Each week, Past the Popcorn offers a thorough look at the latest round of films opening on big screens.

The big story about The Dark Knight, says Greg Wright, is not Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker: it’s that the film may well prove a bellwether for the outcome of the Presidential election this fall. “At the core of The Dark Knight,” he says “is Harvey Dent’s observation that you ‘either die a hero or you live long enough to become a villain.'” And that’s what’s really up for grabs this year: is it okay to bend the rules and compromise ethics with first-strike tactics? Batman seems to think so… and the movie does too, says Wright. “This is a film that will bear up under repeated viewing… if you are willing to feel bludgeoned by your entertainment,” he summarizes; and the knockout performance here is Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent.

On the other end of the spectrum entirely is Space Chimps, a “G for gee-whiz” that adults can enjoy, too, says Mike Smith. “Several positive themes and lessons are woven into the movie as well: friendship, self-sacrifice, and mutual understanding… This is one of those rare occasions where a simplistic story is at least entertaining enough to keep adults interested.”

And in the pure fun department, Michael Brunk recommends Mamma Mia!… as long as you remember that the material “is most often delivered with tongue firmly in cheek.” Even in a lark like this, you can find things to get incensed about… but that’s not at all the spirit of the film. It simply brings to film what you’d expect to find onstage in a Broadway musical… values and all.

Also new this week: Alexandra, a slow-moving, impressionistic Russian drama about grandmothers, grandsons, and war.

By: Andy. This entry was posted on Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pm and is filed under Film, Film roundup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.