3DD!3

Rather than a horror film, this turned out to be a fantasy comedy full of wisecracks. And that's good. Campbell brings Ash's character to perfection. Raimi must have read Conan stories as a kid, and Army Of Darkness is part tribute and part parody of his adventures. I'm kind of curious if they're going to eventually make a fourth installment, and if they do, you can bet I'm going to go see it.

More funny lines and fun and less of the depressing horror atmosphere, which I’m glad about (this time I had the lamp on right from the start ;-). And the ending was one of the best endings I’ve ever seen. No! Nooo! Nooooo!

Rami is crazy. And Bruce Campbell is cool. You have to love a lot of blood in your face to act in this. I was petrified. I had to turn on the living room lamp to watch it to the end. Only a masochist would watch part two.

A very pleasant balance between great science fiction and a trashy mess. Perfect actors, led by Hartnett and Wood mixed in with beauties like Famke Janssen, Jordana Brewster and Salma Hayek, can work wonders. It's kind of a shame that no one else tries to film similar serious-looking nonsense (or rather they try to do, but always overdo it somewhere) it’s sorely lacking. (It's up to you Robert. :-) P.S.: A gym teacher has never been so scary.

The Lord of War, but this time about cigarettes. Personally, I don't smoke and I don’t like it: it makes my eyes sting and makes me cough. Still, I laughed at how easily Nick convinces everyone about “freedom of choice", mentioning only the pros of the so-called coffin nails. Moreover, Eckhart’s performance is excellent, and he's such a nice guy that you'll forgive him for everything (even the fact that he gets involved with Katie Holmes) and Cameron Bright pulled off a younger version of him to a T as well. P.S.: Did you notice that no one smokes during the movie?

I love conspiracy theory movies, and this is one of the better ones. Plus, there's the excellent Mel Gibson in the role of “scatterbrained" taxi driver, Jerry. Donner directs Conspiracy with a steady hand that will not leave you bored. And as a bonus, we have a brilliant scene where Jerry escapes from a building while strapped to a wheelchair. You just can't forget something like that.

Great. A comic-book version of Heat spiced up by a face-painted nutcase played by the breathtaking Heath Ledger. The Nolan brothers took the mythology of the Dark Knight and played with it in a way that is probably unparalleled. The psychology of the characters, their behavior and reactions are all set in a story concerning the struggle between total anarchy and greatly distorted good. Personally, I admit that before the film I wasn't thrilled about Eckhart's Harvey Dent being incorporated into a work that was supposed to belong mainly to the Joker, but I ended up captivated by the state prosecutor’s transformation (and I was especially surprised about the motive). The coin-tossing scenes were atmospheric to the point of being spine-chilling. I was also pleased that Christian Bale performed a bit of action without the Batman costume (the Lamborghini ride) and I was pleased with the greater scope of Gary Oldman's role. The Dark Knight is a clever summer blockbuster that could unleash a new wave of comic book movies. And that's good. "I thought my jokes were bad."

If I were a target, Wanted would hit my bullseye. It's got everything I love: Fight Club-style funny lines, action scenes that recall Matrix, and a twist that is delivered when you least expect it. James McAvoy, who I quite liked because of his performance in Atonement, fits the role of Wesley like a glove. He’s convincing as a cowardly loser who takes anti-anxiety pills for breakfast (and, in fact, for snacks, lunch, and dinner) and as a sharpshooter who knows exactly what he wants. Angelina driving a Lada is irresistible (I think Fox is the most important role of her career) and Morgan Freeman is a tough guy once again. I would highlight the perfect action sequence on the Pendolino train, which arouses both amusement and amazement (were they crossing the Macocha Gorge? :-), the fact that they finally mentioned my native Moravia in a foreign action movie, and the impeccable soundtrack by Danny Elfman who also sings the title song.

Judging by the trailers, I expected an action flick full of foul-mouthed wisecracks and instead got the story of an alienated hero undergoing rehabilitation. Hancock reminds me of Smith's I Am Legend — both have incredible potential, but instead of using it, they take a different track. Not completely bad, just not as good. Fortunately, Will Smith is such an experienced actor that a lot of people will enjoy the film thanks to him, but the connoisseur will always find something lacking in the drunkard next door. Maybe this is the result of a rewrite of the script or retakes, but it doesn’t quite work. As for the rest of the acting ensemble, Charlize Theron is breathtaking and Jason Bateman is endearingly obsessed with the desire to save the world (I think he pulled off an even better performance than the great Will) and Michael Mann has an incredible funny cameo. A low four stars.

Another great short from Pixar. I don’t know how they always manage to get me. The rabbit is a hard-ass and a cute furry toy in one, while Presto the magician is a perfect "French" snob. This duo will have you laughing your head off.