Rate Batman Begins

[Dingleberry]

::looks around and timidly raises hand::

Hey, it's got Bale, dragons, Matthew McConahue (sp) playing a dwarf barbarian... That's a d20 Modern/Apocalypse setting on its own! And the Star Wars reenaction was priceless! (got meself the DVD)

And I'll add another favorite Bale movie: Shaft! "YOU WANT MY SHOE???"

I'm with Claudio - I thought RoF was much fun. As was Shaft.

 

[The Serge]

I think you kind of missed the point of the 1960s Batman TV series: it wasn't supposed to make people start taking comic books seriously as an art form. The show was a parody of the comic books, and a pretty brilliant one at that. The show had lots of action to appeal for kids, and some surprisingly clever humor that adults would get. Oh, and who could forget Burgess Meredith's great portrayal of the Penguin? Personally, I thought that the 1960s Batman TV series was great.

I didn't miss "the point" of the series... I just disagree with its take on comics in general and on The Batman in particular. That kind of camp would have been far more appropriate in a more "light-hearted" character than The Batman. Although I enjoyed it as a child and still watch it any time it comes on television, I think that its take on Batman and on comics severely damaged the nature of comics for almost 20 years (although one could argue that Dr. Wertham and others like him in the 50s were more culpable). As for the humor being appealing to adults... Well, I think that adults found the humor tongue in cheek, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it was "clever."

As for Burgess Meredith's portrayal, it was all fine and good. I've always preferred Cesar (sp?) Romero's Joker.

 

[The Serge]

I gave it 4.

I thought that the character bits were decent, but the action was as weak as hell. Poorly shot, choppy and incoherent. Yes I understand the effect the Nolan was going for, I'm just saying that it didnt work for me. If I'm watching action on the screen I'd actually like to see the action. The glimpses of batman worked for the scene at the docks, but even the fights with @ the LOS HQ were done pretty poorly.

I don't get it... You mean that your disdain for the fight scenes were enough to override the characterizations, the great dialogue (like the one you mention), and the overall story?

:\

 

[Hijinks]

Christian Bale was also the hero in "Reign of Fire"... but I notice nobody is claiming that is one of their favorite Bale movies...

*shrug* I like it. There's no way everyone in the world is going to like every film made by one actor. And he's done a lot of independent film work, but the man's gotta feed his family; RoF made some decent money, if I remember correctly.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I don't get it... You mean that your disdain for the fight scenes were enough to override the characterizations, the great dialogue (like the one you mention), and the overall story?

:\

Look, I dont want to get into some long discussion about my criteria for a good action film. But it's like this TO ME, BATMAN BEGINS was supposed to have been a combination of character driven drama AND action. Seriously, there are plenty of character driven dramas out there, alot better than BEGINS. The selling point for me and alot of people are the @ss beatings that Batman hands out between the angst and the presentation of those beatdowns were handled poorly.

If you don't get that, it's OK. But for me I need the balance of good story AND good action.

 

[The Serge]

Look, I dont want to get into some long discussion about my criteria for a good action film. But it's like this TO ME, BATMAN BEGINS was supposed to have been a combination of character driven drama AND action. Seriously, there are plenty of character driven dramas out there, alot better than BEGINS. The selling point for me and alot of people are the @ss beatings that Batman hands out between the angst and the presentation of those beatdowns were handled poorly.

If you don't get that, it's OK. But for me I need the balance of good story AND good action.

I get it to a degree. What I don't get is how that could knock your rating from 10 to 4... Especially in light of your other comments. It seems like your vote would have been a 6 or 7.

Whatever, though... I've learned not to expect consistency or logic in many movie or book discussions all the time. That's not a knock... There are movies I hate despite recognizing that they're good movies.

 

[The_lurkeR]

Just saw it this afternoon. I gave it a 9, near perfection.
Hands down the best Batman movie ever, and perhaps even the best superhero movie ever!

I can see what some people are saying about the fight scenes, but I believe it was done with a purpose. It's explained in the movie even as Ducard trains Wayne about what a fight is. But sure they could have thrown us a little action candy with the final fight.

I didn't notice any problems with Batmans voice, but I've read articles where they explain that Batman has a voice changer / speakers built into the suit.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/batsuit.htm

The microphones in the ears are combined with special earpieces in the cowl that give Batman superior hearing in the field. The microphones can also be used to amplify Batman's voice and broadcast it through a discreet speaker in the suit. This is what gives Batman's voice that distinctive, disembodied and unearthly sound.

Like Ebert said, this is not only a good superhero movie, it's a good MOVIE movie. Nolan did an excellent job building the character of Batman. My girlfriend who I dragged along, and is a tough film critic actually turned to me at the end and said it was "excellent".

 

[Jarrod]

I liked it. It was a fun movie, and I didn't have time to spend analyzing it in the middle. As a friend noted afterwards, they even pulled off the pseudo-science that normally annoys the heck out of us.

Spoiler

Microwave generator that can vaporize water in the mains but doesn't nuke the people standing right next to it? Sheesh.

My only two real faults with the movie are 1) the action shots (ugh, shaky-cam). The LoS fear fight was well done for the "you can't tell where they are", and the first mook fight for the "he disappeared, where'd he go?". The rest were just seizure-inducing. C'mon, spend some money on stuntmen and show us what's going on. And 2) I didn't like the music. How is it that all Hans Zimmer music sounds the same? Batman Begins sounded very similar to the action scenes in The Rock, and Pirates of the Caribbean (not Hans Zimmer, but he consulted), and National Treasure, and...

And _man_ the supporting cast was great. Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman.... they made the movie.

 

[The_lurkeR]

I liked it. It was a fun movie, and I didn't have time to spend analyzing it in the middle. As a friend noted afterwards, they even pulled off the pseudo-science that normally annoys the heck out of us.

Spoiler

Microwave generator that can vaporize water in the mains but doesn't nuke the people standing right next to it? Sheesh.

re: your spoiler
Agreed, I had the same question
But it IS a comic book movie so I was willing to let that one go, especially since the rest was so well done.

And _man_ the supporting cast was great. Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman.... they made the movie.

Definately, this movie had a very high quality feel to it. Much of that I think had to do with the casting.

One other point I forgot to make in my original post. I was quite happy to see a "summer blockbuster" movie that wasn't dependent on rubbing it's special effects in my face. This movie felt very real, or true. I'd be hard pressed to think of any scenes that were obviously 'blue-screened'.

I sincerely hope that Christopher Nolan and the main cast return for the sequel.

 

[Pants]

Gave it a 9. On second thought, I'd probably give it an 8 or a very high 7.

Great development of Bruce Wayne. Generally good acting, though Bale's Batman voice wasn't my favorite and I don't think that Holmes can act all that well. It's just too bad that the movie is brought down by a rather nebulous plot involving a microwave thingie and lots and lots of collateral damage. Add in the very little closure about what happened to those people exposed to the gas and it's sad to see this otherwise great film brought low.

The fight scenes didn't bother me too much, although they overdid the 'shaky what the hell is going on effect' a little too much. I liked the fight scenes in Bourne Identity, but Batman Begins kicked it up a notch... and not in a good way.

The Scarecrow turned out a lot better than I thought.