Weekly Log 3-13-22

It's been a pretty rough week for me overall. Briefly caught a bit of stomach flu and realized that I need a new mattress but on the bright side, I saw a bunch of Batman movies so I can't really complain that much.

MOVIES:

Batman (1989)

Tim Burton's 1989 reimagining of the Caped Crusader is considered a classic for a good reason. The beautiful Gothic structure of Gotham City, Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson's excellent performances, Danny Elfman's iconic score, etc. The second half is definitely weaker than the first in my opinion, the revelation of the Joker being the murderer of Bruce's parents feeling rushed and the final confrontation not using much of Kim Basinger's Vicki Vale other than being the typical damsel in distress archetype, but this is still a great movie that earns its reputation.

Batman Returns

Free from the studio's control, Burton goes completely off the rails in the sequel to his 1989 film, not so much a Batman movie as it is a twisted character study chockful of German Expressionist imagery and Freudian energy. Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito are the standouts in an excellent cast as Catwoman and Penguin, and Danny Elfman's score reaches new heights, especially during the climax. This is definitely a bleaker movie than the '89 film and not suitable for children, but it's also the better movie overall.

The Batman

Taking as much inspiration from '70s crime thrillers as it does from various Batman media, Matt Reeves' adaptation exceeds expectations. Robert Pattison may very well be the best live-action Batman, capturing the character's imposing stature and detective side as well as his arrested development, and is buoyed by an impressive supporting cast led by Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano and Colin Farrell. Greig Fraser's cinematography depicts Gotham in a way that is unique from other films and Michael Giacchino's score is suitably grim yet epic. The film falters a bit in the third act, as it's climatic set piece diminishes the neo-noir atmosphere the movie had going for it, but it also serves as an excellent capper to Batman's character arc. It's definitely up there with Batman Returns and The Dark Knight for the best Batman film and a film I'm looking forward to revisiting in the future.

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Weekly Log #3

One of the reasons I didn’t makes a Best of List last year for 2021 is that I personally feel like I didn’t consume enough media to make an adequate list, last year being a dry year for me in terms of film and television shows especially (sill kicking myself for missing Succession!). I’ve been slowly getting back on the wagon this year with a goal to catch up on the films and shows I've missed out on. 

TV:

Euphoria

A lot of critics have complained that it's a step down from Season 1 (which I haven’t seen) but having watched the last three episodes, I actually like it a lot, rumors about Sam Levinson aside. While there are some weird narrative choices, it’s one of the most visually and tonally ambitious shows I’ve seen in quite some time and supported by great performances from Zendaya and the rest of the cast.

South Park

Lackluster premiere aside, Season 25 has churned out some pretty great episodes. I especially loved the one with J.R.R. Tolkien and the way it retconned one of the show's longest-running jokes. Shows like South Park usually run out of steam after twenty-five seasons, but Trey Parker and Matt Stone are still finding new ways to poke fun at the audience and real-world events

Better Things:

Those who have read my previous blog will know of my love for FX's heartwarmingly funny comedy-drama, which has only gotten better each season. Having seen the first two episodes of the final season, I can safely say that the magic has not dissipated, with Pamela Adlon being at the top of her game regarding writing, direction and performance. 

Movies:

West Side Story

Other than knowing that it's a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in New York, I had never seen the original film or play, so this was a revelation for me. Steven Spielberg's directing is as extraordinary as ever and the entire cast is excellent, Ansel Elgort aside. I plan on watching the 1961 film at some point.

Books:

The Eyes of the Dragon

I'm not very familiar with the works of Stephen King, having only read The Institute and parts of Carrie and It, but I really like what I've read so far. It's not an entirely original fantasy story, but King plays with perspective really well and writes some really complex characters with an interesting plot.

But What I Really Want To Do is Direct

I got this book per recommendation from Leonard Maltin and so far, I have loved every second of it. Ken Kwapis has a lot of stories from his years of experience as well as some very useful advice for those looking to break into the industry.

Video Games:

Elden Ring

Even if you don't play FromSoftware games, you'll have heard of Elden Ring, the latest game in Hidetaka Miyazaki's Soulsborne series with writing by George R.R. Martin. While it is as difficult as ever, it's also FromSoft's most accessible game yet, boasting a truly beautiful open world that constantly rewards exploration and allows the player to carve their own path. I've put ten hours into the game and feel like I've barely scratched the surface. Truly an early GOTY contender and a blueprint for open-world games in the future.

Miscellaneous:

The Weekly Stuff Podcast

For the past two years, I've been listening to Jonathan Lack and Sean Chapman's weekly podcast where they discuss the latest news in film, television and games. Both Jonathan and Sean have an excellent rapport and a strong knowledge and love for media. In addition to their regular podcast, they have a second podcast called Weekly Suit Gundam where they review every entry in the Gundam franchise, as well as other anime shows on occasion (recently they did a two and a half hour discussion on Kimetsu No Yaiba Season 2). Definitely give a listen on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

Shonen Jump

I finally made the leap to Shonen Jump after wanting to get into manga for the longest time, and boy am I glad I did. The app boasts an impressive library of current and past manga that's constantly updating and has a crisp, clear display, all at $1.99 a month. Definitely a steal if you're looking to get into manga.

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Feel free to share your own experiences or thoughts in the comments section!