SEX AND THE CITYNew York's chic sex and love columnist, Carrie Bradshaw [Sarah Jessica Parker], and the posh posse she molded years ago sent longtime fans and newbies with Prada and Gucci in tow to the big screen for the seventh installment of HBO's hit "Sex and the City."
The plot followed similar trials of love and friendship as writer/director Michael Patrick King developed the stories of all four fashionistas.
True to the diary-like narrative of Ms. Bradshaw, I must confess - the only episode of the series I actually saw included Miranda [Cynthia Nixon] and Steve's [David Eigenberg] decision to get married. And to my surprise, they now have a son, a very handsome, kindergarten-ish son along with marital problems galore.
The story of Miranda and Steve - whether their marriage could withstand the stress on her libido brought on by her demanding job that compelled the adorable Steve to go astray - was the most appealing and conceivable as it forced a struggle between the heart and head following both characters.
Samantha [Kim Cattrell] was, well, Samantha. Her libido showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and in fact, was full bore as she made a meal of herself to impress - and hopefully turn on - longtime, live-in boyfriend 'Smith' [Jason Lewis] for a Valentine's Day sushi delight. This scene provided some comic relief in the beginning, but I'm afraid humor was sparse throughout the rest of the film.
Charlotte [Kristin Davis] and hubby Harry [Evan Handler] live happily ever after with their daughter Lily [Alexander and Parker Fong] and another on the way. Now, I'm aware Charlotte is supposed to be the one living up in the clouds, but Davis' performance was dreadful and certainly unbelievable. The over-actor couldn't even get a case of diarrhea right in a last-ditch effort for laughs.
Carrie and Big [Chris Noth] left fans wanting more after the series' season finale. Yes, they're in love, but their decision to get married was so ... boring. The 'Last Single Woman' in New York cannot simply decide to get married over after-dinner dishes. The big YES! was what everyone had been waiting for, so the cliché, drawn-out chase to the altar - or wardrobe - must have unfolded, right?
The one, stand-alone scene that had me, and probably will have you too - everyone's a romantic at heart, and it's okay to admit it - was the beautifully distressing portrait of an abandoned bride in the middle of New York City, traffic and all, using her bouquet to her greatest advantage.
Jennifer Hudson of "American Idol" fame found her way into Carrie's apartment as an assistant delivering a surprisingly outstanding performance as Louise from St. Louis. Louise put Carrie's apartment and life back together as she repaired her own romance. Hudson's character provided lightness to the hardships and heartbreak while adding to Carrie's wallet as well, as she taught her about a rent-a-designer-handbag program.
The overarching theme of friendship took over the storyline even as each character's love lives were examined. The point of individuality took hold as the women - and men - searched for who they really were at heart before giving themselves to another.
At more than two hours, a lot more could have been left on the cutting room floor. If a sequel is in the works, please, can't we just get it over with?
- Teri Harrington
THE DARK KNIGHT"Batman: The Animated Series" was my first experience with the caped crusader. As a child, I was enthralled, captivated and absolutely absorbed by the adventures the series ensued. My interests carried over to Leslie H. Martinson's "Batman" and the famed Tim Burton's "Batman Returns" via VHS. Then I became older, a bit, and was allowed to tag along with my pops to see my favorite character, The Riddler, in Joel Schumaker's "Batman Forever." I loved it, and ate up every second of its cheesiness. The fact that I was 8 and adored Jim Carrey probably didn't hurt my fascination either.
Two years later, Schumaker added "Batman & Robin" to his franchise. To this day, I wouldn't consider the whole 125 minutes an entire waste as I enjoyed a box of Snow Caps and Green River soda, but it was truly disappointing and bombed in the box office. Sure, every adolescent girl was bouncing out of her seat to see "Clueless" star Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, but let's face it: Silverstone along with Arnold Schwarzenegger made fans want to say "Hasta la vista, Batman - like, totally."
And then, Christopher Nolan, the acclaimed director of "Memento" and "The Prestige," took the reigns and created a franchise that rivaled that of fellow superhero representations such as Spiderman and Superman.
"Batman Begins" followed Gotham's vigilante, portrayed by Christian Bale, through the city as he fought mobsters cooperating to destroy the city's water supply. The script provided background for Bruce Wayne, and left the ending open for a sequel.
This summer, Nolan and his all-star cast, including Bale, launched the sequel of his Batman franchise, "The Dark Knight," to the top of box office charts as the pulse-pounding, IMAX-friendly thriller awed audiences across the country.
Wayne used business excuses to distract others, including a company accountant on track to dismantle Batman's secret identity, as to why the board member needed to visit the Chinese territory.
Wayne also requested a new suit, which would allow him to turn his head and sustain more ferocious tears in encounters with The Joker and his battle-ready rottweilers. This is the first time a Batman movie did not begin with the superhero donning a new suit creating more verisimilitude for the episode altogether.
Other additions in this film included Gotham's new District Attorney Harvey Dent played by "Thank You for Smoking" star Aaron Eckhart, and the unforgettable role of The Joker reprised by the recently deceased Heath Ledger. Maggie Gyllenhaal took over the role of Wayne's longtime friend Rachel Dawes.
Escapades involving Dent, Dawes and The Joker tested the true strength of Bruce Wayne both physically and emotionally. His greatest weakness in the eyes of some, his compassion for humankind, shined on screen as he was pushed to the limit fighting the sinister Joker who ultimately leads the rest of Gotham to question the city's dependence on the superhero celebrity.
Nolan delved deep into the characters of Bruce Wayne/Batman and The Joker, but the actors' performances paralleled the strength of their characters within their depictions.
The prank-pulling Joker carved his way through the plot in Ledger's most explosive role as he outsmarted mobsters and the police in an effort to capsize Gotham. Ledger purportedly ad-libbed lines throughout the movie and created the most believable character of any Batman episode. It's no surprise marketing managers chose to promote the film with the villain in every way possible; as the late Ledger is undoubtedly Oscar bound.
Bale made it hard to keep a straight face almost every time he spoke as Batman. The deep, raspy voice acquired in "Batman Begins," and used when behind the mask, wasn't always easy to understand and a little over the top. Unlike other episodes, Bale's representation of Wayne does provide a different view of the character when he doesn't have a mask to hide behind. The weaknesses the mogul hides are covered up with an overconfident persona when in the public eye.
Strong performances carried over from "Batman Begins" included Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Jim Gordon, Batman's confidant within the Gotham Police Department, and Michael Cane as Wayne's longtime butler and wingman Alfred.
Nolan's minimal usage of computer-generated imagery proved his talent behind the camera. Many scenes, including that of an all-out traffic chase, were shot in real-time, which granted more appreciation for the film overall.
If able to splurge and enjoy "The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience," take advantage of it. The action sequences are maximized with the amped-up sound FX and enhanced format, but the film is satisfactory otherwise. Imagine all the Snow Caps and Green River you can buy with that extra $7.
- Teri Harrington
PINEAPPLE EXPRESSDale Denton [Seth Rogen] is a weed-smoking process server, supplied by his fellow stoner of a dealer Saul Silver [James Franco].
The eccentric Saul offers Dale a special item of purchase; a rare new strain of weed called Pineapple Express. With one hit of the potent herb, however, Dale's life takes a dangerous, unexpected turn.
As the sole witness to a murder by a crooked police officer [Rosie Perez] and the city's most ruthless drug kingpin Ted Jones [Gary Cole], Dale panics and leaves the one piece of evidence that the drug lord can trace to him and Saul; a roach of Pineapple Express.
Dale discovers that Jones sells the weed exclusively to Saul, and the two stoners race to find the one middleman dealer who can rat them out. High and paranoid, Dale and Saul are soon vaulted into the middle of a drug war between Jones' men and the comically ambiguous "Asian" rival gang.
The adventure that is "Pineapple Express" is an action-packed, paranoia-driven side-splitter that will keep you giggling for days.
"Pineapple Express" also showcases some of the most clever weed culture perspectives since the essential drug culture film "Dazed and Confused" hit theaters. "Pineapple Express" effectively combines the seemingly opposing action and drug culture genres, and its appeal only grows with the sophomoric humor that laces nearly every line of the film.
- Ben Green
Movie statsTHE DARK KNIGHTProduction Cost $185 millionFirst weekend $158,411,483 July 20 (4,366 screens in US)Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
SEX AND THE CITYProduction Cost $65 millionFirst weekend - $56,848,056 June 1 (3,285 screens in the US)Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language
PINEAPPLE EXPRESSProduction Cost - $25 million First weekend - 25,245,025 Aug. 6 (3,072 screens in the US)Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence
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