mike[space] dot net

The two films that I have wound up most excited about so far this year both came out within a week of each other. Which is slightly irritating, and I think had a negative impact on one of them for me, but it has meant there's been a serious bit of cinema going recently. On Friday, Claire and I went to see Wall-E, the latest offering from Pixar. I really liked this film, and it is certainly up there with the best Pixar have to offer (and therefore, the best anyone has to offer). The character of Wall-E is awesome, with a child-like innocence that leaps out of every action he carries out as he pootles about cleaning up and playing with the rubbish on Earth. I was a little disappointed that his antics didn't last longer, but the film doesn't lose too much of its charm as it spreads its wings into more standard cinematic fare. It avoids being too preachy, even if some aspects of the humans don't hold up under close examination (either they can't walk because their bone structure won't support them, or they don't walk because they can't be arsed, you can't have both). And there's a bit at the end which beautifully deconstructs all the little animation details that make Wall-E so loveable - very cool. And the animated short at the front of the film is also well worth a mention, absolutely hilarious, and very slickly done.

But all that said, I couldn't help but have another movie on my mind, which did detract a little from my enjoyment of Wall-E. Because last week was really about The Dark Knight, and we went and saw that on Saturday night. And were completely blown away. Heath Ledger as the Joker is, no word of a lie, one of the creepiest, scariest villains I have ever seen. It's very rare for me to get creeped out, but I really was in this case. Ably assisted by some excellent sound design, I was really on edge whenever he was on screen - you never quite know what he's going to do next, but you know it is not going to be good. I loved the length of it, it really felt like a film that was comfortable with itself and knew where it was going the whole time. Ekhart as both Harvery Dent and (apologies if you don't know, but seriously, where have you been) as Two Face. The pace is spot on, there's some seriously great action, and not so actiony, set pieces, and overall it was just a glorious piece of cinema to watch. The only problem I can think of was that the gravelly growl of Batman is sometimes a bit much. And that's being seriously picky. Fantastic piece of cinema, well worth seeing.

Now I just have to arrange to see it at IMAX.