It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.

My 10 favorite films of the year (you knew it was coming!)

1 and 2

1) Rambo

For over 20 years I’ve been a fan of John Rambo.  And although I don’t hate the 3rd film as much as other bandwagon jumpers, I still felt it was the weakest of the 3.  When I heard Stallone was going to be a part 4 I got very excited! After seeing how brilliantly he wrapped up the Rocky saga (with Rocky Balboa) I had complete faith that he would deliver with Rambo 4. (aka Rambo, aka John Rambo). And guess what?  STALLONE DELIVERED!!!! and then some!  The character, the music cues, the action, the mullet, the bandana, the crossbow! It was all there! It was like Stallone went “tell me what you want in Rambo 4, and I’ll do it”.  That’s how perfect this film is.  Non stop, blow your ass out of the cinema, action.  And that battle  sequence in the last 10 minutes with the .50 calibre? Wow. That’s all I can say.  If you haven’t seen this movie, check it out now!

2) The Dark Knight

Everyone who know’s me, is aware that ever since I was a punk kid, I am THE authority on Batman and Superman. I LOVE Tim Burtons Batman and Batman Returns. I was also a fan of Schumachers Batman Forever.  Batman and Robin may be the worst film ever made (and that broke my heart.  Schwarzenegger in a Batman film! And it’s SHIT!).  So to say I was excited for Batman Begins is an understatement.  Sure enough, I was there first night and I enjoyed it. BUT, I didn’t live it like I thought I would.  I didn’t like the first hour at all.  I watch a Batman film to see Batman, not Bruce Wayne (and no, they are not the same person).  Don’t give me the “that’s how we see Bruce become Batman” argument.  Tim Burton didn’t need an hour to do it.  And why does it take Superman 42 minutes to appear in Richard Donner’s film?  The difference between Donner and Nolan?  Donner did it right!  So, onto the second half…I really enjoyed it.  Bale was perfect for the role.  I actually like the voice he puts on.  The action was good. The tumbler grew on me.  The music grew on me.  Katies Holmes, although very attractive, may have been guilty of being the most miscast actor in a role yet. So, onto Dark Knight.  When the first teaser got released (Nov 2007?) I really liked it.  Minimal, but effective. I was never sold on Ledger as the Joker though.  The only role I liked him in was Monsters Ball. (I haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain yet).  Then when I saw the first pic of him as the Joker, I REALLY liked it.  So he got the look down, but can he do the character. Well, as everyone else who has seen the film knows, the answer to that question is a big YES.  He nailed it! I totally forgot that it was Ledger playing the role.  He was brilliant, and I hope the academy remebers that come nominations.   The action in Dark Knight was better. The directing was a million times over the Begins.  Aaron Eckhart was great as Harvey Dent/Two Face.  Good to see Jim Gordon get some screen time.  I thought Dark Knight was  a great film.  The only two things I didn’t like were his new costume.  That was terrible!  And the sequence with the ferry’s. When ever it cut back to them I was falling asleep and the characters on board were terrible.  But overall, great film and am looking forward to Part 3.

More to come soon.