Grade: **** "It was so good, I almost peed my pants!" -- Vivian
You took the words right out of my mouth, Viv. I remember a time when I couldn't stand the sight of Julia Roberts. I don't even know what she did to offend me so. Maybe I felt this movie was hyped into the ground and I thought it could never live up to my expectations, so why even bother seeing it.
Then I watched Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. "You know, even though we've seen Pretty Woman, like, 36 times, I never get tired of making fun of it." If Romy & Michele liked it, I had to see what all the fuss was about.
Perhaps it's because I waited almost 10 years to see it, but I had completely forgotten about all the hype. I had forgotten that Julia Roberts was nominated for an Oscar alongside Meryl Streep, Anjelica Huston and Kathy Bates. I, however, had not forgotten about the horrifically awesome soundtrack. I think "The King of Wishful Thinking" was stuck in my head for a good two weeks. Don't even get me started on that Roxette song.
I'm sure you all know the story by now: Richard Gere is the dapper, older gentleman, Julia Roberts is the hooker with the heart of gold, Jason Alexander is the a-hole bent on breaking the two up and Hector Elizondo is the kindly old fellow who teaches the trailer trash how to fit in on Rodeo Drive. And let's not forget Laura San Giacomo (and her eyebrows) as the foul-mouthed best friend.
Yes, it's formulaic. Yes, you know how it's going to end before it even begins. But sometimes you just want to put in a movie and not have to think too hard about it. This is the perfect movie for that. There's so much to love here...and so much to make fun of, as Lisa Kudrow so eloquently pointed out to me.
Why you should watch Pretty Woman: it's a classic romantic-comedy with a great cast and a solid script that has stood the test of time.
Why you should skip it: you haven't forgiven this couple for Runaway Bride.
Did you know?: The scene where Edward snaps the necklace case down on Vivian's fingers was improvised by Gere, and Roberts's reaction was totally natural. The filmmakers liked it so much, they decided to leave it in.
Molly Ringwald was originally offered the role of Vivian but turned it down. And Al Pacino turned down the role of Edward. Can we just stop for a minute and think about what this movie would have been like with these two?
Credits: U.S. (Silver Screen, Touchstone) 119m Technicolor Director: Garry Marshall Producer: Arnon Milchan, Steven Reuther Screenplay: J.F. Lawton Music: James Newton Howard Cast: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, Hector Elizondo, Alex Hyde-White, Amy Yasbeck, Elinor Donahue, Judith Baldwin, Jason Randal, Bill Applebaum, Tracy Bjork, Gary Greene, Billy Gallo
Grade: ***** "I'm gonna make this pencil disappear. Ta-daa! It's gone!" -- The Joker
After getting a healthy dose of camp in Tim Burton's Batman, it was time to see director Christopher Nolan really put the "dark" in The Dark Knight. Serving as a "sequel" to Nolan's Batman Begins (2005), we are spared the superhero origin story and are thrown right into the IMAX-lovin' action.
But this film is more than just a rock 'em, sock 'em superhero movie. Nolan does a great job combining the comic book mythology into the real world. Sure, there are the fantastical, endless supply of gadgets from Batman's utility belt. But, at least in Nolan's world, it's explained that Batman is using Bruce Wayne's company, and CEO Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), to finance all of his wonderful toys, whereas in Burton's world, they all come from his belt. And, sure, there's the Batpod along with death-defying stunts for the mindless action relief, but in this film, Batman squarely faces the problem that his character has always battled: How can a vigilante be ethically sound?
On one end of the character spectrum, there's Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), representing the side of good and trying to restore order to Gotham City after the events of the first film. And on the completely opposite side of the spectrum lies the Joker (Heath Ledger). The Joker serves clearly as an agent of chaos. He even says so. His sole purpose in the movie is to throw a wrench into Dent's plans and help him along his inevitable path to becoming the villain Two-Face. And right in the middle of these two is the Batman. He operates outside of the law, like the Joker, but his ultimate goal is to achieve the peace that Dent so desperately wants. Some critics have compared this movie with that of the Bush Administration's "War on Terror." Batman was willing to do "whatever it took" to bring in the Joker, including torture and ignoring the law. However, Batman is sidetracked by the Joker's random chaos, that he fails to see his true intentions -- setting Two-Face loose on the world.
Even though this movie is not at all about the Joker, Heath Ledger manages to steal the show, much like Jack Nicholson did in Tim Burton's version. Nolan wisely omits the Joker's origin story, adding further to the mystery of this character. Sure, we're given two completely different stories from the Joker himself, but, come on, they're probably both false. I'll admit that I was a little worried that all the hype around Ledger's performance was going to ruin the movie for me, but I have to agree that his embodiment of this character was well worth the hype, along with his posthumous Oscar win.
There was minor backlash from crazed fanboys who were disappointed that the movie was primarily filmed in Chicago, because Batman belonged in "Gotham City" and not in the real world. But, it has long been established that the "Gotham City" in the Batman comics was modeled after the Windy City, much like "Metropolis" was modeled after New York City. So, I was not at all rattled by seeing Batman battle the Joker in the streets of Chicago. Now, if principal photography had been in West Hollywood, that's a completely different story...
Did you know?: IMAX cameras were used for the first time in feature film history with this movie. There are six action-heavy sequences, along with some high altitude shots, filmed on the IMAX ratio. If you're watching the Blu-ray version, you'll notice that the ratio switches from widescreen to IMAX during these key scenes.
Why you should watch The Dark Knight: aside from Heath Ledger's haunting portrayal of the Joker, this is a very smart film rich in character, emotion and butt-kicking action! Why you shouldn't watch: it might be too dark for you.
Credits: U.S. (Warner Bros.) 152m Color Director: Christopher Nolan Producer: Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, David S. Goyer Photography: Wally Pfister Music: Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman
Oscars: Heath Ledger (actor in a supporting role), Richard King (sound editing) Oscarnominations: Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando (art direction), Wally Pfister (cinematography), Lee Smith (editing), John Caglione, Jr., Conor O'Sullivan (makeup), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick (sound), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin (visual effects)
Grade: **** "Can somebody tell me what kind of world we live in, where a man dressed up as a *bat* gets all of my press? This town needs an enema." -- The Joker
OK, before I get into it, I have to tell you the spooky coincidence that happened today. First of all, JC and I watched this a couple of weekends ago (we paired it with The Dark Knight for a Batman Double Feature). I just got around to writing about it today. So, I started reminiscing about seeing this movie on opening night back in '89. So, I wanted to look up when this movie actually opened. June 23. Spooky, right? Today is Tim Burton's Batman's 21st anniversary.
The smartest decision Tim Burton made in Batman (besides casting Jack Nicholson) was hiring production designer Anton Furst to create Gotham City. The sets literally look like something right out of a comic book or 1930s film noir. Gotham City was as much a character in the movie as Alfred or Commissioner Gordon.
The second smartest decision (besides casting Jack Nicholson) was hiring Danny Elfman to compose the soundtrack score. It was instantly iconic and set the stage for just about every comic book movie that followed.
I remember back in 1988 when it was announced that Mr. Mom was going to be my Batman, my first reaction was "he's not going to be MY Batman!" I was a little upset. Sure, I loved Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, but this was freakin' Batman. Had there been an Internet back then, I'm sure the fanboys would have broken it. But as soon as we found out that Jack Nicholson would be putting on the clown make-up as the Joker, all was right with the world.
As a HUGE comic book nerd, I couldn't have been more excited about this movie. I had the Danny Elfman score on something called a "compact disc." Heck, I even had the Prince soundtrack of songs that were "inspired" by the movie. (In retropsect, "Batdance" is an awful song and should only be played for the purpose of torture.) I was there on opening night, in what had to have been the longest line that I had ever stood in for a movie. I was hooked from the opening scene where Batman foils a couple of muggers and utters the now, simplistically iconic line, "I'm Batman."
Don't get me wrong, this movie has its flaws. Jack Nicholson is fantastic as the Joker, but there are times when scenes are played out just a little too long. Specifically, when he and his thugs invade the musuem. My guess is that there was an agreement that at least one of Prince's songs had to be played in its entiriety. So, the Joker and his gang deface valuable works of art to the tunes of "Partyman." This is also the point of the movie when Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) begins her non-stop screamfest. Just do what I do. Turn it into a drinking game. Get your favorite drink and take a swig every time she screams, screeches or squawks. You'll be so plastered by the end of the movie you won't even realize she's doing it anymore.
Another thing I realized after I first saw this movie, Michael Keaton wasn't such a bad casting decision after all. He was at least better than Val Kilmer and/or George Clooney. Keaton was able to turn Bruce Wayne into a troubled, brooding orphan with serious identity issues, which is exactly what the character should be. It would have been easy for him to resign himself to playing second fiddle to Nicholson's Joker in his own movie, but he stood his ground and was the best, in my opinion, Batman in the original franchise.
This movie is a must-see, especially if you're a comic book nerd, like me. Even if you're not, it's still a great action flick with lots of quotable lines ("Wait'll they get a load of me...") and outlandish visuals (choreographed mime attack, anyone?). It's a great comic counterpart to The Dark Knight, which is great to watch as a double-feature. Just do whatever you can to avoid Batman & Robin, one of the worst movies in American cinema history.
Did you know?: I wasn't the only angry comic book nerd. 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros. offices when it was announced that Michael Keaton was cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Prince wasn't the first choice to write and perform songs for the movie. Michael Jackson was originally approached, but he had to turn it down due to his concert commitments.
Credits: U.S./G.B. (Polygram, Warner Bros.) 126m Technicolor Director: Tim Burton Producer: Peter Guber, Jon Peters Screenplay: Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren, Bob Kane Photography: Roger Pratt Music: Danny Elfman, Prince Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, William Hootkins, Richard Strange, Carl Chase, Mac McDonald
Oscar: Anton Furst, Peter Young (art direction)
Why you should watch Tim Burton's Batman: it set the standard for what a great comic book movie should be. Why you should skip it: you can't deal with Kim Basinger's screeching.
