Have you ever danced with The Devil by the pale moonlight? I never have, but I did have to square-dance with the smelly girl once in elementary school. That’s the best way I can introduce Tim Burton’s Batman, a movie that truly needs no introduction. It’s a classic piece of action and “superhero†genre filmmaking, a staple in any comics or movie lover’s collection, and, as I have found, a difficult flick to review completely without favorable bias. But I braved through my fanboy tendencies best I could, all for you, the reader. Without further adieu, let’s get to it.
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam Dunham
Sam Dunham was born at a very early age, and shortly after became entangled in the world of film. His first memories are of seeing King Ralph in his local theater. He learned to talk with the help of Adam West's Batman: The Movie. He's one of the few people to still own a working RCA Videodisc player (heck, it's where he first watched Young Frankenstein!). When Sam is not perusing his extensive B- movie collection or sitting in dark theaters with a tub of popcorn, he is usually found reading comic books, fixing computers, toiling away at his day job, working some nights at a local radio station as a "soundboard guy," and going to class so that he can one day toil away at his day job fixing computers. One time, Lou Ferrigno conned him out of $20.00. But that's another story...
I think I may be a “film snob.†Great way to lead off a review, right? Let me back up a moment. Months ago, when the teaser trailer for James Cameron’s newest epic Avatar hit “the Intardwebz,†I wasted no time mocking, ridiculing, and berating the film. I cranked up my petty squabbling after production stills, behind-the-scenes looks, and the full trailer were made available. Like so many other jaded movie-know-it-alls I joined in the choir of fanboys shouting “THEY LOOK LIKE GIANT SMURFS!!!†Then it hit me – I was bashing a film I HADN’T SEEN YET. Now, not…
Through my many years of watching films, I have come discovered that some movies are synonymous certain genres. When you think “Mob movie,†The Godfather usually comes to mind. If the term “Science Fiction†or “Space Opera†is mentioned, one might have visions of light-sabers or Vulcans run through their head. And when someone says “Horror-Comedy,†the first film though of is The Toxic Avenger. Ahh yes, The Toxic Avenger. Not only is this film extremely entertaining, it is a pinnacle of independent film making and single-handedly shaped the direction of an entire movie studio, as well as influenced countless…
Bonjour class! Today we’re taking a look at a French film filled with action, adventure, romance, magic, and a lot of Roman-bashing. The film, Astérix et Obélix contre César (or Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar) is the first in a string of adaptations based on the classic graphic novels by René Goscinny, and is also one of the most expensive live-action films to come out of France. As an added challenge, we’re going to take a look at it in its original language, partially to broaden our outlook on foreign films, and partially because the only copy I could find…
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a guy with a jetpack and goofy helmet! No, it’s… well, yeah, OK, you got it right the third time. The Rocketeer, based on the short-lived comic created by Dave Stevens, was one of my first forays into comic books and film. I honestly can’t remember if I actually had seen it in the theater (I was 5, after all. And now I’ve made some of you feel old. Sorry about that.), but I do remember the various advertising, toys, commercials, and even a cartoon (which may have…
Do superhumans live among us? Would this person know they’re superhuman, or would they assume they were just a normal human, living out their lives like everyone else? What if one of these people realized they were in fact something… else?
Ahhh, conventions. The one place where comic fans, movie nuts, TV geeks, aspiring artists, cosplayers, actors, writers, pencilers, Warsians, Trekkies (Trekkers), Who…vians(?), Battlestar Galactites, and the 3 guys who remember Firefly (joking, of course) can all temporarily let down their “fanboy filters†and collectively geek out. For the past 5 years, I have made it a goal to attend my local convention of choice, Mid-Ohio Con. I have gone so far as to plan my entire year around this one magic weekend. This year seemed destined to be the best Con thus far. And you know what? It was. And…
To start off this review, I’m going to be perfectly honest with you all: while I have watched every episode of Heroes’ 3+ seasons, bought the graphic novels, and grown attached to a few of the characters, I haven’t been 100% for the show. Like many of you (I’m assuming), I was about to give out on the show halfway through the show’s second season. At the half season break last year, I stopped recording the show. I don’t know. It stopped connecting with me I guess. Despite all this, I stuck with Heroes, more on the principle need to…
Dystopian future. Epic struggle. War between man and machine. A band of survivors, struggling to fend off the opposing forces. Sounds like a big budget live-action science fiction film, right? Well, what if I said this is an animated movie? Starring sock puppets! 9, the newest film with the moniker “Tim Burton’s …†contains all of this, and beautiful graphics to boot. But does the story hold up? Take the jump and find out!
The Beatles. Love them or hate them, no one can deny that they are a worldwide phenomenon. Their music – and their real-life personalities – has integrated themselves into everyday life, for better or worse. Every few years it seems that, for whatever reason, the Beatles come back from pseudo-semi-obscurity and reclaim the attention of the mass media. This year is no different. Their return to fame this time around comes in the form of a new video game, aptly titled The Beatles: Rock Band. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Also being released are the completely re-mastered editions of all…
“Believe it or not, I’m walking on air… no wait, that’s the other guy…†What would you do if discovered you had superpowers? Would you use them to fight crime? Become famous? Rule the world? Or would you prefer to keep a low profile, doing small good deeds here and there, but for the most part try to live a normal life? For meek Jefferson Reed, all he ever wanted was to get through life without being noticed. But after a freak encounter with a falling meteor (and a lot of prodding by his parents), he can’t help but be…
I’d like to start this review by being perfectly honest: I love Mystery Science Theater 3000. The premise of mocking bad movies is excellent, and the jokes are very smart, witty, and chock-full of film and pop culture references. I admit I joined in the MST3K fun late in the game – the first season I watched was the last season filmed. But through the magic of DVDs and the Internet, I have been able to relive virtually all the bad movies they covered. Needless to say, I was thrilled a few years ago when I heard that the writers…
Have you ever read a book, listened to an album, or watched a movie where at the end, you couldn’t decide whether or not you liked it? You think “This book/album/movie seemed good enough, so why can’t I say I liked it?†I know I have. I usually get this weird, uneasy feeling whenever this happens. Luckily for the majority of you, you don’t have to sit down and write a review about your experience. So bear with me folks, as I attempt to review the film Free Enterprise, and maybe discern whether or not I ultimately liked it or…
Pop quiz: What do Malcolm McDowell, Naomi Watts, and rapper Ice-T have in common? If you said nothing, I’m sorry – no points for you. If you answered “They’re all bipedal mammals who breathe air and drive fancy cars,†close but no cigar smart-alec. But for those of you who know obscure movies (or if you read the title of the review already) you’d know the answer is Tank Girl, a precursor to the Comic Book-to-Film craze that’s so popular these days. Does it stand the test of time? Let’s find out.