I want to talk about the soundtrack for The Dark Knight Rises

I want to talk about the soundtrack for The Dark Knight Rises. I'm going to talk about a few scenes from the film so in case you're worried that I'll spoil some things, I would just say skip this post for now. I'll try to keep it to a minimum, as far as spoilers go, but hey, gotta do what I gotta do.

Hans Zimmer is obviously a genius, but with the music for TDKR, he went completely over the top. Sure, you may say, 'it's just music', but people seriously underestimate how important music is in a film. It sets the tone, it lets us experience the film in a completely new way. There are several choice scenes in this movie where the music, or, in one particular case, the absence of it, completely make the scene.

The 'theme' from the previous two Batman movies is there (you know what I'm talking about, the baaaaaam BAAAAAAAAAM), but it's different. It sounds different. It comes at different times in the film. You know that Batman is still a badass, but a reluctant badass. It's there whenever he's on screen, but the tone is different. It's darker. More dangerous. More cautious and less "I'm Batman, bitch!" The music of this film completely makes the point that nobody, not even Batman, knows what's going to happen to Gotham. Gotham is in that deep. It gives us a sense of hopelessness. And that is what makes this movie so completely incredible.

There's a track on the soundtrack called Gotham's Reckoning, and it is phenomenal.

I saw this in IMAX today and my goodness, the sound was incredible. But the soundtrack. There's an intensity there that just tells the audience the urgency of what is happening. It's loud, it's intense, it's chaotic and rhythmic, it crescendos and never stops, it just keeps going up, up, up, to an unattainable peak, until it hits a chaotic point of no return. You almost want to look away because you know something is coming, and whatever that something is, it can't be good. It's dark. It's foreboding. It's absolutely dangerous. Every time Bane is on the screen, every time he's strutting around, you can feel it because the music is so dark. You feel like you're in Gotham, experiencing the fear that all the citizens are feeling.
  
However, one of the most important points in the film comes without music at all. During the initial Batman/Bane fight, (in the sewers), there's no music at all. This tells an incredible story because without music to distract anyone, you can really tell where this is going. Music often gives away what's going to happen in a scene. If it's lighthearted and happy or even intense but bold, you can tell what's going to happen. In this particular scene, the absence of music literally makes it painful to watch. 


I can't say enough about the music in this film. It's phenomenal. It's perfect for the story. It's wonderful. 

Deadpool: The Game (Trailer)

So, Deadpool's getting his own game. Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth. One of the most hilarious, craziest, most awesome characters in the Marvel universe is getting his own game. 

Obviously this is awesome. Deadpool is one of the greatest characters and to have him have his own game can only mean that hilarity, awesomeness, and insanity will ensue. All I want is for him to break the fourth wall within the game. A lot. I've read that in the upcoming movie ( . . . ) he will be doing just that (in addition to being played by Ryan Reynolds again) and seriously, I'm just really excited for this game. 

And I want him to talk to himself. 

Seriously all I want is for Deadpool to be ... Deadpool. Yep. 

Catch the trailer below.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan has a way with making films. They're always wonderful. Well thought out. Beautifully crafted. Made to look real, believable. But the Batman films have always been absolutely phenomenal. From the script to the music to the actors, the films flow together perfectly, crafting an intricate story about Gotham's caped crusader. Christopher Nolan's films have set a precedent for Batman films and with this being the summer of superheroes, my expectations for Dark Knight Rises are extremely high.

2008's The Dark Knight was an exciting thrill ride. Dark, terrifying, humorous and very intense throughout its entirety, the second Batman film introduced us to the Joker, who was scary, sinister, and downright mad. Seeing the film for the first time made us all feel like we were in Gotham, in this dark city riddled by crime and while Batman is the protector of the city, we can't help but be somewhat terrified of him, too. Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne is brilliant, smart, and quick. But when he transforms into Batman, he becomes this unmatched force of technology, intelligence, and I mean, the dude has a cape. 

The Joker (Heath Ledger) is a fantastic performance, as well. He steals the film away with his mad, crazy comedy act, but there are points throughout the film (or, really, the entire thing), where you see that the Joker is completely batty. There's a scene where the Joker is interrogating a Batman imitator and he asks the perp to "look at him", and then he has to repeat himself, but when he says it again, it sounds nothing like him. He sounds demonic, crazed. And that is what makes the villain in this film unlike any other. He's completely mad. And it makes the film absolutely incredible. 

Other choice actors in the film—Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman —round out a perfect cast. Intense, dark, and humorous, everyone plays their part perfectly. 

The Nolanverse Batman films are not as ... comic-book centric as other superhero films, but that's what sets it apart. He's created an entirely new way to portray heroes on the big screen. From the way it's filmed, to the script, to the music (Hans Zimmer can compose the soundtrack to my life. Seriously), The Dark Knight is beautiful, thrilling, and entertainment at it's best.

He's Batman, after all. 

So, it's Batman week. (also, SDCC hits)

In case you were living under a rock, here's some news for you: The Dark Knight Rises, which is one of the most anticipated films of the year, is coming out on the 20th. This means that you should really go and get your ticket for it because it's going to be awesome. Two hours and forty-five minutes of Batman, Bane, and John Blake. I have faith in Christopher Nolan that he'll be able to make Catwoman ... well, good, but I really want to wait until I actually see the film to make that assertion.

I'll definitely have a review up for it by the time that it comes around. But, in the meantime, I'll be writing up a post about SDCC for all of you to read, though I'm sure you all already know what happened over the past few days. (Iron Man 3, y'all.) Coming up soon!

Bourne Legacy & Total Recall

I think it should be mentioned that this movie is coming out in about a month, and I'm really excited about it. Jeremy Renner is one of my favourite actors and I'm really excited to see him in the next Bourne installment. And Edward Norton.

The trailers are making this movie look pretty amazing. It's been pushed back a week, so now it comes out August 10th, but that's good news for me because that means....

I can dedicate the entire weekend of the 3rd to being stoked about this movie:

Total Recall is one of those movies that I really hope I'm not getting myself too excited for, only to be disappointed. I love science-fiction thrillers. I'm really excited about this movie. Also I just really love Colin Farrell and I'm not sure I could deal with him and Jeremy Renner all in one weekend. Looking forward to both of these!

The Amazing Spider-Man #ASM #AmazingSpiderMan

The Amazing Spider-Man (July3rd, 2012)

Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Rhys Ifans, Dennis Leary

I'll be the first to admit: when I heard that they were making another Spider-Man movie, I wasn't entirely convinced. It's only been five years since the last one came out (even though we don't talk about that one, and for good reason), so I had plenty of reason to be completely skeptical. 

And then Andrew Garfield was cast as Peter Parker. 

He was phenomenal in The Social Network and initially I thought he was a bit old for ASM. 

But then I actually saw the movie. 

Let me just say that for being in his late twenties, he can pull off a seventeen-year-old high school student very well. He plays the shy brainiac very well—that awkward part of high school where everyone's a little awkward was portrayed pretty well in the film. It's not awkward for the audience, though—sometimes I almost felt bad for laughing at Peter Parker's very obvious discomfort and awkwardness around Gwen, but his curiosity was something that got the audience interested in his life. As Spider-Man, there are some very touching, moments in the film (like the car off the bridge scene), lighthearted times as he is looking for a costume and testing out his own webbing, and then there are some other portions that are dark and intense as he's trying to conceal his identity from Captain Stacy. The movie is funny, intense, touching, and quickly draws its audience in with Peter's quick wit and awkward tendencies.  

Obviously the movie has its problems, but overall, it was very enjoyable and very funny. There's a point where you can see who Spider-Man really is that comes about halfway through the film that just makes the movie absolutely wonderful. The CGI was okay--I think some things could have been done a little better but overall it was enjoyable. Emma Stone was cute and enjoyable and I'm not sure if I want her character, Gwen Stacy, to be killed off like she was in the comics, but I suppose we'll find that out in the future. 

OH. There's a couple of great scenes between Peter and Flash that just kills me every time. Ironic tension that's supposed to be there is kind of there. It's pretty great. 

Anyway. Go see it. It's good in 3D.