The Dark Knight Rises: 2012. Starring Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway. Running time 164 minutes. Rated PG-13. Directed by Christopher Nolan.
During the overnight hours of Friday, July 20, 2012; theaters across the country were packed to capacity as the final chapter of Christopher Nolan's epic saga unspooled onto the screens. Sadly, in the Aurora Century 16, a madman destroyed the excitement and the enthusiasm by unleashing a true brand of evil into his auditorium. Here at the Ace38 compound, the destruction of the innocence and wonder that is part of the moviegoing experience is something that hit profoundly hard. These 70 people were fans, just as we all are, and the 12 whos lives were lost hits hardest of all. We dedicate this review to their memories and their loved ones, as they deserve to have the very magic we all love kept alive.
2008's The Dark Knight was considered by many to be the prototype of the superhero film, with its brilliant scripting and casting choices. Many wondered how or if this third chapter would match up to its middle brother. It surpasses, exceeds and is quite likely the best film of this year. Taking a challenging, intelligent script and adding in brilliant casting and acting performances, The Dark Knight Rises closes the door on Nolan's interpretation in a manner so perfect, so awe inspiring that it's difficult to imagine anyone ever matching it's sheer and utter brilliance.
Plotline is this: 8 years have passed since the events in The Dark Knight, and Gotham seems much better off for it. Harvey Dent is still being hailed as a hero, but an unforseen force is coming to town. His name is Bane (Hardy), bred in the same shadows as our caped avenger, but with a plan to bring the city to its knees. His plan? To physically and mentally test the Batman to his very soul, shedding the citys secrets and then crushing it with its own hope. Manipulating the help of a brilliant young thief named Selina Kyle (Hathaway), things in Gotham get out of hand quick, and Bruce Wayne (Bale) is forced to confront not only Bane but his own life.
This is simply a perfect film. Christian Bale wears the agony of his character as if it was his own, perfectly mending the two personalities into one relate able person. Anne Hathaway actually outdid Michelle Pfeiffer's legendary Catwoman performance, making her sexuality just one part of a vicious arsenal, and looking amazing in the hard to fill catsuit while she did it. Tom Hardy's Bane is cold and calculating with his savagery, nothing like the cartoonish version we know from the atrocious Batman and Robin. I just cannot say enough good about the cast.
Nor can I say enough about the pitch perfect script and the cinematography. Never lost, always leading you where your eye needed, Christopher Nolan has a way of framing action sequences that is unique to him, and permits us to see how his mind hoped it would look.
The Dark Knight Rises is so rich and full as a cinematic experience that much like Christopher Reeve in Superman, no actor will ever again wear the cape and cowl the same way.
A+
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Non Film Post: Actual Difference or Nuance, and why it matters
Many in the media are decrying "assault rifles" since the Aurora shooter brought an AR-15 style rifle along with his shotgun and 2 handguns to commit his evil deeds. Theres no doubt he fired it, and that many lives were spared due to its jamming, however, a semi-automatic "sporter" as theyre called (I call them replicas, more on that later) by their makers does not an assault rifle make.
An assault rifle, according the US Army (and if they dont know best, who does..right?) is a short, compact, selective-fire weapon that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges. The selective fire is the key difference here. A semi automatic rifle is not a selective fire weapon, its a single fire mode weapon. In fact, the much respected Remington M700 hunting rifle fires the same round as the US M16 rifle (.223 Remington) and a round more powerful than the AK-47 (.308 Winchester).
When you go to (or watch on tv) a sporting event, you will see thousands dressed in jerseys looking just like what the players wear on the field. Essentially, thats what these "replicas" are...theyre replica jerseys for firearms enthusiasts. You see the military carrying M16's and you know you cant have that, so you get something that looks like it. What's the harm in that?
But they're for the military and all they do is kill people is the argument back....no, a true assault rifle is for the military, thats why I cant have an M16..and thats fine and dandy. In some research, I can find 4 instances in the United States since 1950 where these assault style rifles have been used in spree killings. Im sure there are other cases where a guy goes berzerk and kills his family using one, but since the horror in Colorado is sparking this debate, I kept it to spree killings. 4 since 1950. In other parts of the world there were 9 more when I decided I'd made my point. I figure there may be a grand total around 200 if I decide to be liberal in my count and take non spree murders into account. 200 out of how many millions of these weapons out there? I'd say the vast majority of them are in the hands of people who can more than be trusted with them. Yes, its horrible when any life is lost for any type of violence, but again, we're focusing on these weapons because of the actions in 4 US cases, with one sparking the debate again.
Well, why not ban them now, so this cant happen again? OK, interesting point...flawed but interesting. The vast majority of crimes committed using a firearm are committed using handguns. The Colorado shooter dropped his rifle and used his shotgun and handgun after his rifle jammed, the Virginia Tech killer had a total of 49 injured (32 killed, 17 wounded..odd in itself as most spree killings have more injured than dead) using nothing but handguns. Large capacity magazines? Again, not so much with the handguns that the vast majority of these crimes are committed with, and Eric Harris alone killed and wounded the majority of his victims at Columbine using liberal approved 10 round magazines in his 9mm carbine. It's worth noting that the majority of those killed there (5 alone and I believe 6 more combined) and injured by gunfire were done at Harris' hand. So while you may think 10 rounds is A-OK, its clear someone determined to commit such a horrific (and illegal) act will do so with whatever they can get their hands on. I won't even bring up the fact that the Colorado scumbag bought his weapons legally under the laws set down to protect people from just this type of thing...whoops, just did.
To paraphrase the Constitution, it reads "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". The Supreme Court has upheld that right dozens of times. I don't see the words "the right of the people to keep and bear government approved arms" in there anywhere.
It's horrible when someone snaps and does something like this. It gives all of us who support not only those precious words in the Constitution but the shooting sports in general a black eye. People who couldnt tell you the difference between an M16 and an AR-15 suddenly become experts and tell the OVERWHELMING majority of us who use them for our hobby purposes how we dont need them and they only have one purpose. I've seen people using scoped AR-15s for hunting, I personally have used an AK-47 to hunt wild boar (and when that boar comes charging at you, you're thanking God for the firepower, trust me on this...), but that doesnt fit their narrow, closed view of what these can be used for. Just because a knife is used to spread butter doesnt mean it can't be a screwdriver also folks.
There are differences, I urge those of you who are reacting with hysteria to at least take the time to learn what you're complaining about before you run around behaving like de facto experts.
Cause all you do is look stupid in the end.
Then those of us who ARE responsible and find what this creature did just as reprehensible as you dig in our heels to protect our Constitutional rights.
And some looney toon does it again.
Then as a civilization we're all the worse for it.
I dont know a single gunowner that doesnt want this to stop, but there are ways to stop it without infringing on our rights as provided by the same Constitution that you fight so hard to defend when you think your free speech rights are being infringed on. Let's see if we can find them....we're ready, are you?
An assault rifle, according the US Army (and if they dont know best, who does..right?) is a short, compact, selective-fire weapon that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges. The selective fire is the key difference here. A semi automatic rifle is not a selective fire weapon, its a single fire mode weapon. In fact, the much respected Remington M700 hunting rifle fires the same round as the US M16 rifle (.223 Remington) and a round more powerful than the AK-47 (.308 Winchester).
When you go to (or watch on tv) a sporting event, you will see thousands dressed in jerseys looking just like what the players wear on the field. Essentially, thats what these "replicas" are...theyre replica jerseys for firearms enthusiasts. You see the military carrying M16's and you know you cant have that, so you get something that looks like it. What's the harm in that?
But they're for the military and all they do is kill people is the argument back....no, a true assault rifle is for the military, thats why I cant have an M16..and thats fine and dandy. In some research, I can find 4 instances in the United States since 1950 where these assault style rifles have been used in spree killings. Im sure there are other cases where a guy goes berzerk and kills his family using one, but since the horror in Colorado is sparking this debate, I kept it to spree killings. 4 since 1950. In other parts of the world there were 9 more when I decided I'd made my point. I figure there may be a grand total around 200 if I decide to be liberal in my count and take non spree murders into account. 200 out of how many millions of these weapons out there? I'd say the vast majority of them are in the hands of people who can more than be trusted with them. Yes, its horrible when any life is lost for any type of violence, but again, we're focusing on these weapons because of the actions in 4 US cases, with one sparking the debate again.
Well, why not ban them now, so this cant happen again? OK, interesting point...flawed but interesting. The vast majority of crimes committed using a firearm are committed using handguns. The Colorado shooter dropped his rifle and used his shotgun and handgun after his rifle jammed, the Virginia Tech killer had a total of 49 injured (32 killed, 17 wounded..odd in itself as most spree killings have more injured than dead) using nothing but handguns. Large capacity magazines? Again, not so much with the handguns that the vast majority of these crimes are committed with, and Eric Harris alone killed and wounded the majority of his victims at Columbine using liberal approved 10 round magazines in his 9mm carbine. It's worth noting that the majority of those killed there (5 alone and I believe 6 more combined) and injured by gunfire were done at Harris' hand. So while you may think 10 rounds is A-OK, its clear someone determined to commit such a horrific (and illegal) act will do so with whatever they can get their hands on. I won't even bring up the fact that the Colorado scumbag bought his weapons legally under the laws set down to protect people from just this type of thing...whoops, just did.
To paraphrase the Constitution, it reads "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". The Supreme Court has upheld that right dozens of times. I don't see the words "the right of the people to keep and bear government approved arms" in there anywhere.
It's horrible when someone snaps and does something like this. It gives all of us who support not only those precious words in the Constitution but the shooting sports in general a black eye. People who couldnt tell you the difference between an M16 and an AR-15 suddenly become experts and tell the OVERWHELMING majority of us who use them for our hobby purposes how we dont need them and they only have one purpose. I've seen people using scoped AR-15s for hunting, I personally have used an AK-47 to hunt wild boar (and when that boar comes charging at you, you're thanking God for the firepower, trust me on this...), but that doesnt fit their narrow, closed view of what these can be used for. Just because a knife is used to spread butter doesnt mean it can't be a screwdriver also folks.
There are differences, I urge those of you who are reacting with hysteria to at least take the time to learn what you're complaining about before you run around behaving like de facto experts.
Cause all you do is look stupid in the end.
Then those of us who ARE responsible and find what this creature did just as reprehensible as you dig in our heels to protect our Constitutional rights.
And some looney toon does it again.
Then as a civilization we're all the worse for it.
I dont know a single gunowner that doesnt want this to stop, but there are ways to stop it without infringing on our rights as provided by the same Constitution that you fight so hard to defend when you think your free speech rights are being infringed on. Let's see if we can find them....we're ready, are you?
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Non Film Post: Colorado Horror
I was barely awake when I heard something about Colorado on the radio. For those who know me, I like to go to sleep with my radio tuned to KRMG (well, I guess you all know now) here in Tulsa. As I rolled over to grab my phone I tried my best to focus...7 text messages. Only 7? Slow news night I thought, as I'd gone to bed unusually late and last checked just before 2AM. Shooting at the Century 16 theater in Aurora, CO. 10, 12, 14 dead. 30-40-50 injured...during a showing of the hugely anticipated "The Dark Knight Rises". I immediately jumped up and turned the TV on, tuned to my friends at Fox 23 and then over to the main Fox News channel.
As I tried to comprehend what it was I was hearing, and each new report growing more and more strange, thats when I began to find things that really turned my stomach:
The American left began to spew its venom.
It started on twitter. Approximately 2-4 hours after the shootings (the coward made his feed private and thats the best timeframe I can narrow down using responses and retweets) a man made a post referencing Rush Limbaugh's stupid comments over the character Bane, and how thats why the shootings occurred. Numerous others then chimed in saying they'd found a man bearing the shooters name on facebook who was a member of the Colorado Tea Party movement, and even ABC joined in at that point accusing this innocent man (ABC later retracted its story) of this horrific act. Then the gun control nuts joined in, some saying that "you dont need an AR-15 to duck hunt" and "more laws would have stopped this" to the standard attacks on the NRA (including Colorado law allowing guns on college campuses..no clue how that tied in) to one disgusting creature saying that the 2nd Amendment (the one designed to prevent government dictatorship by allowing the public free access to firearms) should be done away with cause our right to live is more important.
Then the potheads jumped in, asking why an AR-15 is legal and marijuana isnt, or asking which did more harm last night.
The first trace I can find (not saying this is timeline correct, but its the first my research has uncovered) of the American right responding to the typical childish, knee jerk, blame game liberal reaction to these events was around 9AM Central time.
The bodies of these victims were barely cold, the families were hysterical looking for their loved ones or embracing after reuniting with them in hospitals or the nearby high school the witnesses were ferried to and we've got this human debris on the left belittling their loss and their anguish by playing political games and pushing their agendas. These people are in desperate need of our support and liberals are walking through their loved ones blood to push their agendas. I heard two voices of left leaning tweeters speaking out against this, and had two left leaning friends on facebook doing the same. The silence of the rest leads me to believe that they supported and encouraged such actions. I hope you're proud.
If you've ever wondered why I view those on the left as misguided spoiled children, yesterday is the prime example. Perhaps one day you'll grow up and learn some respect for those grieving. In the meantime, shut the fuck up.
Now, to you anti gun nuts. Let's take your argument in order. First off, those of you attacking concealed carry laws. On your best day, you're too stupid to be allowed to live. Everyone that watched 5 minutes of very early coverage knows the gunman was dressed in head to toe body armor. Nothing short of a .50 Desert Eagle (which would be about as easy to conceal as a Toyota) would have made a bit of difference. Had he chosen to fight, SWAT teams with AR-15's of their own would have been needed to penetrate that setup. So theres your first argument down. Secondly, the Second Amendment is there to prevent a situation like there was when the pilgrims fled England. Why would or should we be allowed to let the government tell us what it is and isn't OK to use to protect ourselves with? I have no problems with the arrangements surrounding fully automatic weapons, but if I want to buy an AR-15 semi auto at my local Bass Pro, then I have the right to do so. Maybe I'll shoot it, maybe I'll just look at it...and thats a right protected by the Constitution. Just because you've had success pushing thought policing in the form of hate crimes laws doesnt mean you can do so here. Nowhere in the First or Second amendments do you find the words "as allowed by government approval, or as deemed inoffensive".
Third argument, high capacity magazines. If' he'd been limited to 10 rounds he couldnt have done this. Or maybe since he was already planning to commit mass murder (which last time I checked, was a criminal act), he would have kept on the criminal path and gotten his 100 round drum magazine through underground means. Fourth argument, stricter gun control laws. Colorado tightened its restrictions after the Columbine massacre, you were happy then, why arent you happy now? He LEGALLY obtained all his weapons under the laws YOU pushed for. His entire legal history appears to be a single traffic ticket. Nothing short of the destruction of the Second Amendment (which as we all know is your real goal) would have prevented the shooter from getting those weapons. Even if it had, he'd have gone underground (see #3, or simply ask Misters Harris and Klebold).
To the druggies that think pot is cool and harmless. Why dont you ask the Mexican and Central/South American families who are murdered, kidnapped, used in slavery as drug mules by drug gangs how harmless they think it is. Disrespectful, self centered pathetic useless wastes of flesh..try growing up and facing lifes hardships down instead of patting yourself on the back for running like cowards when things get tough. Medicinal marijuana? Bullshit, just an excuse..why not medicinal crack or medicinal heroin? Bet a shot of LSD would help you forget that tumor they found on your liver. Completely useless, all of you.
We conservatives are always accused of being heartless and cruel, when in fact its those of you on the left gleefully trampling the bodies of the deceased and pushing your agendas in the face of the crying mother, grieving widow or anguished father. How bout you live up to your claims and show some compassion for those agonizing and suffering and bring them up before the inevitable political debate begins.
Until then, I dont give a damn about your opinions, and nothing is going to change that.
As I tried to comprehend what it was I was hearing, and each new report growing more and more strange, thats when I began to find things that really turned my stomach:
The American left began to spew its venom.
It started on twitter. Approximately 2-4 hours after the shootings (the coward made his feed private and thats the best timeframe I can narrow down using responses and retweets) a man made a post referencing Rush Limbaugh's stupid comments over the character Bane, and how thats why the shootings occurred. Numerous others then chimed in saying they'd found a man bearing the shooters name on facebook who was a member of the Colorado Tea Party movement, and even ABC joined in at that point accusing this innocent man (ABC later retracted its story) of this horrific act. Then the gun control nuts joined in, some saying that "you dont need an AR-15 to duck hunt" and "more laws would have stopped this" to the standard attacks on the NRA (including Colorado law allowing guns on college campuses..no clue how that tied in) to one disgusting creature saying that the 2nd Amendment (the one designed to prevent government dictatorship by allowing the public free access to firearms) should be done away with cause our right to live is more important.
Then the potheads jumped in, asking why an AR-15 is legal and marijuana isnt, or asking which did more harm last night.
The first trace I can find (not saying this is timeline correct, but its the first my research has uncovered) of the American right responding to the typical childish, knee jerk, blame game liberal reaction to these events was around 9AM Central time.
The bodies of these victims were barely cold, the families were hysterical looking for their loved ones or embracing after reuniting with them in hospitals or the nearby high school the witnesses were ferried to and we've got this human debris on the left belittling their loss and their anguish by playing political games and pushing their agendas. These people are in desperate need of our support and liberals are walking through their loved ones blood to push their agendas. I heard two voices of left leaning tweeters speaking out against this, and had two left leaning friends on facebook doing the same. The silence of the rest leads me to believe that they supported and encouraged such actions. I hope you're proud.
If you've ever wondered why I view those on the left as misguided spoiled children, yesterday is the prime example. Perhaps one day you'll grow up and learn some respect for those grieving. In the meantime, shut the fuck up.
Now, to you anti gun nuts. Let's take your argument in order. First off, those of you attacking concealed carry laws. On your best day, you're too stupid to be allowed to live. Everyone that watched 5 minutes of very early coverage knows the gunman was dressed in head to toe body armor. Nothing short of a .50 Desert Eagle (which would be about as easy to conceal as a Toyota) would have made a bit of difference. Had he chosen to fight, SWAT teams with AR-15's of their own would have been needed to penetrate that setup. So theres your first argument down. Secondly, the Second Amendment is there to prevent a situation like there was when the pilgrims fled England. Why would or should we be allowed to let the government tell us what it is and isn't OK to use to protect ourselves with? I have no problems with the arrangements surrounding fully automatic weapons, but if I want to buy an AR-15 semi auto at my local Bass Pro, then I have the right to do so. Maybe I'll shoot it, maybe I'll just look at it...and thats a right protected by the Constitution. Just because you've had success pushing thought policing in the form of hate crimes laws doesnt mean you can do so here. Nowhere in the First or Second amendments do you find the words "as allowed by government approval, or as deemed inoffensive".
Third argument, high capacity magazines. If' he'd been limited to 10 rounds he couldnt have done this. Or maybe since he was already planning to commit mass murder (which last time I checked, was a criminal act), he would have kept on the criminal path and gotten his 100 round drum magazine through underground means. Fourth argument, stricter gun control laws. Colorado tightened its restrictions after the Columbine massacre, you were happy then, why arent you happy now? He LEGALLY obtained all his weapons under the laws YOU pushed for. His entire legal history appears to be a single traffic ticket. Nothing short of the destruction of the Second Amendment (which as we all know is your real goal) would have prevented the shooter from getting those weapons. Even if it had, he'd have gone underground (see #3, or simply ask Misters Harris and Klebold).
To the druggies that think pot is cool and harmless. Why dont you ask the Mexican and Central/South American families who are murdered, kidnapped, used in slavery as drug mules by drug gangs how harmless they think it is. Disrespectful, self centered pathetic useless wastes of flesh..try growing up and facing lifes hardships down instead of patting yourself on the back for running like cowards when things get tough. Medicinal marijuana? Bullshit, just an excuse..why not medicinal crack or medicinal heroin? Bet a shot of LSD would help you forget that tumor they found on your liver. Completely useless, all of you.
We conservatives are always accused of being heartless and cruel, when in fact its those of you on the left gleefully trampling the bodies of the deceased and pushing your agendas in the face of the crying mother, grieving widow or anguished father. How bout you live up to your claims and show some compassion for those agonizing and suffering and bring them up before the inevitable political debate begins.
Until then, I dont give a damn about your opinions, and nothing is going to change that.
Friday, July 20, 2012
A tragedy at the cinema
By now, you know the details: 71 shot, 12 dead and 59 injured. We here at the Ace38 compound were passionately looking forward to seeing the final chapter in Chris Nolan's epic trilogy. Those 71 people were as well, and a madman destroyed their excitement. Out of respect, there will be no review of the film this weekend, regardless of if I see it or not. When I feel time is right, I'll post it up.
You can expect an editorial on my feelings of things surrounding this event within the next 72 hours.
You can expect an editorial on my feelings of things surrounding this event within the next 72 hours.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Mini Review: "The Amazing Spider-Man"
I actually found I preferred Andrew Garfield as the titular web slinger, but the big hole in the story is the Gwen Stacy romance...I have no idea why she would have any feelings for him, and it played like that on screen.
B+
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Mini Review: "Ted"
What can I say about Ted that hasn't been said already? Oh yeah..it sucks....horribly. Seth MacFarlane is incapable of doing anything that hasn't already been done better by far more talented people.
F
F
Monday, July 9, 2012
Updates
Expect reviews of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Ted and The Amazing Spider Man in the next week. Still eagerly awaiting the release of The Dark Knight Rises
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