GOATMILK: An intellectual playground edited by Wajahat Ali

THE DARK KNIGHT ASCENDS

**** [4 STARS]

[NO SPOILERS]

The Dark Knight boldly deconstructs and resurrects the superhero movie, confidently allowing the comic book genre to soar beyond superficial assumptions and transcend new heights as a legitimate, epic, philosophical narrative. The highly anticipated sequel to Batman Begins is surely not without its faults and not quite a “masterpiece,” but nonetheless it rightfully breaks new ground in tackling the much derided and mocked “comic” culture with a mature, intense sophistication; one that refuses to carelessly disavow the question, “What if a billionaire really did fight crime dressed like a giant bat?” Talented and intelligent filmmaker Christopher Nolan answers the question as philosophical meditation on morality, with an ethical code and moral boundaries as defining the nature of heroism and identity all amidst the vast backdrop of an old fashioned crime “epic” – oh, and with tons of massive explosions and excellent special effects, too. (more…)

WAJAHAT ALI

*** THREE STARS

Punch drunk off the critical and creative success of the Oscar nominated Pan’s Labyrinth, Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro unleashes his fertile imagination in Hellboy II: The Golden Army, a rich and inventive sequel expanding on graphic novelist Mike Mignola’s comic creation. (more…)

** Two Stars [An entertaining but madly frustrating movie suffering from an identity complex]

Hancock is critic proof. Despite the smattering of bad reviews this movie is likely to receive, it will undoubtedly make at least $200 million dollars and reaffirm Will Smith’s freakish box office streak. In fact, the movie works solely due to Smith’s overwhelming charisma and go for broke conviction in playing a politically incorrect, surly, violent, alcoholic superhero with amnesia. The movie is yet another textbook example of Hollywood screenplay “mashup.” (more…)

*** [A highly enjoyable, violent, cotton candy, Summer action movie.]

WANTED is a relentless, kick ass summer action movie that succeeds where most summer entries have failed: it actually entertains. To truly enjoy the graphic novel adaptation, one must suspend logic, desire for a meaningful plot, emotional depth and aversions to violence and CGI blood. It’s pure cotton candy - eye popping, visceral, action packed entertainment thoroughly well delivered by successful Russian director, Timur Bekmambetov [Director of Russia's most lucrative movie franchise Night Watch and Day Watch, two ludicrous, off the wall, yet very enjoyable and well made fantasy-action oddities.] (more…)

**** (One of the best movies of the year and another winner from Pixar)

Wall-E represents another landmark, technical achievement from the modern day genius factory known as Pixar. Ever since a plastic cowboy and a space superhero entered our popular culture, audiences anticipate and expect creative greatness reaching new imaganitive heights from the digital Disney crew. Their newest addition, an affecting story of a lovestruck robot, is bathed in simplicity, emotional maturity and a relatively risky narrative technique. (more…)