battling all sorts of terrorists and outrun a pair of F-22’s. This is a perfect example merging practical effects and CGI; the armors look real, have weight and are completely tangible. If there’s anything wrong with the film is that the final battle is somewhat of a downer and that the film moves at a rather quick pace but this is to be expected since it's an origin film. Marvel has another winner on their hands and hopefully the sequel will explore the more personal side of Stark, especially his alcoholism. 

With the Blu-Ray release, I must say that everything looks fantastic. The colors are even more vibrant and you can see all the tiny moving parts and gears in Iron Man's armor. Sound is also excellent, with every punch and kick shaking the floor if you have surround sound. There’s also a healthy dose of special features with the first disc that includes a 50 minute look at how Iron Man has evolved in comics since his inception, a 3D gallery of all the armor shown in the film, and deleted scenes. The second disc has a 1 hour and 51 minute making-of documentary of the film, a 30 minute look at the visuals, plus screen test footage, still galleries, trailers and an interactive quiz features to test your Iron Man knowledge. The perfect holiday gift! 

"Iron Man" defied all expectations, both critically and at the box office. Critics hailed it as one of the best superhero movies ever with a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside other greats like "The Dark Knight" and "Spider-Man 2." At the box office the film earned an impressive $582 million worldwide ($318 million domestic), notable due to the fact that Iron Man was not well-known outside of comic book circles and was a testament to the film’s mass market appeal. "Iron Man" is definitely a must-see; it’s not a ground breaking comic book film like "The Dark Knight" but the humor is so fun, the action so great and the performances spot-on, you can’t help but grin ear-to-ear. Bring on "Iron Man 2"!

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"I shouldn't be alive... unless it was for a reason. I'm not crazy, Pepper. I just finally know what I have to do. And I know in my HEART that it's right."

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Action Violence Throughout, Brief Language and Momentary Smoking)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 38 Minutes

Cast (voice)-

Matt Lanter-Anakin Skywalker

Ashley Eckstein-Ahsoka Tano

James Arnold Taylor-Obi-Wan Kenobi/4-A7/Medical Droid

Tom Kane-Yoda/Narrator/Admiral Yularen

Nika Futterman-Asajj Ventress/TC-70

Ian Abercrombie-Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious

Corey Burton-Ziro the Hutt/General Loathsom/Kronos-327

Kevin Michael Richardson-Jabba the Hutt

Samuel L. Jackson-Mace Windu

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Christopher Lee-Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus

Catherine Taber-Padmé Amidala

Dee Bradley Baker-Clone Troopers/Captain Rex/Cody/Fox

David Acord-Rotta the Huttlet

Matthew Wood-Battle Droids

Directed by David Filoni

Maybe a better title would be "Star Wars: The Cash-Grab."

The last time we saw a "Star Wars" film in theaters was in 2005, when George Lucas completed the saga with the release of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." Three years later, Lucas is at it again with the release of the animated film "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which takes place between the events of Episodes II and III and serves as a prequel to the new animated series premiering on Cartoon Network this fall. It was originally intended to air on television as three separate episodes but when Lucas saw the preliminary footage, he decided—right then and there—for a theatrical release. Although it offers plenty of lightsaber action for kids, "The Clone Wars" ultimately feels like a blatant cash-grab in a franchise that should’ve ended with the live-action films.

The Clone Wars is now in full swing following the Battle of Geonosis in Episode II. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (voice of James Arnold Taylor) and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker (voice of Matt Lanter) are battling Separatist forces on the Outer Rim world of Christophsis (blatant reference to Christopher Lee?), a battle that is soon won thanks to the timely arrival of Anakin's new padawan learner Ashoka Tano (voice of Ashley Eckstein), much to Anakin's chagrin. Yoda (voice of Tom Kane) tells Anakin that Jabba the Hutt's son Rotta has been kidnapped, part of a plan by Count Dooku (voice of Christopher Lee) and his Dark Jedi apprentice Asajj Ventress (voice of Nika Futterman) to force the Hutts into the Clone Wars. Anakin must team up with Ashoka and safely return Rotta to his father before Dooku succeeds in carrying out his plans.

First off, I just want to say that I'm a hardcore "Star Wars fan" but my expectations weren't very high for this animated film; I mean I wasn't expecting "A New Hope." Obviously, the story isn't going to be like the live-action ones since this is an animated film aimed at younger audiences yet it mostly works and I was mildly engaged. However, there’s always that nagging feeling where you know what’s going to happen given the fact that the entire saga has already been told. Since Ashoka Tano doesn't appear in any of the films, fans wouldn’t be far off if they were to predict that she meets a horrible fate before the events of Episode III. While the dialogue is tolerable, the characters have a tendency to constantly remind viewers of what so-so can do. An example would be Obi-Wan repeatedly telling others that Anakin is one of the best pilots in the galaxy. Maybe it’s to make sure kids followed the movie easily but I certainly didn't need so many reminders. Some of the dialogue is rather cheesy and borderline stupid, with a battle droid exclaiming at one point, 'Concentrate fire on Sector 113274265!' (Yes, I memorized the exact number). This prompts another droid to say, 'Fire at Sector 1132...what was that again?' and the other one grabs him and points, 'Just fire right there!' The use of cutesy nicknames like 'Stinky' or 'Sky-guy' also came off as rather annoying. Once or twice is fine but Ashoka just keeps repeating it in every conversation! There's not a lot of drama to be found either as the picture is very action-oriented. This is something the filmmakers could've worked on since a feature film provides the necessary breathing room that wouldn't be available on a twenty-two minute animated show on television. Alas, this was an opportunity missed.

Many critics derided the animation but I thought it looked appealing as it reminded me of wooden marionettes or action figures. There's also some anime flavoring to it, as everyone—especially Ashoka—has big, round eyes, to make her more appealing to kids, I assume. The score also tries to imitate John Williams and yet stand on its own. Sometimes it devolves into generic guitar action music. Although it's serviceable, there’s no effort to make it distinctly feel like a “Star Wars” film. A lot of the elements I consider part of "Star Wars" are also missing, noticeably the famous opening crawl and well-known lines like ‘I have a bad feeling about this.’ Instead the film opens with some cheesy news announcement about the state of the Clone Wars. Critics also complained about the action scenes lacking tension but this I felt was the film's best aspect. The lightsaber battles were especially engaging despite all the outcomes being predictable. If Count Dooku or Ventress were dispatched, it would leave no framework for the cartoon and contradict the films. I also liked how Ashoka reminded me of a younger Anakin. Both are reckless, headstrong, and ready to prove themselves. A more in-depth exploration of the characters' similarities would've greatly improved the picture. I would've also liked to learn more about Anakin's feelings when he returns to Tatooine but I guess this would've been too much for kids to wrap their heads around.

Released on August 15, 2008, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" has received overwhelmingly negative reviews with a paltry 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic reminisced about 'how people talked about the Star Wars prequels like they were the worst movies ever made, when really, come on, they weren't that bad? The Clone Wars actually is that bad.' Roger Ebert wrote that it had ‘reduced [Star Wars] to the level of Saturday morning animation.’ Honestly, I think it was a mistake to release "The Clone Wars" in theaters because it automatically betrays its television origins. Despite that fact, the film works with its target audience. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is a blatant cash-grab for sure but I was mildly entertained and parents, if your kid wants to go see it, just take them. There's nothing wrong with Lucas trying to create a new generation of "Star Wars" fans. However, I strongly advise him to stop milking the franchise with these back-stories since we already know how it all ends.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Ahsoka Tano: Master Yoda has a saying, old sins cast longs shadows. Do you...know what he means by that?

Anakin Skywalker: He means, your past can ruin your future if you allow it. But you forget it was Master Skywalker who said, I don't want to talk about my past.

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