Special: Central Intelligence/Batman: The Killing Joke/Jason Bourne Mini-Reviews

Central Intelligence:

Synopsis: The story follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob, who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, he enlists the help of former "big man on campus," Calvin, now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he's getting into, it's too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.

My thoughts: Odd pairings have been a staple in movies for eon's but Central Intelligence takes it to a new level. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable and adds a new level of humour to the scripted laughs even if the movie follows a formulaic and predictable plot.

Final verdict: 4 odd-couples out of 5.

Batman: The Killing Joke:

Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed DC Comics graphic novel, take a journey into the dark psyche of the Clown Prince of Crime. Now escaped from Arkham Asylum, The Joker sets out to prove that one bad day can make anyone just as insane as he is. Featuring the return of Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker and Tara Strong as Batgirl, witness the birth of a super villain, the fortitude of a hero and the punchline that will leave you speechless!

My thoughts: The Internet hate machine will have you believe that this movie is full of unsettling sex and violence but that's anything but the case. Sure the prologue was a little long in the tooth and the relationship was surprising but not entirely out of left field. The animation was a great nod to Bolland's art and the voice acting is top notch as you would expect. Definitely in the upper echelon of DCAU movies.

Final verdict: 5 severed spines out of 5.

Jason Bourne:

Synopsis: Bourne remains on the run from CIA hit squads as he tries to uncover hidden truths about his past. When former CIA operative Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) hacks into agency databases to uncover evidence about its illegal assassination programs and on Bourne's recruitment, Bourne begins to understand who he truly is. After Parsons' breach, CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) orders CIA cyber head Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) to find the pair.

My thoughts: Not the strongest in the Bourne series but the movie gives you just enough of that old Damon/Greengas nostalgia that it makes you forget that this film can't hold a candle to the original or Damon's last romp as Bourne. But there is enough excitement and well choreographed action scenes that the film moves along as a steady pace, although it is a bit uneven at times.

Final verdict: 4 Vegas car chases out of 5.

Special: 5 Batman stories that needs the DCAU movie treatment

I've been recently hooked on the DC Animated Universe movies so it's not a surprise that it would be my topic of choice for this special... Now surprisingly we have only had 4 Batman DCAU movies released so far (Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Under The Red Hood and Gotham Knight, though I like to pretend that last one doesn't exist) On the flip side we've had 3 Superman solo movies and 5 Justice League films. You'd think the caped crusader would be given more time on screen with his rich comic history... But DC must have known this as we have 2 new Bat titles coming out this year with Batman And Son as well as an Arkham spinoff film set for release in May and Fall respectively. But in case they want more Bat-Verse here are 5 stories that would make great films.

5. Battle For The Cowl/Batman R.I.P./The Return Of Bruce Wayne

Okay so in the comics after Final Crisis Darkseid tosses Bruce Wayne deep into the past and he must travel back through time, having amnesia to return. Meanwhile with the apparent death of Batman, Tim Drake begs Dick Grayson to take up the cowl, but he refuses. Leading to Jason Todd taking on the role... Only to be attacked by Damian Wayne who is trying to prove himself to Dick, after being severely wounded my the new Batman. Tim Drake takes it upon himself to take the cowl and track Jason only to be left in a similar situation. The problem with adapting this? It's too big of a story to do in one film, perhaps over two, definitely not one, and DC already has the Justice League movies tying together currently so I doubt they'd want more continuity.

4. Batman: Gothic

My how the tables have turned. Gotham's mob bosses are being picked off one by one and they only have one person to turn to... Batman. Batman of course refuses to help the mob bosses to take down Mr. Whisper, a convicted child killer, but instead decides to track him on his own. After spotting a murder Bruce intervenes only to be tossed away by Mr. Whisper and his superhuman strength. The book also ties into Bruce's childhood and is a perfect mixture of horror and suspense filled mystery with a thrill a page. This would be a Batman/Bruce Wayne that most have yet to see so it'd be an all original entry and dark just like the caped crusader should be.

3. The Court Of Owls

The top 3 were so hard to rank, but I decided on putting the court at number 3 just because I think it's the most likely to get made. The newest entry on this list was started back in September 2011 by Bat-writer extraordinaire Scott Snyder and became an instant classic, Snyder introduced an all new power in Gotham that has been there for years, just unseen and unheard but definitely felt. It also, like Gothic, shows a whole new side to the Bat Family's past, though this time it affects Dick Grayson and not Bruce Wayne. I'm surprised it took over 70 years for a writer to finally put a villain in the image of the bat's natural predator... The owl.

2. Batman: Hush

As you may have noticed all these titles take place in the Bat-verse but don't necessarily have Batman as the only central character. Hush is the best example of this as the villain Hush targets and affects all people, good or evil, in Gotham. Of course to make a compelling film they'd have to choose a select few characters to follow as if they tried to tackle everyone the film would again prove to be too convoluted for the casual fan to follow. But in Bruce Timm we trust, and I'm positive a Hush film would be a huge hit with critics and fans alike.

1. The Killing Joke

Mark Hammil said the only way he's coming out of Joker retirement is to voice the clown prince of crime in an adaptation of Alan Moore's classing The Killing Joke. So at the very least DC, give a man who has given you so much over the years his wish, us fans would be delighted to hear Hammil's voice coming out of that grin once more as we discover Batman's greatest foe's origin and how he came to be the diabolical clown we know today, plus who didn't love in Under The Red Hood when Joker clobbered Jason Todd with the crowbar... I think watching Barbara Gordon getting shot would be equally impressive to see in moving pictures.