Snark, Critic and Pop!

Going to the midnight showing of the Dark Knight Rises tonight.  My summer long mission of not watching any of the tv spots or trailers (after allowing myself one viewing of the first full trailer) or reading anything about the films. 

As much as I dig trailers, I’ve decided that when I know I want to watch a movie, why spoil the treat?  And Christopher Nolan doing the finale to a truly epic Batman trilogy with Anne Hathaway as Catwoman & Tom Hardy as Bane?  I can’t wait!

Tom Hardy is a favorite here at SNP – and not just because Daniel has a fondness of Christopher Nolan’s directing ability bordering on “obsessed Twilight fan” levels.  He is a great actor and a great villain.  He will be bringing both to Nolan’s new Batman film The Dark Knight Rises where he will portray Bane.  A shot of Bane has hit the web, and as you can see Hardy has bulked up Bronson style.  Calm down Daniel, it’s not out until NEXT year!

Director Christopher Nolan (Inception, Memento, etc.) is going to receive the Visual Effects Society’s inaugural Visionary Award at their Awards show on January 28, 2011.  

Methinks Mr. Nolan should humbly declare when he accepts, “I didn’t see this coming!”  . . . Just to see if they strip him of the Visionary Award as a result of his shortcoming. 

‘Cause its a visionary award.  And he didn’t see it coming.  Oh, never mind!

The third Christopher Nolan Bat-film has been named, and it is “The Dark Knight Rises.”  Not bad, says I.  With The Dark Knight Rises and J.J. Abrams Star Trek both coming in 2012, that year can’t come soon enough for me.  2011 with its “big” Thor movie and whatnot . . . don’t even bother showing up.

Director Christopher Nolan has said the villain will not be the Riddler, nixing one of the popular fantasy casting scenarios that has swept the net for the past two years.  Actors from Eddie Murphy to Joseph Gordon-Levitt had been mentioned in unsubstantiated gossip for the part that will not be (I was on Team Guy Pearce For The Riddler personally). 

I am still alive in the office pool with my pick of Jack Black for King Tut as the villain. 

Of course, Catwoman has not been ruled out, and I believe Julie Newmar is still available . . . hint! hint!

Avatar in 3-D was kinda cool.  Re-releasing Slam Dunk Ernest in 3-D is a bit much.  Seriously, Hollywood has gone 3-D mad, smelling money.  I saw Shrek Forever and Despicable Me in 3-D this year, neither needed or deserved the “upgrade.”  Staggeringly, the next entry in the torture porn extravaganza Saw franchise is going to be in 3-D if the title — Saw 3D — is any indication.

Fortunately, according to the New York Times, some filmmakers are pushing back against the 3-D for the sake of 3-D trend.  Interestingly, the filmmakers listed are in my view the best writers/directors working: J.J. Abrams, Joss Whedon, and Christopher Nolan.  Hats off, boys!

Be forewarned, very mild spoilers are included about the content and story of Inception.  I’m not going to reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father, but I heartily recommend you see Inception without reading too many key details.  Trust me.  It’s better that way, and Inception is a must see film.  On with the show:

There are a lot of ways to look at Inception.  It is a Rorschach for the audience; you are able to impart your own prejudices and preferences on how you interpret it.  For example, the conclusion can be seen as a concrete happy ending or part of someone else’s illusion.  The answer is beautifully unclear, and I for one hope it’s never definitely revealed in some director’s commentary down the line (knowing Nolan, this won’t happen anyway). (continue reading…)

kee-dokee, Snark-a-Maniacs, it’s finally here, the overdue conclusion to my epic, 4 part Top 20 Favorite Films of All Time Countdown.  (That’s 1 more part than Tolkein needed for the Lord of the Rings, thus I believe this list the superior product.)  For those who came late, the complete, previous articles are 20-16 here, 15-11 here, and 10-6 here.

The films are:

20. L.A. Confidential (1997)
19. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
18. The Three Amigos (1986)
17. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
16. The Untouchables (1987) (continue reading…)

Four stars, unbelievable, it’s 3 am after catching the midnight debut of Christopher Nolan’s latest thriller and my mind is blown.  Quit your wives, divorce your jobs, and go catch this movie.  Did I mention it was 3 am?