When the closing credits rolled for The Dark Knight, I was left in stunned silence. In what is easily the best film of the year so far (and possibly one of the best in the last thirty years), director Christopher Nolan has delivered his shining star; a masterpiece that has set a new standard in crime dramas.

Oh, it’s a comic book adaptation? How I seem to forget that simple little thing. To be honest, it’s easy to forget that this complex, juicy, layered dissertation of the human condition is based on a nearly seventy-year-old hand-drawn character that first began in the half-toned pages of Detective Comics way back in November of 1939.

The Dark Knight, unlike Superman or Spider-Man 2 (which themselves were the best of their own genre), has completely emerged from not only from its paneled source material, but has soared into skyline of cinematic brilliance.

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Part E.T., part Short Circuit, the new Pixar film WALL-E evokes the fondest memories from both of those 1980’s too-cute-to-forget films. Both charming and intelligent, movie-goers will welcome this delectable blend of technology and emotion, and will be drawn into a story that is as heartwarming as it is educational.

WALL-E carries on the mantle of perfection that Pixar has established with Monsters, Inc. and Ratatouille, and actually manages to take the animation to new heights. Director Andrew Stanton, who masterfully told the ultimate (fish-)Father’s Day story with Finding Nemo, has hit his stride with this simple story of a garbage robot who ultimately saves the world. Read more »

In the surprise delight of the summer, Paramount has delivered Stardust, which is easily one of the most delightful fantasy tales seen in theaters since 1987 when The Princess Bride graced the big screen. Every once in a while, moviegoers are treated to a gem which not only tells a great story, but throws in a touch of magic that enchants a world where flying boats and cackling witches thrive.

Stardust, produced, co-written, and directed by Matthew Vaughn, likely won’t be the blockbuster of the year, which is a shame. Even with an all-star supporting cast, it doesn’t fall into the trap where the stars outshine the lead characters, one of which who actually happens to be a star. Read more »

I never thought I’d be cheering on a rat. But when a rat is concocted by a Bird, all the rules change. Ratatouille (now available on DVD), the new film from the on-again marriage of Pixar and Disney, has proven once again that an original story can be delicious.

After his astonishing success with The Iron Giant and the smash hit of The Incredibles, Brad Bird clearly had a tough act to follow. With Giant, he proved he could tell a story. With The Incredibles, he showed that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder. With Ratatouille, he’s firmly established himself as a master chef of animation brilliance. Read more »