Like Spiderman, Batman is ubiquitous. And, like the web-slinger, he has been victimized by uneven, and sometimes dreadful, attempts to squeeze another coin from the comic book cow. Yet both characters, when placed in the right hands, can yield compelling stories. Spiderman 2 and The Dark Knight are among the best of their genre. The […]
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The Batman
09 Mar 2022
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It should not surprise us that a film called Black PantherĀ (directed by Ryan Coogler, and written by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole), has more than a political bent. The comic book character was created in 1966, which was an audacious moment for his debut. Though Stan Lee, a co-creator, has denied any connection between the […]
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Turning the battle of Dunkirk into a film presents obvious challenges, for it was less a battle and more a retreat. Filming a strategic withdrawal that occurs at the beginning of a protracted war harbors no obvious moments of glory and only a muted climax. Christopher Nolan, the director and obvious driving force behind the […]
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Apes on Horses with Guns? Count Me In
15 Jul 2014
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is better than it has a right to be. The premise, if you are familiar with the series, is the stuff of hallucinogenic extravagance. Apes talk. Apes ride horses. They brandish firearms. Mayhem ensues–and how could it not? They’re apes! Culture and community happen. Pierre Boulle, the Frenchman […]