Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Dr. No Review










Dr. No


Release Date: 4th July 1963 - Australia


Production Companies
Eon Productions


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 105 minutes


Budget: $1,000,000

Box Office Gross: $59,566,680 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
James Bond is a secret agent from the British Secret Service who goes by his codename 007. He is on a mission to investigate the death of a fellow agent, which takes him to Jamaica. He joins forces with CIA agent Felix Leiter and native Quarrel for answers. Along the way, Bond must
fend off a trio of deadly
assassins and dodge a
poisonous tarantula and
"a fire-breathing dragon"
while uncovering an evil
plot from Dr No with the help of the beautiful Honey Ryder.


Cast
Sean Connery - James Bond
Ursula Andress - Honey Ryder
Joseph Wiseman - Dr. No
Jack Lord - Felix Leiter
Bernard Lee - M
Anthony Dawson - Professor Dent
John Kitzmiller - Quarrel
Zena Marshall - Miss Taro
Eunice Gayson - Sylvia Trench
Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny
Peter Burton - Major Boothroyd
Timothy Moxon - John
Strangways (Uncredited)
Marguerite LeWars - Annabel
Chung - The Photographer
Dolores Keator - Mary Trueblood
Reggie Carter - Mr. Jones
Louis Blaazer - Pleydell-Smith
Colonel Burton - General Potter
Yvonna Shima - Sister Lily
Michel Mok - Sister Rose
Milton Reid - Dr. No's Guard (Uncredited)
Robert Rietty - John Strangways/Superintendent Duff (Voice) (Uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl - Honey
Ryder/Sylvia Trench/Various
(Voice) (Uncredited)
Diana Coupland - Honey Ryder
(Singing Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Terence Young
Based on the Novel "Dr. No" - Ian Fleming
Treatment - Wolf Mankowitz (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Richard Maibaum,
Johanna Harwood and Berkeley Mather
Associate Producer - Stanley Sopel (Uncredited)
Producers - Albert R. Broccoli and
Harry Saltzman
Production Designer - Ken Adam
Art Director - Syd Cain (Uncredited)
Production Buyer - Ron Quelch (Uncredited)
Costumes - Tessa Prendergast
Director of Photography - Ted Moore
Location Manager - Chris Blackwell (Uncredited)
Stunt Arranger - Bob Simmons (Uncredited)
Special Effects - Frank George
Visual Effects - Roy Field (Uncredited)
Matte Artist - Cliff Culley (Uncredited)
Film Editor - Peter R. Hunt
Sound Recordists - John Dennis
and Wally Milner
Dubbing Editors - Archie Ludski
and Norman Wanstall
Main Title Designer - Maurice Binder
Music - Monty Norman
Arranger: James Bond Theme - John Barry


Review
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bond. James Bond on the big screen, here's my first-ever review of a Bond movie. The one that started it all: DR. NO. While the film was a good entry with some exciting action scenes, it has a spy/espionage feel rather than an action film. It may not have the same appeal to the mainstream audience as the later Bond films, but it is an important film because it was the first Bond movie ever made. It even introduced the iconic formula that subsequent films followed. I liked Sean Connery performing the title character as he was the best James Bond. Other actors who succeeded him, such as Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, came close to matching his charisma, style, and wit. The other things I find fantastic in the movie are Ken Adam's set designs and James Bond's main theme music.

While DR. NO lacked a few things, such as cool gadgets, it set the benchmark for all Bond movies to come. I recommend this feature to anyone, including Bond fans, who have yet to see the character in his film debut.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Thursday, August 16, 2012

In Memory of Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012)








Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012) 

Greetings, viewers. I have some sad news. Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, known for scoring movies such as "The Sting" and "The Spy Who Loved Me," passed away in Los Angeles at age 68 on August 6th, 2012.

He wrote dozens of scores for film, Broadway, and television. He won many awards throughout his career, including three Oscars and four Golden Globes. Although incredibly versatile for his style, he composed more than 40 scores for pictures such as "Sophie's Choice," Woody Allen's "Bananas," and "The Way We Were." He was best known for his reimaginings of Scott Joplin, including "The Entertainer," which appeared in "The Sting" and "The Spy Who Loved Me."

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Step Up: Miami Heat Review











Step Up: Miami Heat 


Release Date: 2nd August 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Offspring Entertainment
Summit Entertainment

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Music/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 99 minutes


Budget: $33,000,000

Box Office Gross: $93,723,802
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Emily, the daughter of a 
wealthy businessman, 
arrives in Miami hoping 
to become a professional 
dancer. She falls in love 
with Sean, a young man 
who leads a dance crew 
in elaborate, cutting-edge 
flash mobs. The crew, 
called the MOB, strives 
to win a contest for a 
major sponsorship 
opportunity, but Emily's 
father threatens to 
develop the MOB's 
historic neighborhood 
and displace thousands 
of people. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Kathryn McCormick - Emily
Anderson
Ryan Guzman - Sean
Adam Sevani - Robert 
"Moose" Alexander III
Misha Gabriel - Eddie
Peter Gallagher - William 
"Bill" Anderson
Stephen "tWitch" Boss - Jason
Chadd "Madd Chadd" Smith -
Vladd
Tommy Dewey - Tripp
Cleopatra Coleman - Penelope
Megan Boone - Claire

Crew
Director - Scott Speer
Based on Characters - Duane Adler
Writer - Amanda Brody
Producers - Erik Feig, Jennifer Gibgot,
Garrett Grant, Adam Shankman &
Patrick Waschberger
Production Designer - Carlos Menendez
Director of Photography - Karsten Gopinath
Choreographers - Chuck Maldonado,
Christopher Scott, Jamal Sims
& Travis Wall
Film Editors - Matt Friedman &
Avi Youabian
Music - Aaron Zigman


Review
I'm unfamiliar with the 'Step Up' series and never watched any of the other dance films of the series, 'MIAMI HEAT' is a very solid fourth instalment and I guarantee that it'll give good entertainment. The movie's story is not bad and has a good romantic subplot, but I am amazed by its dance choreography which is really energetic and Michael Jackson would have been proud of it. 'MIAMI HEAT' does deliver something and I would give four well deserved stars for this one.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, August 6, 2012

Die Hard Review










Die Hard


Release Date: 6th October 1988 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox
Gordon Company
Lawrence Gordon Productions
Silver Pictures

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M (Not Suitable for
Young Children)

Runtime: 126 minutes


Budget: $28,000,000

Box Office Gross: $143,651,650 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A band of international terrorists, led by Hans Gruber, staged a coup on an office building and took several hostages. Only one person is in their way: John McClane, a detective from New York who was visiting Holly, his estranged wife, for the holidays. Will McClane go it alone
to take down all the
crooks, including Hans,
and rescue Holly and
others from their clutches?


Cast
Bruce Willis - John McClane
Alan Rickman - Hans Gruber
Alexander Godunov - Karl
Bonnie Bedelia - Holly Gennaro-McClane
Reginald VelJohnson - Sgt. Al Powell
Paul Gleason - Dwayne T. Robinson
De'voreaux White - Argyle
William Atherton - Richard Thornburg
Hart Bochner - Harry Ellis
James Shigeta - Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
Bruno Doyon - Franco
Andreas Wisniewski - Tony
Clarence Gilyard Jr. - Theo
Joey Plewa - Alexander
Lorenzo Caccialanza - Marco
Gerard Bonn - Kristoff
Dennis Haydn - Eddie
Al Leong - Uli
Gary Roberts - Heinrich
Hans Buhringer - Fritz
Wilhelm von Homburg - James
Robert Davi - FBI Special Agent Big Johnson
Grand L. Bush - FBI Agent Little Johnson
Matt Landers - Capt. Mitchell
Carmine Zozzora - Rivers
Dustyn Taylor - Ginny
George Christy - Dr. Hasseldorf
David Ursin - Harvey Johnson
Mary Ellen Trainor - Gail Wallens
Taylor Fry - Lucy McClane
Noah Land - John McClane Jr.
Betty Carvalho - Paulina

Crew
Director - John McTiernan
Based on the Novel "Nothing Lasts Forever" -
Roderick Thorp
Screenplay - Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager/
Second Unit Director - Beau Marks
Associate Producer - Lloyd Levin (Uncredited)
Executive Producer - Charles Gordon
Producers - Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver
Casting Director - Jackie Burch
Production Designer - Jackson DeGovia
Art Director - John R. Jensen
Set Decorator - Phillip Leonard
Costume Designer - Marilyn Vance
Makeup Supervisor - Scott Eddo
Director of Photography - Jan De Bont
First Assistant Director - Benjamin Rosenberg
Second Assistant Director - Terry Miller
Stunt Coordinator - Charlie Picerni
Special Effects Coordinator - Al Di Sarro
Special Effects Foreman - William Alridge
Special Effects Foreman: Boss - Thaine Morris
Visual Effects Producer - Richard Edlund
Visual Effects Art Director: Boss - Brent Boates
Model Shop Supervisor: Boss - Mark Stetson
Chief Model Maker: Boss - Pat McClung
Director of Photography: Boss - Bill Neil
Chief Matte Artist: Boss - Matthew Yuricich
Film Editors - Frank J. Urioste and John F. Link
Assistant Editors - Derek Brechin,
Bryan H. Carroll, Gregory M. Gerlich and
Kelly Irvine (Uncredited)
Second Assistant Editors - Jeff Gullo and
Edward Malone
Sound Effects - Stephen Hunter Flick
Supervising Sound Editor (Uncredited)/
Sound Effects - Richard Shorr
Sound Effects Editors - Catherine Shorr
and David E. Stone
Re-Recording Mixers - Don J. Bassman,
Kevin F. Cleary and Richard Overton
Foley Editors - Ron Bartlett and
Rick Mitchell
Foley Artists - Vanessa Theme Ament
and Robin Harlan
Music - Michael Kamen


Awards

1989 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Don J. Bassman, Kevin F. Cleary,
Richard Overton and Al Overton Jr. (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Frank J. Urioste and
John F. Link (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Stephen Hunter Flick
and Richard Shorr (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Richard Edlund, Al Di Sarro,
Brent Boates and Thaine Morris (Nominated)


Review
DIE HARD was simply an action-packed thrill ride, with elements like explosions and shootouts you would expect in an action film. It also contains humour. This movie redefined the action genre and set a trend, with other films such as Under Siege and Speed imitating its original story concept and sharing its impact on many different results. It creates tough competition for rivals such as Lethal Weapon and James Bond. Some people considered DIE HARD a Christmas movie because it was set during the holiday season, even though the film had no connection to Christmas. Director John McTiernan knows how to make an action flick with a sense of scale and spectacle. The premise has lost much of its originality over the years.

The movie features groundbreaking cinematography, iconic lines, and the incredible acting of Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, who star as John McClane and Hans Gruber. One is a wisecracking hero cop, and the other is a psychopath. Back then, Willis was not yet as famous as the action star he has become now, so the thought of him in an action film was inconceivable. The brutal action sequences keep you on the edge of your seat.

I have only seen a few Die Hard movies, like the third and the latest, Live Free or Die Hard, but I had never seen the original until now. It's a great and memorable film for action-movie fans.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises Review









The Dark Knight Rises


Release Date: 19th July 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
DC Comics
DC Entertainment
Legendary Pictures
Syncopy

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 165 minutes


Budget: $230,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,084,939,099
(Worldwide - figure subject to change)


Plot Summary
Batman is called upon
again when an evil terrorist
named Bane arrives in
Gotham City, intent on
destroying it.


Cast
Christian Bale - Bruce
Wayne/Batman
Tom Hardy - Bane
Anne Hathaway - Selina 
Kyle/Catwoman
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - John 
Blake
Michael Caine - Alfred 
Pennyworth
Gary Oldman - Commissioner James Gordon
Morgan Freeman - Lucius Fox
Marion Cotillard - Miranda Tate
Cillian Murphy - Dr. Jonathan 
Crane (Cameo)
Liam Neeson - Ra's Al Ghul (Cameo)
Josh Pence - Young Ra's Al Ghul
Nestor Carbonell - Mayor
Anthony Garcia
Juno Temple - Jen
Ben Mendelsohn - John Daggett
Matthew Modine - Peter Foley
Burn Gorman - Philip Stryver
Alon Aboutbul - Leonid Pavel
Daniel Sunjata - Capt. Mark Jones
Chris Ellis - Father Reilly
Tyler Dean Flores - Mark
Brett Cullen - Byron Gilley
Rob Brown - Allen
Josh Stewart - Barsad
Will Estes - Officer Simon Jansen
Uri Gavriel - Blind Prisoner
John Nolan - Fredericks
Joey King - Older Prison Child
India Wadsworth - Warlord's Daughter
Thomas Lennon - Doctor
Patrick Leahy - Board Member #2
Christopher Judge - Mercenary Security #4

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Producer/
Director - Christopher Nolan
Based on Batman Characters - Bob Kane &
Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Character: Alfred Pennyworth - Jerry Robinson 
(Uncredited)
Story - David S. Goyer
Screenplay - Jonathan Nolan
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Kevin De La Noy
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker, 
Michael Uslan & Thomas Tull 
Producers - Charles Roven & Emma Thomas
Co-Producer - Jordan Goldberg
Consultant: IMAX - David Keighley 
Casting Directors - John Papsidea &
Toby Whale
Production Designers - Nathan Crowley & 
Kevin Kavanaugh
Supervising Art Directors - James Hambidge & 
Naaman Marshall
Costume Designer - Lindy Hemming
Director of Photography - Wally Pfister
Stunt Coordinators - Paul Jennings,
Sy Hollands & Tom Struthers 
Special Effects Supervisors - Chris Corbould & 
Andrew Smith
Special Effects Coordinators - Scott R. Fisher & 
Jeff Brink
Visual Effects Supervisor - Paul J. Franklin
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative - Pete Bebb
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Rob Hodgson
Visual Effects Producer - Mike Chambers
Film Editor - Lee Smith
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Richard King
Music - Hans Zimmer
Composers: Additional Music - Lorne Balfe &
Junkie XL


Review
While it still carries some loyalty to the Batman comic series and ingenious writing, 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' was sophisticated but a little bit shocking and it definitely runs as second best to the last movie 'The Dark Knight' Where do I start with this unbelievable superhero picture, the portrayal of the villain Bane is better than the one in 'Batman & Robin' because he is more menacing and intelligent. Tom Hardy is appropriate for playing the masked brute that we know from the Batman comic issues and cartoons. I praise Anne Hathaway's performance as Catwoman and she does it differently than Michelle Pfeiffer's dark and villainous interpretation and the continued acting by Christian Bale of which is fairly similar to his previous acting in the last two Batman movies.

All I can say is step aside Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan is in the house and I don't know whether to say that 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' is either the third or final film instalment to this masterpiece trilogy. It must be a conclusion to the shadowy masked hero character.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Friday, July 27, 2012

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Review









Batman: Mask of the Phantasm


Release Date: 25th December 1993 - USA


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment (presents)
Warner Bros. Animation


Genre: Animation/Family/
Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 73 minutes


Budget: $6,000,000

Box Office Gross: $5,863,139 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When a mysterious new villain, the Phantasm, kills a few of the city's most feared gangsters, Batman is blamed for the murders. It's up to the Caped Crusader to stop this shadowy figure and clear his name.


Voice Cast
Kevin Conroy - Bruce Wayne/
Batman
Mark Hamill - The Joker
Dana Delany - Andrea Beaumont
Hart Bochner - Arthur Reeves
Stacy Keach - The Phantasm/Carl Beaumont
Abe Vigoda - Salvatore Valestra
Dick Miller - Charles "Chuckie" Sol
John P. Ryan - Buzz Bronski
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. - Alfred
Pennyworth
Bob Hastings - Commissioner James Gordon
Robert Costanzo - Detective
Harvey Bullock
Arleen Sorkin - Ms Bambi (Uncredited)

Crew
Co-Producer/Digital
Animator/Background Stylist/Director - Eric Radomski
Co-Producer/Character/
Storyboard Designer/
Director - Bruce Timm
Sequence Directors/Storyboard Designers - Kevin Alteri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur and Dan Riba
Batman Creators - Bob Kane
and Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Character: The Joker - Jerry
Robinson (Uncredited)
Story/Screenplay/Co-Producer -
Alan Burnett
Screenplay - Paul Dini, Martin Pasko and Michael Reaves
Executive Producer - Tom Ruegger
Producers - Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan
Casting and Voice Supervision - Andrea Romano
Art Director/Character Designer - Glen Murakami
Character Designers - Chen-Yi Chang,
Michael Diedrich, Craig Kellman and
Dexter Smith
Storyboard Designers - Butch Lukic,
Doug Murphy, Gregg Davidson,
Ronnie Del Carmen, Brad Rader, Joe Denton,
Jeff Snow, Michael Goguen and Mark Wallace
Background Design Supervisor - Ted Blackman
Supervising Timing Director - James T. Walker
Camera Director: Dong Yang Animation -
Sung-Il Choi
Editor - Al Breitenbach
Supervising Sound Editor - Julia Evershade
Phantasm Voice Design/Re-Recording Mixer -
Wayne Artman
Re-Recording/Music Scoring Mixer -
Robert Fernandez
Re-Recording Mixer - Tom E. Dahl
Foley Artists - Kevin Bartnof,
Ellen Heuer and Richard Partlow (Uncredited)
Music - Shirley Walker
Synthesist - Hans Zimmer


Review 
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM had a compelling plot, gripping mystery, and excellent 2D animation. Because it is dark, complex, and mature, many critics consider it one of the best animated and comic book movies. I remember watching PHANTASM on VHS a few times as a kid while on a family holiday in Narooma. Having grown up with Batman: The Animated Series, I'm not surprised that this movie is a spin-off. I am pleased that this superhero film has fared so well, given its disastrous theatrical run and subsequent VHS release. In reality, this animated film is an extraordinary masterpiece. What makes the movie all the more worthwhile is that it is remarkably violent and contains some mature themes, which is why it is PG-rated.

I praise the voice acting of Kevin Conroy, who does a brilliant job as the Caped Crusader, and Mark Hamill as the Joker. A few impressive scenes include a flashback of Bruce Wayne putting on the mask for the first time as Batman, which the live-action movies didn't show.

MASK OF THE PHANTASM is one of my favourites, and I still believe the best Batman movie of all time is The Dark Knight. This incarnation is a must-see for fans of the comic book.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Dark Knight Review











The Dark Knight


Release Date: 16th July 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presentation)
Legendary Pictures (in association with)
DC Comics
Syncopy

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 152 minutes


Budget: $185,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,008,480,529 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Batman now keeps a watchful eye on Gotham City as its defender and sets out to rid the city of its organised crime with the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent. They soon realise they have met their match when they encounter a psychotic criminal with unclear motivations known as the Joker, who pressures Batman into making tough choices.


Cast
Christian Bale - Bruce
Wayne/Batman
Heath Ledger - The Joker
Aaron Eckhart - Harvey Dent/
Two-Face
Michael Caine - Alfred
Pennyworth
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Rachel Dawes
Gary Oldman - James Gordon
Morgan Freeman - Lucius Fox
Eric Roberts - Sal Maroni
Chin Han - Lau
Colin McFarlane - Gillian B. Loeb
Michael Jai White - Gambol
Ritchie Coster - The Chechen
Anthony Michael Hall - Mike Engel
Néstor Carbonell - Mayor Anthony Garcia
Keith Szarabajka - Det. Gerard Stephens
Joshua Harto - Coleman Reese
Monique Gabriela Curnen - Anna Ramirez
Ron Dean - Det. Michael Wuertz
Melinda McGraw - Barbara
Gordon
Nathan Gamble - James Gordon, Jr.
Michael Vieau - Rossi
Michael Stoyanov - Dopey
William Smile - Happy
Danny Goldring - Grumpy
Michael Jai White - Gambol
Matthew O'Neill - Chuckles
William Fichtner - Bank Manager
Beatrice Rosen - Natascha
Nydia Rodriguez Terracina - Judge Surillo
Andy Luther - Brian
Philip Bulcock - Murphy
K. Todd Freeman - Polk
Matt Shallenberger - Berg
Patrick Clear - Judge Freel
Cillian Murphy - Dr. Jonathan
Crane/Scarecrow (Cameo)
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister - Tattooed Prisoner
Patrick Leahy - Gentleman at Party (Cameo)
David Dastmalchian - Joker's Thug
Vincenzo Nicoli - Crime Boss
Paul Birchard - Cop with Fat Thug
William Armstrong - Evans
Hannah Gunn - Gordon's Daughter

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Producer/
Director - Christopher Nolan
Batman Creators - Bob Kane
and Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Characters: Alfred Pennyworth &
The Joker (Uncredited)/Creative Consultant:
DC Comics - Jerry Robinson
Story - David S. Goyer
Screenplay - Jonathan Nolan
Script Supervisor - Steve Gehrke
Associate Producer - Jordan Goldberg
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Kevin De La Noy
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker,
Michael Uslan and Thomas Tull
Producers - Lorne Orleans (IMAX Version),
Charles Roven and Emma Thomas
Consultant: IMAX - David Keighley
Casting Director - John Papsidera
Trainers: Birds & Animals - Allan Castillo,
Gwen Griffiths, Mary Johnson,
Thomas L. Gundseron, Philip Hoelcher,
Dennis Posey, Julie Tottman and Tony Suffredini
Production Designer - Nathan Crowley
Supervising Art Directors - Kevin Kavanaugh
and Simon Lamont
Art Directors - Mark Bartholomew,
James Hambidge, Craig Jackson,
Steven Lawrence and Naaman Marshall
Assistant Art Directors - Toby Britton,
Phillis Lehmer and Peter Dorme
Standby Art Directors - Neal Callow
and Ashley Winter
Set Decorator - Peter Lando
Prop Masters - Kris Peck and Jamie Wilkinson
Armourers - Jon Baker, Harry Lu
and Damian Mitchell
Costume Design - Lindy Hemming
Assistant Costume Designers - Guy Speranza
and Emily-Rose Yiaxis
Costume Supervisors - Dan Grace,
Jennifer Jobst and Turgay Gürsoy (Uncredited)
Costume Concept Artist - Rob Bliss
Costume Effects Supervisor - Graham Churchyard
Makeup/Hair Designer - Peter Robb-King
Makeup Artist: Heath Ledger - John Caglione Jr.
Prosthetic Supervisor - Conor O'Sullivan
Director of Photography - Wally Pfister
Aerial Photography - Hans Bjerno
"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Bob Gorelick
Camera Technician: IMAX - Wayne Baker
First Assistant Camera: "A" Camera - Bob Hall
Production Supervisors - Geoff Dibben
and Thomas Hayslip
Production Coordinators - Candice D. Campos
and Stephanie Dölker
Assistant Production Coordinators -
Claire Connelly, Matthew Jenkins,
Mark Swenson and Hallam Rice-Edwards
Unit Production Managers - Jan Foster
and Susan Towner
Supervising Location Managers - Robin Higgs
and James R. McAllister
First Assistant Director - Nilo Otero
Stunt Coordinators - Paul Jennings,
Rick Le Fevour and Tom Struthers
Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Sy Hollands
Fight Consultants - Andy Norman
and Justo Dieguez
Aerial Coordinator/Pilot - Craig Hosking
Special Effects Supervisor - Chris Corbould
Special Effects Coordinators - Lynne Corbould
and Don Parsons
Mechanical Effects Supervisors: New Deal
Studios - Scott Beverly and Robert Spurlock
Prep Supervisor - Ian Lowe
Visual Effects Supervisor - Nick Davis
Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -
Timothy Webber
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -
Paul J. Franklin
Visual Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios -
Ian Hunter
Visual Effects Producer: New Deal Studios -
David Sanger
Miniature Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios -
Forest P. Fischer
Director of Photography: New Deal Studios -
Tim Angulo
CG Supervisors: Double Negative - Pete Bebb,
David Vickery and Philippe LePrince
Compositing Supervisor: Double Negative -
Andrew Lockley
Compositing Supervisor: Framestore -
Jonathan Fawkner
CG Sequence Supervisors: Double Negative -
Stuart Farley, Jordan Kirk, Dan Neal,
Aleksandar Pejic and Trina M. Roy
Lead CG Lighting Artists: Double Negative -
Bruno Baron, Antonie Moulineau, David Basalla,
Maxx Wai In Leong and Pietro Ponti
Compositing Sequence Supervisors: Double
Negative - Robin Beard, Ciaran Crowley,
Bronwyn Edwards, Gruff Owen and George Zwier
Film Editor - Lee Smith
First Assistant Editor - John Lee
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Richard King
Production Sound Mixer - Ed Novick
Sound Effects Recording Mixers - John P. Fasal
and Eric Potter
Re-Recording Mixers - Lora Hirschberg
and Gary A. Rizzo
Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Doug Hemphill
Foley Artists - Alyson Dee Moore and John Roesch
Music - James Newton Howard
Music/Synthesiser Programmer/Score
Producer (Uncredited) - Hans Zimmer
Composers: Additional Music - Lorne Balfe
and Craig Braginsky (Uncredited)
Music Ambient Designer - Mel Wesson
Synthesiser Programmers - Henry Jackman
and Howard Scarr
Music Editors - Alex Gibson and Daniel Pender
Supervising Score Coordinator - Steven Kofsky
Score Coordinator - Becky Bentham
Score Recordist - Geoff Foster
Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson


Awards

2009 Academy Awards
Best Sound Editing - Richard King (Won)
Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger (Won) (Posthumously)
----------------
Best Art Direction - Nathan Crowley
and Peter Lando (Nominated)
Best Cinematography - Wally Pfister (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Lee Smith (Nominated)
Best Makeup - John Caglione Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan (Nominated)
Best Sound Mixing - Lora Hirschberg,
Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Nick Davis, Chris Corbould,
Timothy Webber and Paul J. Franklin (Nominated)


Review
An ultimate continuation of the last Batman movie by the notable director Chris Nolan, THE DARK KNIGHT is a perfect picture and a terrific comic book adaptation. Its visual style and darker tone also make it influential, solidifying its status as a pivotal movie in the superhero genre. More serious than its predecessor, Batman Begins, it still has enough tension and action to satisfy popcorn movie lovers.

The film has an intricate plot and examines themes of morality, reason, heroism, and sacrifice, making it a thought-provoking and engaging cinematic experience. The acting was brilliant, particularly Aaron Eckhart, who plays the tragic Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, and the late Heath Ledger, who delivered a tremendous portrayal of Batman's dark, twisted, and psychotic foe, the Joker.

Eckhart has delivered a more authentic interpretation of Two-Face than Tommy Lee Jones did in Batman ForeverJones's portrayal is hammy and goofy, which doesn't match Two-Face's dual personality. In retrospect, Eckhart's portrayal  is different and much better. It's a shame that Heath tragically died just a few months before the film was released, as that role will forever cement his legacy. Fans would have loved to see him return to his character in the next instalment if he were still alive.

All I need to say about THE DARK KNIGHT is that I loved it. It's not only the best movie of 2008. But it's also the best Batman movie adaptation of all time. This film has had a massive following from fans and non-fans of all the released Batman interpretations. I highly recommend it.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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