Batman: The Dark Knight

Batman: The Dark Night, a trilogy converted from a comic book by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, has been adapted into several different 'Batman' movies. The Dark Night is without a doubt an incredible film, filled with not only amazing acting, props and emotion, but it deals with several logical and mental issues and decisions not only by Batman himself, but also from other characters like the joker. 

The storyline follows Batman/Bruce Wayne, Gordon and Harvey Dent as they launch an attack on the mob, in the process unleashing the Joker on Gotham city, whose only objective is to release havoc on the city, and bring any so called hero down to his bellowed level. 

The Dark Night contains several characters which can surprise the audience beyond belief and give them a total depth into the mind of different people. The audience is also introduced to the power of influence one can have not only over one person, but over a whole city. 

Batman, portrayed by Christian Bale, is looked at as this unbelievable hero to some, but still a nuisance to others who seek that attention. Harvey Dent played by Aaron Eckhart, the newly elected district attorney of Gotham, is in a relationship with Rachel Dawes portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who so happened to be an old childhood friend of Bruce Wayne. This relationship causes some strife between Harvey and Bruce because they are both in love with Rachel, and Rachel tends to be in love with both of them. 

While Batman disguises himself to protect the citizens, all, some people can think about are the few civilians killed during the acts. The Joker sends out a warning to the city over a broadcast, announcing that he will kill people everyday until Batman reveals who eh really is. This tends to set up the rest of the events that occur through the film.

One of the major film techniques that Christopher Nolan the directer and producer of the film uses is lighting. This is seen throughout the film and it really enhances the mood by creating dark and gloomy feelings. By having the different lighting it also changes the scene tempo from being a relaxed conversation in a bright room, to a dark and exhilarating car chase through an underground parking garage. 

The film also dealt a lot with decisions and how people make them. We see this several times throughout, but very adamantly when the two boats have bombs, and when the Joker 'converts' Harvey Dent to the dark side. 

On the boats we see how people are put against people at the hands of the Joker. He sends a message to the boats saying you each have remotes to set off the bomb on the other boat. If neither boat complies he will blow up both boats at 12am. This shows how the Batman is separating people from people, and intriguing those to make decisions regarding the lives of others.

The next we see is Harvey Dent, who has been burned quite bad on the one side of his body turning to the dark side through the luck of chance. A devastated Harvey caused by the death of Rachel, walks around now with a gun and a coin. If the coin falls on one side your dead, but if it falls on the other luck was on your side and you get to live.

Through this film we see how the actions of people can influence a city, and one can notice the intensity found through the decisions that everyday people have to make, and even some that will break them.

The film was definitely amazing and would be strongly recommended as it left the viewer at the edge of their chair and intrigued by the incredible acting and productions. 

From Hell

From Hell, a film about the Victorian Era in London troubled by the increasing murders by the notorious Jack the Ripper. Originally a graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, converted to a movie written by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias and directed by Albert Hughes proved to be an overall success in the opinion of critics. 

The film created a very old feeling which tended to take away from the real intensity of these murders.

I personally did not like this movie, not only because I don't like gore, but it didn't seem to portray the entire events accurately. As well by giving an assumption of who Jack the Ripper is it took away from the mystery that is the unknown identity of the man or woman, only known as Jack the Ripper. 

I did find the acting to be standard, but there was definitely nothing beyond special in this movie. I did find the representation of the two classes was well played out, proving the insane difference between the poor class and the rich class. The movie portrays London very well in that time period, but i didn't like the movie as an overall film. 

Crash!

The film Crash, directed and written by Paul Haggis covers the daily lives of people in Los Angeles struggling with segregation because race, as well as the struggle of loss, and eventually redemption. The movie dealt with the extreme stories of everyday people who deal with segregation due to their race, as well as the loss and redemption that everyday people deal with. The movie stars many notable actors which enhance the overall performance and popularity of the film. Such actors included; Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Sean Cory, and Matt Dillon. The film certainly did include a great script and good use of film techniques, which evidently led to the high ratings a good reviews.

Although this movie had many great aspects, personally, I did not find this at all appealing, nor did it come across as sending a message strongly. It definitely had a good script, but there were way too many not needed scenes, and a couple unnecessary characters. I believe this movie would have been a lot better, and would have made the message stronger if it were a short 30-45 min film, but when it carried on to almost 2 hours, it became a bit over the top.

The film dealt with extremity in every manor, sometimes over exaggerating which eventually led to decrease in power of the overall story. Although exaggerated, the story definitely portrayed the necessary message, of the reality of how people stereotype one another. The movie as well did a good job introducing and enforcing the racial segregation in society.

Through the eyes of many characters the audience was also given the opportunity to deal with violence, sadness, death and eventually self realization. The movie created a very stereotypical view on certain ethnic group which if anything encouraged the way everyday people view these ethnicities. I found the film demonstrated this in a possible non-effective way because it encouraged these portrayal as opposed to discouraging it.

Overall I found this movie could have been a lot better if there were a little less of the un-necessary characters, and maybe sent the real message of anti-racial discrimination in a more forward fashion.