From the keyboard of Regina Bertilson, (technically, though, it isn’t mine…)

I promised John I would post something, so, after much procrastination (mostly because I couldn’t think of something to post, and once I did, I thought it wasn’t good enough), I’ve decided to just post. I still haven’t figured out what exactly I’m going to post.. Dangerous idea, making it up along the way.

Perhaps a movie review? Of WALL-E, maybe, because Mark keeps asking me to write one? Or the Dark Knight, which I absolutely LOVED and desperately need to see again? Or perhaps a short review for both? Sounds good to me. I’ll probably get carried away, though.

First, WALL-E. My family and I were stuck in Salt Lake City this summer, when our van broke down. We stayed with some cousins of our mom’s, but we could tell that after a few days they were getting a bit stressed out. So, we decided we’d leave. The only problem was, we had to leave when it was cool, in other words, a few hours after it got dark. I thought, hey, this is the perfect opportunity to suggest we go to a movie! I didn’t really think it would happen; I was mostly joking. But, to my utter joy, at my persuasions to go to WALL-E because it came out a week ago or so (when this happened, that is), my parents said yes. So, we went.

I absolutely loved it. As usual, Pixar delivered a brilliant story that was funny, touching, and family friendly. It’s a story about a little robot, Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class (thus, WALL-E), who, all alone on earth, is cleaning up the huge amounts of garbage left by the humans. He also is a collector, of sorts. Anything he sees that he likes, he takes back to his little home. There is one thing he found that he cherishes dearly: a video cassette of Hello, Dolly! (which, by the way, I have never seen), which he watches and sadly yearns for someone to love and hold hands with. Now, since I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t seen it, I won’t say anything more about the plot. I will say, though, that this movie has a beautiful example of love. I also have got to say this. To anyone who thinks that it was a movie against so-called ‘global warming’ (or, actually, I think, as it is now being changed to ‘climate change’) or fat people: No, for heaven’s sake, you’re completely missing the point of the movie. Go back and watch it again right now and look for what the real point is. Those things were just the set, to get the setup for what the plot needed. The real point is love.

I read somewhere (I think it might’ve been on www.decentfilms.com) that there was a mom or dad who, halfway through the movie, had to take their kids out because the kids were bored. But Mr. Steven D. Greydanus, the author of the reviews on decentfilms, said that his kids absolutely loved the movie. Personally, I think that anyone who has kids who can’t sit through that movie needs to ban the kids from watching TV for a while. WALL-E is another absolutely stunning animated film from Pixar, possible the best animated movie that has been made yet (though I think The Incredibles was darn close). If you haven’t seen it yet, go, take your whole family, and see it. It’s worth the money.

The Dark Knight. Best movie of the year, without a doubt. (WALL-E, I believe, is second best.)

As probably all of you know, Batman is the dark knight in the Dark Knight. The star of the movie, though, is not Batman, but the Joker. The reason for this is Heath Ledger’s genius performance. The Joker is out to get Batman in this new sequel to Batman Begins and his methods are as unpleasant as his scarred face. Probably the most disturbing thing about him is that, when he’s caught, and may be punished for his crimes, he doesn’t care. He’s not like other bad guys, no cowering, no pleading, instead, he dares people to hit him. When they do, it’s his triumph, not theirs. He’s proved that yet another person is like the Joker. His goal is to show Batman that his job is hopeless. Batman can’t save Gotham city. Batman is fighting a mission that is going nowhere. Everything is bad. Everyone is evil, in their heart of hearts. The Joker preaches a message of sin. It’s everywhere, he says, no one can get away from it, so we might as well just give in.

Now, the Dark Knight could just turn out to be one of those really depressing movies that no one should ever watch, but it doesn’t. The Joker is proven wrong, people have compassion, there is hope.

The Dark Knight is an incredible movie. It shows that this world is sinful, but also shows that there’s good in the world. It shows evil of a fascinating and sinister sort, but also beautiful heroism. Not to mention there’s a really creepy laugh.

Man, now I really want to see it again. Too bad it’s ten o’clock.

So, enjoy my reviews, everyone. I’ve finally started writing ones near what I want them to be like. A bit of worldview, not too much spoiling of the plot.. Perfect. Well, almost.