Film: The Dark Knight IMAX

Is it worth the price of admission to see The Dark Knight on IMAX?  Yes and No.

Yes because the screen and sound system are incredible.  Yes because the IMAX scenes in The Dark Knight look significantly better on the IMAX screen.  Yes because it's a good movie anyways, and this makes it just that much better.

No because the vast majority of the film was not shot with the IMAX camera.  So unfortunately, it doesn't make the most of the available technology.

But if you haven't seen the movie, and can get in to an IMAX theatre to watch it, definitely go.  If you've already seen the movie, well, there are worse ways you could spend an evening.  But there are also better ways.

Retrospective: Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

And when I say 'retrospective' what I mean is 'I'm still watching it'. It's just that good. I wish I could send any of you who haven't watched Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (surely the minority) through a convenient link to a website where you could watch it for free.

Unfortunately, those days are past. Instead, you're going to have to bite the bullet (freeze ray beam?) and head over to iTunes, fork over some hard earned cash, and the bask in the glory which is Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. This is for real people. Go forth.

Oh, and I promise this is the last time I'll mention the good Doctor Horrible. Unless of course, there's some new development on that front (fingers crossed).

Film Retrospective: The Mist

Upon first watching The Mist, I was blown away. It was definitely one of the better movies I had watched recently. At the time, had I written a review, the film would have been rated a must see. And although the emotional impact of that first viewing lingers on, watching the film a second time lessened it.

A lot of the tension I felt when watching The Mist was a result of not knowing the ultimate fate of the cast of characters. So when watching it again, although it was still enjoyable to watch from a more technical point of view, the film was significantly less emotionally engaging. Which is to say, I still enjoyed watching the action/horror elements, and could better evaluate the varied character interactions (some of which still chill to the bone, notably any time Mrs. Carmody sermonized or even opened her mouth). However, I found the film wasn't schlock full of enough visceral thrills, or deep enough character interactions to really hold my attention. Perhaps the mix of action and dialogue intensive character-driven conflict prevented me from staying engaged, instead forcing me to constantly switch gears. Perhaps it was knowing everyone's fate which made me not care. Whatever happened, I just wasn't as engaged the second time around.

Is it still a good movie? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it? Without a doubt. Is it worth dropping $20 to own a copy? No. The film is a one trick pony. You watch it once, enjoy it, and then archive it. You can get more out of it from subsequent viewings, but on a much more intellectual, film student level. The emotional ride which made the film worth seeing is all but gone the second time around.

Overall, I was disappointed with the second viewing, except for the gratitude I felt at having only rented it.

Make no mistake though: If you haven't watched The Mist yet, you should. The first viewing will be one you don't regret.