The Dark Knight

Title: The Dark Knight

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart

Genres: Action/Adventure, Crime, Superhero, Sequel

Running Time: 2 hours. 32 minutes

Release Date: July 18th, 2008

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Review: The second installment in Christopher Nolan's trilogy, following 'Batman Begins' in 2005, and it is excellent. It's dark, violent, terrifying, explosive, and clever. It is well acted, and well directed. 'The Dark Knight' is epic, through and through.

Even if this was not Ledger's last role before his sad, and untimely death in January, his portrayal of the Joker would still go down in the annals of film as one of the most un-hinged, dark and creepy bad guys ever seen on the big screen. Heath Ledger IS the Joker, and for the first time, this character has been portrayed with debt and complexity beyond the one-dimensional comic-book villain seen in the past.

Just as in 'Batman Begins', Bale is great as the Batman, and while Bale's love interest has been upgraded from Katie Holmes to Maggie Gyllenhaal, the difference is surprisingly negligible. All in all, 'The Dark Knight' is a comic-book film that has greatly surpassed it's genre.

Bring on part three. I, for one, cannot wait!

Grade: 8.5

Iron Man

Title: Iron Man

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Starring: Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr.,

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantay, Superhero

Running Time: 2 hour. 6 minutes

Release Date: May 2nd, 2008

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Review: Robert Downey Jr. is great as Tony Star, and his charm and humor really adds massive likability to the billionaire industrialist/genius inventor. As the movie begins, Stark is kidnapped by terrorists, and forced to build them a weapon. Instead, he builds a high-tech suit of armor, and manages to escape. And so Iron Man is born.

The film is highly entertaining action flick, with a great cast, and a good villain and story line. All in all, not a bad way to spend a couple of hours, and a well-above -average Superhero/comic film. I bet 'Iron Man' will return with at least one sequel.

Grade: 8