Batman Begins and Episode III

Here's some news about the new Batman film, Batman Begins, from the IMDB:

The first reviews are emerging for the next blockbuster flick, Batman Begins, and they're likely to bring much cheer to Warner Bros. officials, who are releasing it on June 15. David Edwards in the London Daily Mirror describes it as "a violent and truly scary film and definitely not one for the kids. For grown-ups, though, it could well be the ultimate superhero movie." Mike Goodrich in the British trade publication Screen Daily describes the movie as "a bold new vision of the DC Comics staple and further proof that [director Christopher] Nolan possesses abundant confidence and vision as a mainstream film-maker." And Kirk Honeycutt in the Hollywood Reporter comments that for "Nolan to turn Batman Begins into such a smart, gritty, brooding, visceral experience is astonishing. Truly, Batman does begin again."

I can't tell you how excited I am to see this movie! I'm a huge fan of director Nolan ("Memento") and I think he's cast the film very well. I'm more excited to see this in a way than I am to see the new Star Wars movie.

Speaking of Episode III, here's news about it's great box office performance so far:

Even as it dropped to third place, George Lucas's Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith established another record: fastest movie ever to cross the $300-million mark. It did so on its 17th day of release, one day faster than last year's Shrek 2. Trade reports noted that with $308.8 million Sith has already passed the $307 million taken in by the original Star Wars in 1977. However, using a standard inflation calculator, the original film's take would be worth nearly $1 billion in current dollars. The highest grossing film of the series was The Phantom Menace, which earned $431 million during its run. Sith appeared stronger overseas than in the U.S., earning $38.5 million, a drop of just 37 percent, according to Daily Variety.Its worldwide total now stands at $617 million.

I'm still hoping to go to Korea to see ROTS before it opens in Japan on July 9th, which happens to be my Mom's birthday.

-Jason