<b>Actor:</b> Morgan Freeman

Come here. Hey! Look at me. So I had a wife, beautiful, like you, who tells me I worry too much. Who tells me I ought to smile more. Who gambles and gets in deep with the sharks... look at me! One day, they carve her face. And we have no money for surgeries. She can't take it. I just want to see her smile again, hmm? I just want her to know that I don't care about the scars. So . . . I stick a razor in my mouth and do this . . . to myself. And you know what? She can't stand the sight of me! She leaves. Now I see the funny side. Now I'm always smiling!


Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller

Running time: 152 minutes




My review:

What a masterpiece this film is! This is one of my all time favourite films ever because I just thought that basically everything in this film was perfect. This is one of the few films that I loved that had a lot of awesome qualities involved. Qualities like different styles of acting with the different sort of characters within the film. First of all I am going to start my review by saying about the plot. The plot is awesome. It is one of those plots that have quite a lot of different genres in it. It is obviously action packed and has now become my favourite action film of all time. It is really tense and suspenseful. It made my heart beat like it never has before but I am afraid it isnt my favourite thriller. Doesnt beat the suspense of Psycho, The Shining, Jaws and Silence Of The Lambs. This is also a very emotional film with a lot of dramatic turns and twists that occur in the film. It is a plot that sounds quite short but when you watch the film it isnt a short plot at all. It goes on but with a lot of good scenes and scenes that the viewers didnt know anything about before the film was released. The script fits perfectly with the style and creativity of the film. The film basically begins how Batman Begins ends really when Scarecrow appears at the very beginning and doesnt appear again in the film which is a bit of a relief because the film wouldnt be that good if Scarecrow was in the rest of the film. Christopher Nolan directed this film so well and because of this he has now officially become one of my all time favourite directors. I loved The Prestige, Memento, Batman Begins and Insomnia. But Chris Nolan himself said that he wouldnt be able to make any better film than he has The Dark Knight. I dont think he has made one bad film really. They are all great successes. When you first see the title of this film, it doesnt really sound that strong really but when the film is on in front of you it fits perfectly with the plot and other various things in the film. It is quite bizarre because knight means like soldier or hero but it fits Batman perfectly because he is the Dark Knight. In other words like the dark hero. Now onto the characters and then I will write about each of the casts performances. Batmans character is obviously really good but the Batman character in this one is a lot darker with a lot more inventive technology like Alfred Pennyworth mostly helps Bruce with ideas of what to do with the technology but Lucius makes it for him and gives Bruce the equipment especially when Bruce can afford to buy it anyway because he is so rich. There is something that we see in Bruce in this film that we have never seen before. For example, he doesnt like killing people when he is Batman but when Joker comes along that is another matter. Also it brings out whether Batman is a real hero when he doesnt really kill any of the troublemakers of Gotham. He doesnt so much chuck the evil people away in a bin he mostly sweeps them out of the city and tries to keep peace within Gotham. Also, there isnt really that much talk about Batmans past in this film either because his past really effected him when he became Batman. But I wont say anymore about Batman because I might spoil it for you whether you have seen this film or not. The Joker is the best character in the whole film I think because he has a psychotic character to him and because he is a clown that makes the Joker even more of an evil, dangerous and psychotic character. In this film there is some secret past of the Joker that we didnt know about but as I said I am not going to say. There is a lot of different sort of situations that Joker plots on when terrorising Gotham. Like where, when, who and how he can perform terrorism in Gotham. It is like the Joker has a lot of accomplices but as he loses them he gains them back again which is quite bizarre but pretty easy aswell. The Joker is a character that can affect Batman not just physically in a fight but emotionally aswell. There is a comment about Heath Ledgers performance as the Joker later on in the review. Harvey Dent is a character who is making extra special out of himself like becoming the new hero of Gotham along with Batman. He is sort of like Bruce Waynes heir in the Wayne business. This film is making him become like the un-superhero Batman who is keeping peace in Gotham until the Joker comes along and then changes things in his life forever. He comes along at an awkward time between Bruce and Rachels relationship as friends as both of them have hidden feelings for each other. I didnt so much like Rachels character in this film but performance in this one was better than Batman Begins. Lieutenant Gordon gets more and more involved in this film. He is in a lot more scenes in different sorts of situations. Alfred and Lucius Fox are obviously involved in this film but not as involved as they both were in Batman Begins. Now, onto the acting Morgan Freeman was good as Lucius Fox again and so was Sir Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth. Gary Oldman improved a lot in this film. He was a lot more dramatic because his character became more personal and got more involved in not just the whole film in general but it the lives of most of the characters within the film particularly Batman and Harvey Dent. Well done, Gary!! Aaron Eckhart was excellent as Harvey Dent because he performed really well as a hero but also as a murderer as soon as he became Two-Face. I wouldnt refer Harvey Dent a villain at all because he soon went mad for a reason which contains a spoiler. The Two-Face make up that Aaron has to have on his face is absolutely superb because the one half of his real face obviously looks real but when you see his other half of his face as a like ripped apart and burned aswell face. Because the make up was so good on Two-Face, I couldnt really tell whether the half face was a mask or just computer visual effects. To me I think it was both mask and visual effects. When Harvey becomes Two-Face I really felt for him because of what he became and also because of something that happens. Maggie Gyllenhaals performance as Rachel Dawes is good but not brilliant. She acted a bit dull. I couldnt see her love for either Bruce or Harvey at all. But I did think that she was far better than Katie Holmes was as Rachel in Batman Begins. Christian Bale makes a very impactful and awesome return as Batman once again. Christians performance is a lot darker as Batman than Batman Begins was by far. He performs a lot more stunts and greater action sequences within the film. But the greatest performance of the whole film and probably one of the greatest performances of the year which is Heath Ledgers terrifying performance as the Joker. Heath creates a character that nobody has ever seen before. He delivers a performance that will be remembered for the ages and that can never be forgotten. Heath creates a voice that is completely different from Jack Nicholsons Joker not to mention his own voice. Heaths Joker is totally different to Jacks Joker because Heaths was more psychological and menacing but Jacks was more comical if you get what I mean. Like for example Jack Nicholsons make up makes him look like Jack Nicholson but with Heath Ledgers make up on and the wig and so forth makes it looks hard to identify the Joker in The Dark Knight as Heath Ledger. Some critics say and even I say that Jack Nicholsons Joker is very hard to beat and no one will ever beat him but that failed until I saw this film. I think Heath used a lot of different things that leaded up to his own Joker like watching psychological movies like A Clockwork Orange. He kept a diary during filming of how he can change things around in the character and also how he can perform his different talents as the Joker. The make-up is absolutely superb on Heath. The scars that go across his lips look like real scars unlike the Tim Burton version on Jack Nicholson. Heaths hair in this film suited the Joker perfectly too because the Joker can be imagined easily with long hair like Heath appears with in this film. Heaths Joker was more deadly than Jacks. A sick thing with Heaths Joker was that the Dark Knight Joker had yellow teeth, the actor was a lot younger and laugh was a lot better. Heaths Joker laugh is really joyful in a real psychological way. It is a laugh that can always stay in your head and cant stop thinking about. It is quite a quirky feeling but a really good one aswell if you understand what I mean. Heath Ledger brings a quote that the Joker has never stated before in a film. For example Why so serious? and there are some other spin-chilling quotes that Heath comes up with in this film which you will have to wait and see. His performance was so good in this film that it has become my favourite supporting actor performance even beating Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction. Heath will get an Oscar for his performance. I would be very surprised if he doesnt win or even doesnt get nominated. This is his film. It is a shame that he isnt around to applaud his performance as the Joker. This film will win Oscar for either Best Leading Actor or Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger, definitely Best Sound, maybe Best Visual Effects and definitely Best Make Up. Best action film ever made. Best superhero film ever made and favourite film of 2008 so far. R.I.P: Heath Ledger.

I wish I could tell you that Andy fought the good fight, and the Sisters let him be. I wish I could tell you that - but prison is no fairy-tale world. He never said who did it, but we all knew. Things went on like that for awhile - prison life consists of routine, and then more routine. Every so often, Andy would show up with fresh bruises. The Sisters kept at him - sometimes he was able to fight 'em off, sometimes not. And that's how it went for Andy - that was his routine. I do believe those first two years were the worst for him, and I also believe that if things had gone on that way, this place would have got the best of him.


Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown

Genre: Drama

Running time: 136 minutes




My review:

This film is a total masterpiece. It is without a doubt one of the greatest films ever made. This is probably the number one film that can change peoples lives forever. This film is probably Stephen Kings most famous novel but I prefered the Green Mile to this one because the Green Mile was more depressing and there was more drama even though there was an awful lot drama in this film too. My favourite scene of the film is where Andy escapes the prison and stands in the rain with his arms in the air. That is probably one of the best movie moments ever and it is a classic image of the film. Well, that scene is pretty much the poster and cover of the film. The acting in this film was absolutely superb from Morgan Freeman. He definately deserved his Oscar nomination but I dont think he deserved to win it. Tim Robbins was good but I think he could have done a bit better as Andy Dufresne. I think that actors like Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise or Kevin Costner would have been good for the character. This film shows how scary prison life can really be. Even for the present prisons right now like being stuck in the cells, doing chores for the prison and even sometimes get raped by either another prisoner or a guard. I think film and also Fight Club are the highest ranked films that havent won any Oscars at all which isnt like most classic films. Well Fight Club was only nominated for Best Sound Effects but this film was up for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Music - Original Score, Best Film Editing and Best Sound. No wonder this film is number 2 on IMDBs top 250 films of all time. This film will remain a masterpiece for many, many generations to come.

They told me there was nothing out there, nothing to fear. But the night my parents were murdered I caught a glimpse of something. I've looked for it ever since. I went around the world, searched in all the shadows. And there is something out there in the darkness, something terrifying, something that will not stop until it gets revenge... Me.


Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman

Genre: Action/Adventure/Crime/Thriller

Running time: 140 minutes




My review:

This is an absolutely fantastic piece of art from director Christopher Nolan. Christian Bale delivers one of greatest male performances of the year as Bruce Wayne/Batman. He is better than Michael Keaton, George Clooney and Val Kilmer. The action in this film was absolutely superb and so were the visual effects aswell. Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after he starts to learn more fighting skills after his parents were murdered by a thug outside a theatre. He starts to become sort of haunted by the sight of his parents murder and also has flashbacks of him with his parents. The reason Bruce became Batman was obviously of his fear of bats since he fell down that well. The Batman outfit is just amazing and so is the Batmobile aswell! It is one of those films that looks like an obvious fantasy film but personally I dont think Batman is a fantasy film at all because Batman doesnt really have powers like Superman does. He just invents technology and makes his cape and mask. The very large cape is how he can fly through the air. Batman is obviously a fictional character but has the abilities that arent really fantasy if you understand what I mean. But this film was very good with a lot of different qualities just like this films Oscar nominated cinematography. I am not sure whether this will be better than its sequel the Dark Knight. I think it might be but will wait and see.

To make a fighter you gotta strip them down to bare wood: you can't just tell 'em to forget everything you know if you gotta make 'em forget even their bones... make 'em so tired they only listen to you, only hear your voice, only do what you say and nothing else... show 'em how to keep their balance and take it away from the other guy... how to generate momentum off their right toe and how to flex your knees when you fire a jab... how to fight backin' up so that the other guy doesn't want to come after you. Then you gotta show 'em all over again. Over and over and over... till they think they're born that way.<


Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter

Genre: Drama/Sport

Running time: 132 minutes




My review:

In the wake of a painful estrangement from his daughter, boxing trainer Frankie Dunn has been unwilling to let himself get close to anyone for a very long time until Maggie Fitzgerald walks into his gym. In a life of constant struggle, Maggie got herself this far on raw talent, unshakable focus and a tremendous force of will. But more than anything, she wants someone to believe in her. The last thing Frankie needs is that kind of responsibility, let alone that kind of risk, but won over by Maggies sheer determination, he begrudgingly agrees to take her on. In turns exasperating and inspiring each other, the two come to discover that they share a common spirit that transcends the pain and loss of their pasts, and they find in each other a sense of family they lost long ago. Yet, they both face a battle that will demand more heart and courage than any they have ever known. This film was really depressing but the most dramatic of all of the boxing films that I have watched before. Hilary Swank delivers a brilliant Oscar winning performance as Maggie Fitzgerald because Hilary really looked like a true boxer and a boxer with a great passion and really makes the character inspiring and pleasureable to watch. She seems like a really nice person whos life was falling apart but she gains the spirit. Clint Eastwood was really good in an acting performance as Frankie Dunn. I really liked Morgan Freeman in his Oscar winning performance. I really like Clint Eastwood directing films but I prefer Mystic River to this, Unforgiven, Flags Of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima. I was surprised that this film won Best Picture Oscar. In my opinion, Finding Neverland should have won it. This is still an absolutely brilliant boxing piece of filmmaking from Clint Eastwood.

I mean, the father's got him in this crack den, subsisting on twinkies and ass-whippings, and this little boy just wants someone to tell him that he's doing a good job. You're worried what's Catholic? I mean, kids forgive. Kids don't judge. Kids turn the other cheek. What do they get for it? So I went back out there, I put an ounce of heroin on the living room floor, and I sent the father on a ride, seven to life.


Directed by: Ben Affleck
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan

Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller

Running time: 114 minutes




My review:

My expectations of this film werent very high but when I watched this film I thought that this film was so underrated because of several reasons really because it hasnt been out in public in the UK until June 2008 when the film was original released in October 2007. This film disturbed me a lot because this film reminded me and my family a lot of missing British girl Madeline McCann and I am British. This film follows a little year old blonde haired girl called Amanda McCready who goes missing. She has a mother who is a drunk and a bit of a druggie. She has serious issues and when Amanda goes missing she feels terrible and starts to realise how much of a bad mother she is. Two detectives who are boyfriend and girlfriend are investigating the disappearance of Amanda. It stars Casey Affleck who is brother of Ben Affleck who is the director of this film. It also stars Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, John Ashton and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman. I thought everyones performances were decent but particularly Amy Ryans Oscar nominated performance as troubled mother Helene McCready. It is a really dramatic psychological thriller that is very underrated indeed. Despite the fact that this reminded a lot of Madeline McCann and I was very upset about it, I still really enjoyed this film very much.

The simplest thing is... I loved him. And I miss him. Carter and I saw the world together. Which is amazing... When you think that only three months ago, we were complete strangers! I hope that it doesn't sound selfish of me but... the last months of his life were the best months of mine. He saved my life... And he knew it before I did.


Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow

Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Drama

Running time: 97 minutes




My review:

What a really good film this film is. The plot is very strong because what Edward and Carter set out to do by seeing the world which is sometimes something people with a terminal illness or any similar condition would actually do. This film is really touching and has a lot of sad drama with the differences between the two characters. Carter Chambers is a mechanic who is suffering from cancer and it is terminal. He has a wife with three children and has grandchildren too. Edward Cole is a billionaire business man who also has cancer. Edward has no family apart from his daughter who he never sees. Carter and Edward have nothing in common but when they meet each other and become quite personal with each other they start to become really good friends. Despite of how dramatic this film is it is pretty funny aswell. There are some scenes that are just hilarious that make you not stop laughing. This film is one of those films that make you viewers think of what brings us in the future. Also it makes us think who you dont know how long you will live for. Like for example, this day may be your last day. I dont really like mentioning it in a film review but I must say it because it is a true statement. Jack Nicholson is brilliant as Edward Cole because Edward is a character who you feel sorry for but could laugh at because he is a bit of an idiot aswell which is excellent for Jack Nicholson. Jack is funny, dramatic and a scary actor aswell particularly scary for The Shining and Batman. Morgan Freeman delivers a good performance too as Carter Chambers because he is more of a dramatic character which is what Morgan Freeman is excellent at. Morgans best performances are Shawshank Redemption and Million Dollar Baby. I wouldnt call this one of the best films of 2007 but a film that is really good that makes you think about a lot of things that are part of life.