By Robin E. Simmons
I keep waiting for movies to better reflect the real enemies of civilization as movie villains. I especially enjoyed “Eye in the Sky” for that very reason. Movies are the global pond at which we all drink. They have power to define, examine our shared human concerns and not merely entertain.
NOW PLAYING:
BATMAN VS SUPERMAN – DAWN OF JUSTICE
I don’t know where to begin an honest review of this much-anticipated epic battle between two beloved comic book super heroes duking it out on the giant theater screen. The early screening I attended was just about filled with a cross generation audience ranging from white haired elders to crying babies. The audience was surprisingly reserved. The only cheering — and it was limited and rather subdued — came when Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) popped up without warning and for no apparent reason. Since childhood, I think most comic book readers have debated the big question of whether Superman or Batman would win in a fight. And that question is the main draw of this visually murky, long and sometimes tedious film that attempts to answer that old question. And we do get an answer when the two caped dudes go mano-a-mano even though one of them combatants isn’t real a human.
In this latest iteration of the comic book icons, Batman (Ben Affleck) tries to convince the world that Superman (Henry Caville) is the ultimate illegal alien that deserves to be feared and not worshipped. That he – Superman — is a deceptive Savior responsible for the pain and suffering of thousands of people in a catastrophic event last seen in the closing battle at the climax to the last Superman movie “Man of Steel.” An event not unlike 911’s incident when New York’s twin towers came tumbling down.
And what really is the origin of the intense animosity between Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne? Is it a battle of egos or something else? I was kind of hoping it was over Wonder Woman. But I suppose that’s too much to hope for. Or is the fight really a corporate showdown between Warner Bros DC brand and Disney’s Marvel? I liked the religious theme that warned against the worship of false gods. Somehow that seemed on target during this election season where religion is playing a dominant role.
But why can’t these mighty warriors join forces to battle a real world enemy like ISIS?
Zack Snyder directs with an obvious glee for over-the-top action. Ben Affleck is fine as Batman and Henry Caville is perfect as Superman. But I can’t really whole-heartedly recommend this film that spends a lot of time setting up a sequel. My favorite bit is Jessie Eisenberg as Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor. Clearly we are supposed to think of Mark Zuckerberg. I liked Jeremy Irons as Bruce Wayne’s all-purpose butler and confidant. I think it’s Irons’ great voice that seals his character for me especially in this film.
NEW FOR THE HOME THEATRE:
10 RILLINGTON PLACE
“10 Rillington Place” is a true-life crime drama directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Richard Attenborough, John Hurt and Judy Geeson. It’s based on the case of British serial killer John Reginald Christie (played with chilling “normality” by Richard Attenborough. Throughout the late ’40s, Christie lured middle-aged women to his London flat promising to cure their ailments with nitrous oxide. He then kills them, assaults their dead bodies, and buries them. One of his victims, Beryl Evans (Geeson), misguidedly comes to Christie seeking an abortion. In the process, she not only loses her own life, but sets in motion a horrible sequence of events that threatens to endanger her husband as well. The film also explores the miscarriage of justice against Christie’s damaged neighbor Timothy Evans (Hurt). Richard Fleischer has turned out an authenticated documentary-like feature that’s as compelling as it is disturbing. The acting honors are firmly wrapped by John Hurt’s subtle and fascinating performance as the bewildered young man who plays into the hands of both the murderer and the police. In the end, Fleischer refuses to sensationalize the subject matter that is already beyond merely sensational. This nice looking edition is limited to only 3,000 units. Recommended. Twilight Time Films. Blu-ray.
Comments? Robinesimmons@aol.com
