Brave - good for the whole family

Brave is the latest collaboration between Disney and Pixar – once again proving to be a match made in heaven.  I’ve now seen it twice – yes, I did enjoy it very much but the real reason was to take other family member who missed our first outing.  The whole gang enjoyed the show – although I think my 6 year-old niece was the most spell bound.  Some people still equate animation with just children, but Pixar always delivers a good movie for everyone.

The basic story is a common one – as a child grows up, he/she is confronted with the harsh realities which will end their idyllic childhood.  Princess Merida is that child.  Faced with the prospect of marriage, she rebels.  As have many a teenager, she makes poor choices.  The consequences of her choices define much of the movie.  While it may sound like a story you have heard before, I assure this one has a few twists, turns, and laughs to make it all worthwhile. Some of you may even find you are fighting back a tear or two, remembering your own battles to grow up. 

 The actors voicing the characters handle the material deftly.  Kelly Macdonald – best known to American audiences as the servant girl in Nanny McPhee – is the young princess Merida.  The always funny Billy Connolly brings his talents to King Fergus.  Academy Award winner Emma Thompson is touching as the mother, Queen Elinor.  The 3 clan leaders are voiced by an amazing trio – Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson.  Talent is not lacking in this movie.

Go see the movie, and take your mom.

The Dark Night Rises

No review of this movie can begin without first pausing to remember those harmed in Colorado and the impact on our nation.  This movie will forever have an asterisk next to its name.  Sadly… not unlike its predecessor.  … … … …

A little history, in the late 1980s, the Batman franchise at DC Comics was floundering.  The storyline – which stretched back to the 1930s had been everywhere and done everything.  The concept of Batman had evolved and changed with the times (hence the campy Batman of the 1960’s – a truly guilty pleasure).  Frank Miller, a talented and opinionated artist brought a new life to Batman in the form of The Dark Night.  Over next few years he released new story lines in serial comic books and graphic novels.  This Batman explored human psychology – why we do what we do.  Batman was always a different kind of hero, one with a troubled past yet an enviable life.  Batman sometimes made mistakes.

In recent history we saw Tim Burton recharged the story with two fabulous adaptations with Batman played by Michael Keaton (a nice surprise I might add).  The two that followed, well let’s just say they have their place…just not high up on the list.  Christopher Nolan’s reboot of the movie franchise clearly owes much of its life to Frank Miller and those who followed him. Chris and his brother Jonathan have written a marvelous screenplay to bring this tragic trilogy to its rightful conclusion. Nolan’s vision pops off the screen, a thrilling ride of emotions and powerful images.

Christian Bale does a phenomenal job once again in the cowl.  Bale's talent was first obvious in 1987, when at only 12 he impressed Steven Spielberg enough to win for the pivotal role in Empire of the Sun.  However, he is not alone.  Christian Bale’s performance is enhanced with one of the most talented casts Nolan could dream to assemble.  Gary Oldman – perhaps our best character actor ever – returns as Commissioner Gordon. Michael Caine is subtle yet indispensable as Alfred.  And of course, Morgan Freeman reprises his role as Lucius Fox.  A new addition includes Anne Hathaway as Selina aka Catwoman.  There have been too many screen version of Catwoman to discuss at length in this review, but let’s just say they each brought something unique to the role (and just scrap the whole Halle Berry movie).  Hathaway is strong, beautiful, and yet still vulnerable – just as she was in many versions of the comic books.  I think she does a very good job.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt – another former child actor who has been making a lot of noise on the big screen over the last few years – plays Blake, the cop how never gives up.  Then there is Bane, played so well by actor Thomas hardy, I could not see the man who played the frail Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis.  He so transformed himself (the costume helps) that I could see him as the devil himself.  I loved him in this role.  Yes, there are many other amazing actors but simply not enough time to discuss them all.

 The wrap-up: if you liked the first two Christopher Nolan Batman movies, you will like this.  I recommend it for fans of action movies, comic books, and big explosions.  But this movie is not for everyone.  It may be too violent for some people, and too loud.