Kingsman: The Secret Service

Starts with a bang, ends with an ass, and provides a fun ride in between but James Bond: First Class kicks less ass than expected.  Vaughn gets it Wright occasionally but otherwise burns screen-time with tedious training, self-critical comedy, and a lead less compelling than any of his ample support.

Interstellar

McConaughey masterfully pilots his space-Lincoln through a nebulous cloud of screensavers populated by irritatingly irrational men and ludicrously love-struck ladies.  Nolan proves that whether an epic spans neurons or neutron stars, all you need to confound characters and viewers is a shipload of tedious (and extremely ignorable rules).  Watch gravity?

Now You See Me

Leterrier tries transporting again with Ocean’s Prestige, an occasionally slick, mildly entertaining festival of irrational effects and grandiose camera moves.  Unfortunately, the plot points are too predictable and explanations too contrived for the arsenal of amusing performances to trick the audience with the illusion of intelligent scripting.  Now you won’t.

The Dark Knight Rises

Rises to challenge of tying in elements of both predecessors.  Nolan incepts outside cast, all of whom perform spectacularly.  Replaces technological faults of previous films with medical and logical gaps.  Geriatric batman’s recovery, Cathaway’s equipment, and strongman’s weak motivation lack conviction.  Regardless, powerful film.  Could have used a spinning top.

The Dark Knight

Three performances unhindered despite facelifts, one makeup, one CG, and one re-casting.  Cleverly philosophical story transforms Bat into symbol that Begins began.  Thematic elements, dark vs. light, chaos vs. chance, etc. sometimes overwhelm a plot which keeps rebooting through the film.  Disappointing last page of Ledger in film and life.

Batman Begins

The bat rises like a depressed phoenix in this gloomy resurrection of a previously kitschy saga.  Deep voiced Bateman, Caine’s Alfred, and Freeman’s Q provide performance highlights, while bad guys are bit underwhelming.  Phenomenal rendition of origin story overshadows weaker second act.  Clever twist, but not so clever realism-evaporating device.

Inception

Another creative mental masterpiece from Nolan populated with talented cast of lesser-known actors. Revisits Memento themes and Delves into dense subject matter to pose deep philosophical and logical questions. Plot-holes and logic lapses are strangely unable to sink this intellectually stimulating puzzle, but does it connect emotionally? In your dreams.

The Prestige

Wolverine vs. Batman in a chronologically complex dual to the death, masterminded by the screenwriting genius of the Nolan brothers. Odd appearances by Bowie and Gollum only add to this excellent film, and though a few of the twists feel contrived, the whole thing becomes more impressive upon repeat viewing.