New video by Adrian and Rebecca up at our Films page. I like the part where the lasers are in the dark background… how many pointers is that?

Batman begins: The Imax Experience was sold out, so I saw the Speilberg picture instead. It’s an obvious political polemic, arguing aginst the occupation of Iraq. Really. (Even Bill O’Reilly noticed.)

Before the aliens attack, the primary characters throw in a little talk about how the son needs to learn a little more about the French occupation of Algeria. It’s no mistake; soon enough a military supremacy takes over the world and men must chose between fighting it to the death (the son and Tim Robbins) or protecting their families (Mr. Cruise). Eventually just protecting his daughter drives the protaganist to violence and, I shit you not, Tom Cruise, possibly America’s biggest star, picks up some grenades and uses the technique of suicide bombing against his foes.

It’s pretty good and bloody, and the bad ending is only like three minutes long, so I’d reccomend it.

Cool movie, from many of the people involved in The French Connection. I liked how it was over-the-top hard boiled (especially the “tense” scenes in the car wash) as I think it’s pretty stylish to go all out when you’re making a genre. Most of the reviews that come up on Google are hard on the movie for not being philosophical like Serpico or The French Connection, but c’mon! It’s fun to watch a movie that’s only machismo. The car chase is great, better than The French Connection’s climactic end, and the rest is cops being mean to crooks.