Weekly Review Round Up 21st July 2012

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

Here is a round up of the movies we've seen this week. It may help you decide how to spend your precious dollars when visiting the cinema. If you have seen any of these or want to see them and have a comment please feel free to share. We love hearing from our readers.

 

The Dark Knight Rises ★★★★

Opens in Australia:  19th July 2012

Other Countries:      Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

          This is the final to Christopher Nolan’s trilogy and it seemed like he didn’t want it to end, throwing everything into this last instalment and opening a few teaser doors to perhaps new chapters.  I found it a bit plodding in the middle but husband counselled me on the fact that it was all about the characters.  Excuse my impatience.  However, it is still a film you should see and see on the big screen. All you downloading pirates, you are really wasting your time watching it on your little TV screens.  We saw it in IMAX and it certainly enhances the experience.  Check out our full review here "Big & weighty but it does rise"

STORY

          Having assumed responsibility for the crimes of District Attorney Harvey Dent in order to protect his reputation, Batman is chased into exile by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the appearance of the mysterious Selina Kyle sets in motion a chain of events culminating in the arrival of Bane, a ruthless terrorist with plans to destroy Gotham City. With the future of the city at stake, Batman must emerge from his exile and confront Bane to bring about an end to his reign of terror.

Magic Mike ★ ★ ★½

Opens in Australia: 26th July 2012

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

          Girls, girls, girls, (and certain boys) this is one for you.  What a smorgasbord of gorgeous—no wait, seriously gorgeous—males.  At one point I realised I had a huge smile on my face and as hard as I tried I couldn’t turn it off.  Matthew McConaughey eats up his sexy club owner role and after seeing Channing Tatum in three very different roles this year so far, he is certainly impressing—and he can certainly dance.  The screenplay is in part based on Tatum's experiences as a stripper in Tampa, when he was 19 years old.  At one point there was an attempt at a deep and meaningful plot but don’t worry that moment didn’t last long. This movie doesn’t need too much of a story, in Director Steven Soderbergh’s capable hands it never strays far from fun.

STORY

          A dramatic comedy set in the world of male strippers, "Magic Mike" is directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh ("Traffic") and stars Channing Tatum in the title role. The film follows Mike as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.

In Darkness ★ ★ ★★

Opens in Australia: 26th July 2012

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

          I can never say I enjoy movies about Nazi atrocities.  Usually, I watch with one hand over my mouth in horror and another dabbing at the tears.  This is an incredible story, in the same vein as “The Pianist”, “Schindler’s List”, “Life is Beautiful” and “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”.  It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars but lost to “A Separation”.  This one is really worth seeing.  It’s a beautifully acted drama and there is a happy ending of sorts if you forget all the terrible deaths along the way.  If it does nothing else it will cause you to come home and hug hour loved ones a little tighter.

 

STORY

          This is a true story about Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Lvov, a Nazi occupied city in Poland. One day he encounters a group of Jews trying to escape the liquidation of the ghetto. He hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town's sewers beneath the bustling activity of the city above. What starts out as a straightforward and cynical business arrangement turns into something very unexpected, the unlikely alliance between Socha and the Jews as the enterprise seeps deeper into Socha's conscience. A story of survival as these men, women and children all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of ever increasing and intense danger.

What have you seen this week?  Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree?  Share your thoughts with us.