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BATMAN
BEGINS
Warner
Home Entertainment
- It is the best of all of the movies based on the Batman
comics! Director Christopher Nolan ("Insomnia"
and "Memento") delighted and surprised fans
with Batman Begins. While
based on the original tale of the capped crusader who
utilizes bats -- an animal that scares him -- to frighten
criminals, this new film re-energizes the comic book
series. We learn of Bruce Wayne's horrific loss -- the
murder of his parents and his determination to avenge
them and fight injustice. Christian Bale ("American
Psycho") is awesome as the billionaire who creates
a dynamic crime fighter.
Nolan
revs up the action by illustrating Bruce's Asian tutelage
by Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai") and his
disciple Ducard (Liam Neeson "Kingdom of Heaven").
But he soon clashes with his teachers' methods of justice.
Back in Gotham, Bruce begins to construct a dual identity
with the help of his loyal butler, Alfred (Michael Caine),
detective Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Lucius Fox (Morgan
Freeman), a dedicated company man at Wayne Enterprises.
He also seeks to protect his childhood friend, Rachel
(Katie Holmes), the local assistant D.A.
The
film is dark, exciting and exhilarating! Nolan and his
crew have created a Gotham City of tall gleaming towers
and a speeding elevated train that circle the city.
There are also icy, fantastic Asiatic mountains. The
action is fast-paced, gripping and electrifies the big
screen with Christian Bale's emotionally poignant performance.
Bale studied the Keysi Fighting Method (KFM) and his
kick-ass Batman isn't to stiff or comedic. This is a
serious look at a man's angst and frustration with greedy,
murderous men. The stellar cast also including newcomer
Cillian Murphy ("Red Eye"), Rutger Hauer and
Tom Wilkinson.
The
2-disc set is stuffed with wonderful documentaries about
the construction of Gotham, Bale's conception of the
character and his Keysi Fighting Method training and
a comic looking at the character's origins and influence.
A plus is the comic book which is enclosed with the
discs. But, the only flaw is the DVD menu on the features
disc which is so confusing that it took me nearly ten
minutes to get to documentaries. I thought I had a bad
disc until I heard a TV critic complain about the same
thing. DVD menus should be easy and simple! Nevertheless,
Batman Begins is definitely
worth owning!
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POINT
PLEASANT
Twentieth
Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Imagine a beautiful young girl washing up on a New
Jersey beach and her presence changes everyone who crosses
her path. In "Point Pleasant," creator Marti
Noxon has made an intriguing series that's been described
as a cross between "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
and "The OC." Frankly, Ms. Noxon's idea of
'the child of darkness' walking on earth is an eerie
one.
Christina
Nickson (Elizabeth Harnois) is the lonely daughter of
a New York City tycoon and she's delighted when the
friendly Kramer family invites her to stay a few days
in their home in the affluent seaside community of Point
Pleasant. Of course, the shiny surface of the community
hides a lot of secrets. The Kramers have lost one teenage
daughter and Christina easily fits right in with the
local doctor, his mentally unstable wife, Meg and their
remaining daughter, Judy (Aubrey Dollar). Christina,
a delectable pert blonde does make waves because she's
instantly attracted to the life guard, Jesse (Sam page)
who saved her life. Despite having a girlfriend, Paula
Hargrove (Cameron Richardson), a popular rich girl who
is totally clueless, Jesse is also drawn to the new
girl. Once settle, Christina feels that something is
wrong because her dark powers are slowly emerging in
the town where she was born.
Shortly
after Christina's mysterious appearance, another person
arrives in town. Lucas Boyd (Grant Show) is the devil's
henchman sent to influence his half-breed daughter.
Initially, Christina is terrified of her growing dark
power and the anger that fuels it. Her teenage angst
is the ultimate spiritual conflict. Meanwhile, Boyd's
enjoying the complicated lives of the adults in town.
Slutty Amber Hargrove (Dina Meyer) lusts after Dr. Kramer
and uses her friendship with Meg to get close to him.
The church lady, Sarah Parker (Clare Carey) attracts
Boyd and angers her jealous sheriff husband. She also
hides a secret about Jesse's true paternity. There are
other secret romances, a lusty young priest and even
Boyd's past love makes an appearance. But, the real
drama surrounds Christina and the audience's reaction
to her conflict. How can we route for Lucifer's daughter?
Should we believe that her human mother gave her the
power to ignore and defy her darker nature? And, what
are we to think about the fate of God's warrior? The
conclusion is startling and breathtaking!
It's
a powerful, intriguing series and Elizabeth Harnois
delivers a true "Carrie" moment when she confronts
the Kramers at the end. You can't help wondering what
she'll do once she returns to New York City. Ms. Noxon
creates a beautiful, well-crafted serial drama with
believe special effects. Best known for her work on
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" television show,
she has created a sexy, vibrant show that fearlessly
tempts audiences to sympathize with the devil's daughter.
Grant Show, best known from "Melrose Place,"
is wonderfully evil and verbally blunt in his accessment
of crazy people, meddlesome priests and hidden lust.
It was a pleasure watching him tangle with dead girlfriend.
The 3-disc set includes all 13 episodes and 5 unaired
episodes. There are interviews with many of the cast
members during the "Making Of" documentary.
I'm assuming the additional unaired episodes means that
the series was cancelled. Nevertheless, Ms. Noxon should
be pleased with her work. She created a show that made
audiences question their hearts, loyalties and empathize
with universal human conflicts.
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The
Film Gazette • copyright © 2005, VM Media Services.
• All rights reserved.