A Trip to the Blockbusters

As I can't do justice to my cat so soon after giving him up, I figured I'd give a quick rundown of the 3 movies I've seen so far this summer.

The Dark Knight: There is very little I can say about this movie that hasn't already been said. Visually impressive, solid plot, and Heath Ledger alone is worth the price of admission. Everyone talks about him winning a posthumous Oscar, but his performance was good enough to take the prize even without the added boost that his death will give his chances. Christian Bale was solid, although he didn't seem as everpresent as he was in the first movie, mostly because the other characters were solid enough that he didn't have to be. Aaron Eckhart was good, and what Maggie Gyllenhall loses to Katie Holmes in the looks department, she more than makes up for with the upgrade she brings as an actress. There is a large part of me that hopes they don't make another one, although I know they will. Let's hope that the third Batman can avoid the curse that seems to follow most third movies.
Grade: A+

WALL-E: I came into this movie with expectations of the kind of masterpiece that critics had been raving about. I came out slightly disappointed, but entertained. While the animation was Pixar's usual level of awesome, and the characters were endearing, the plot dragged at points. The movie was kinda preachy, and the idea of Disney, which has made a vast empire on turning families into consumerist drones and couch potatoes, making a movie whose moral appears to be not to do just that, seems a little hypocritical. If you want to see "the best romantic comedy of the summer", WALL-E very well might be the way to go. However, after you see it, if you want a great animated movie, rewatch Ratatouille. You'll be glad you did.
Grade: B+

Hellboy 2: Of the three movies I mentioned, this is the one that you are least likely to have seen. However, I believe that, if you don't see it, you are doing yourself a great disservice. The acting isn't great, but if you're at this movie, you didn't come for the acting. Guillermo Del Toro puts on one of the greatest spectacles that you'll ever see, with strange looking creatures and breathtaking action scenes galore. I think that you could watch this movie on mute, and the movie wouldn't lose a bit of its impressiveness. A truly brilliant piece of summer escapism.
Grade: A-

May all your hits be crits,
B