Posted on 06/15/2005 7:56:12 PM PDT by Destro
No big deal. To each their own. Some people like Harry Potter and I can't stand the character. If you are or have been a fan of comix, then you know what works and what does not. I thought the first two Batman movies made years ago were good. There was some camp in it but it attempted to stick to the darkness of the Batman character. The last two were more like the old television program or the Batman of the 50's and 60's.
If it took you that long to recognize Rutger Hauer from this movie, you probably still haven't recognized him from Sin City. :)
This movie is amazing though. Perfectly realized on every level.
I thought the first 2/3 or so was a really terrific movie.
Then it seemed to fall apart right around when the big bad's plot was being carried out. It just went on and on, and seemed to have lost its way.
(SPOILER WARNING)
Example: he has this awesome car, he drives like a madman -- and there's always the same cop car two car-lengths behind him. You don't get the feeling that he's accomplishing anything, that he's doing anything. He can't shake them for love nor money. Then, suddenly, he's in the bat cave, and they have no idea where he is.
And Rachel -- Bruce is worthless because he's a playboy bad boy who doesn't actually DO anything that matters; but then she doesn't want to be involved with him... because he's a serious guy who's DOING something that matters.
Huh?
I still like it, but where I'd give the preceding movie maybe 4 or 4.5 stars, I'd give the end maybe 2.5.
Dan
After the first Batman movie (the one by Tim Burton) I was hoping for a Ra's Shal Ghul appearance. Though I believe that Ra's is an arab and lives in the desert.
Hugo Strange would be pretty cool though it looks like the Joker is going to make an apperance in the next film (The guy from Back to the Future and Willard is going to play the Joker. Not a bad choice)
Now if they could just get Man-Bat.
The Mob Boss got taken down to easily after alot of build up. Though I guess he was just a puppet anyway.
Batman is actually the owner of the city. The old homestead. Private property, tenants pay rent and bad guys get tossed out.
Yes, that's exactly what he thinks; the whole "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" concept reinforces Bruce's stewardship of the city along with inheriting the legacy from his father.
Not a foul word to be found that I noted, a couple of good moments about the failings of socialism to solve societal ills and plenty of 70's blockbuster-type action without the teeth-grinding computer graphics.
It's a good movie first and half of it is non-Batman.
What gay subtext?
In the second movie, when Iceman tells his parents he's a mutant, and his mom says "Can't you just not be a mutant?", the direct parallel is a gay/lesbian son or daughter coming out to their parents and getting rejected. This was mentioned in all the hype leading up to the movie.
Now, you don't have to view the scene that way, but that is how it was intended.
This one captures the "Dark Knight" feel very well. Gotham City is corrupt, dark, and dangerous. The Batmobile is fantastic!
The lead, Christian Bale, is a good choice for Bruce Wayne/Batman--he has the look, the voice, etc. Also well-cast are Michael Caine as Alfred (he's especially good), Gary Oldman as Gordon, Morgan Freeman as sort of a counterpart to 007's gadget guru, and Liam Neeson as Wayne's mentor. Katie Holmes as the love interest/Asst. DA is OK--not great, but OK. There are a few other key characters--a crime boss, a crooked cop, a spooky court psychiatrist.
Kept my interest throughout, very entertaining.
bump
Gary Oldham is probably the best actor going today, but he is in this cast among many great ones. It is amazing to me how well he just becomes whoever he is playing.
That, actually, should be considered a compliment! A great actor is one that makes you forget who the actor is, because you are so focused on the CHARACTER.
You know the actor stinks when you don't remember the character's name, only the actor's name.
ABBA doesn't perform anymore. If they did, I'd go see them too.
Agreed, Oldman is probably one of the most brilliant actors on the scene today.
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