"batman begins"

[rone]

I think i've avoided writing about the movie because it would just be an exercise in nerdiness that i could avoid.  But then mmcirvin posted his thoughts on the movie and, gosh darn it, if he's not above it, why should i?

I didn't mind Katie Holmes's acting; i think that the character was poorly written (perhaps even poorly conceived), and she made the best of it.  I was surprised by the special guest appearance of her nipples in the final scenes; maybe Christian Bale's a hell of a kisser.

I liked Bale's Batman voice.  I thought it was effective.  I was confused by the juggling of Ra's Al Ghul's identity — was Ken Watanabe really Ra's and Ducard usurped the name afterwards, or was Ducard Ra's all along and Watanabe played... someone else?  Gah!  CONFUSION.  Gary Oldman was so good, it pissed me off that they deviated so far from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One; the book gives almost equal time to Gordon (as well as Catwoman, but she's not even in the movie, so whatever), and the lack of development of Gordon's character is a huge missed opportunity.  Tom Wilkinson kicked ass and needed more screen time (but i've liked him in every movie i've seen him).  Cillian Murphy was spooky.  Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, well, i won't say they phoned it in, but they didn't exactly stretch themselves, either.

One thing that really bothered me was Batman's rush to save Katie Holmes.  I know i'm being a big nerd here, but Batman would never be so careless as to crush civilian and cop cars just to save some chick's life.  Another annoyance was the conversion of Flass from an overbearing Green Beret asshole to a seedy donut-eater who was more apathetic than corrupt.  Overall, though, the movie was fun, well-written, and well-paced (people who complained about the "slow beginning" should be locked into an Ingmar Bergman festival until they recant).

In conclusion, go read Batman: Year One. You might even find it at the library. Do it now.

Comments

[merde.livejournal.com]

when I am an Evil Overlord, I will not keep open barrels of gunpowder in the main chamber of my mountain fortress.

and that's why they'll never let you be an Evil Overlord. you obviously need to go back and re-read your notes from class. it clearly states in the regulations that all secret fortresses must have a fatal flaw. i think an open barrel of gunpowder lying around in a wooden fortress meets that requirement just fine.

re: the fight choreography, i actually kind of liked it, and i'm a huge action/kung fu movie fan. to me, it felt quite realistic -- things happen so fast you don't even have time to understand what's going on, in the bits with ra's (and i think it was liam neeson all along). and in the bits with other guys, it just shows you that bats is so good that no normal even has a chance against him.

ok, i admit, i'd have liked to see a little more of what was going on. but it didn't ruin the movie for me. nothing could've ruined that movie for me, except maybe giving katie holmes more lines.