Mark Steyn: Batman Begins (A Steyn movie review)

The Spectator ^ | June 24, 2005 | Mark Steyn

[livius]

Combine that with the fact that the guy who plays Batman said in an interview in Madrid this week that he really wants to get to the "whole character," particularly, in his words, the "sexual aspect" of Batman (who has always been a gay icon because he had a young sidekick), and you have a serious yuck factor.

[AmishDude]

Thank you for posting the whole article.

[AmishDude]

Beavergirl?

Oh, Steyn, you sly dog.

[ClearCase_guy]

Awwwww, I actually like this movie.

the desperate restoration of the old love-means-having-never-to-say-you’re-Zorro routine whereby the masked avenger goes to ludicrous lengths to flounce around as a dissolute airhead moneybags in order to throw the girl he loves off the scent of his secret identity.

It bears noting that in the movie young Bruce is taken to the Opera on the night his parents are killed, but the original story-line is that he is taken to a movie -- "Zorro". His later decision to imitate Zorro as a foppish n're-do-well is based on that.

[Cousin Eddie]

One of the rare times where I disagree with Steyn. This movie was excellent...perfect? -- No!...but thankfully a far cry from Tim Burton's ridiculous sendup.

I could address all of Steyn's points, but the ninja training blended perfectly...explains Batman's ability to move silently and fight many people at once.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

"(The ‘dark knight’ is Batman’s preferred designation these days, ‘caped crusader’ having fallen from favour presumably after pressure from Gotham City’s Islamic lobby groups.)"

I had never though of that before.

Well...I was looking forward to seeing it this weekend

Thanks Mark!

I don't think I'll bother.

Agree with him that "The Incredibles" was

Well...Just incredible.

[Right_at_RiceU]

Bob Crane is not responsible for the origins of batman, just the character. Batman's origin (parents gunned down, tearful vow to defeat crime) is credited to Gardner Fox, who wrote the two-page origin sequence in Batman No. 1. The "cloud of bats" derives mostly from the work of Frank Miller in "The Dark Knight Returns" and again, with David Mazzucchelli, in "Batman: Year One" (from which also clearly derives Gary Oldman's appearance as Jim Gordon).
Bruce's training trip to the Far East was added to Batman lore by writer Christopher Priest in the late 1980s.
Even when invoking the initial creation of Batman, it's important to recognize the contribution of writer Bill Finger, who co-created the character with Kane. Other than appearance, Finger is responsible for many of the basics of the character, including his environment, secret identity, relationship with the police and methods of operating.
Alas, despite ending this comment, I probably won't actually stop being nerdy.

[quidnunc]

AmishDude wrote: Thank you for posting the whole article.

I only did so because it can't accessed by most otherwise.

[RogueIsland]

Steyn doesn't seem to understand that Batman has been re-imagined in the comics themselves numerous times. To me, the move came very close to the Frank Miller atmosphere than anything else, and I appreciated the seriousness with which the director and Bale approached the material.

Different strokes.

[JenB]

See it anyway. I disagree with the great Steyn on this one. I thought there was a good deal of humor. It seems to me he's complaining about the movie being exactly what it said it was going to be: a story about how Batman got himself started. Which means we're going to see quite a bit of film before he puts on the cape.

[macamadamia]

"this self-consciously ‘important’ Batman."

Steyn ought to know that a good many comic books are self-consciously important. It goes with the territory. The key is not to take too seriously the seriousness of comic books...then the seriousness can be kind of fun.

[oxlongm]

You're right, Bob Crane didn't originate Batman since he mostly concentrated on "Hogan's Superheroes."

Don't worry, we know what you meant!

---

Bob Crane is not responsible for the origins of batman, just the character.

[Citizen H.]

I totally disagree, except for the argument the film could use more humor. Nolan takes a realistic approach to Batman. It's not a cartoon. It's done straight. And I think it's refreshing.

As someone who writes comics for a living, I can say with all honesty that comics fans have wanted to see something like this for a long time.

[Charles Henrickson]

One of the rare times where I disagree with Steyn. This movie was excellent.

I'm with you, Cuz. I saw the movie yesterday and liked it a lot.

[Alexander Rubin]

I just Batman Begins last night. Its actually very good. Gothic Noir style, and it is a bit humourless, but I found it nonetheless very enjoyable. Definitely one of the best Batman's yet.

Some parts are a bit pretentious or far fetched, but on the whole its worth your money, imo. Still, Steyn, as always, raises a lot of good points, even though I disagree with him in this case.

[ozzymandus]

Whatever. The guy who plays batman was the star of "American Psycho", my all-time favorite psycho-killer movie.

[NotSoFreeStater]

I wonder what powers Beavergirl would possess?

[AmishDude]

I wonder what powers Beavergirl would possess?

I am not going there. I mean it.

[Antonello]

I wonder what powers Beavergirl would possess?

Can we safely assume they involve wood, teeth, and big (flat) tails?