AJ Annila makes films that are very pretty, but in the end I'm always left wondering what the hell happened. So I watch his movies for the visuals, and because Tommi Eronen and his kicked puppy act get me every time. But I have to wonder why there always has to be someone who uses literal speech while everyone else talks like they would in real life?
Charming, while it's nothing groundbreaking. Watching the tv show Six Feet Under will get you pretty much the same result, except that where Six Feet Under was interesting, this is more like asking 'why does no-one understaaaaand?'. (random point of interest: Daigo's wife is played by the girly ditz in the French-Japanese movie Wasabi)
Before this, I didn't really have an opinion on Scarlett Johansson's acting skills. I do now: she's not that good. As for the whole movie, it's Sin City all over again, just with different characters - duller ones, if you ask me. Frank Miller, I'm happy you got inspired about filmmaking, but it takes more than just repeating the same thing you did already. If you want to look at pretty stuff flashing at you on screen, it's alright, but anything beyond that... pick something else. (Spirit? Stop talking about that city of yours.)
You know, I really like how Nolan makes it known to the viewer how Batman gets his gadgets (as opposed to him having high tech equipment just because he happens to be Batman). By now everyone is aware of how Heath Ledger played the role of his life, and I have nothing to complain. At the time I didn't really think the movie achieved the sky-high expectations created by all the hype, but when it comes down to it, this is a fine movie, and other superhero/comic movies should watch it and learn.