Rate Batman Begins

[rom90125]

You know what would have been perfect?

This Batman movie with the fight scenes from "Ong Bak". That would have been a straight 10.

Without the coherent fight scenes, I give it a 9, because the fights didn't really matter too much. It probably won't be a big blockbuster, though, since there's a long stretch without any action.

For this reason, and the Rachel character, I also gave it a 9. I felt Nolan would have been better off introducing Dent in this film then force a 'love story' subplot into the mix. I understand why Dent wasn't seen (I imagine they will want a big-name actor for the part, and the budget for this film probably couldn't support it) but it would have saved the audience some cringe-worthy moments.

The rumblings I've read (mainly at http://batman-on-film.com) are that Dent will be brought into the mix in the next film.

 

[Viking Bastard]

The only thing I can really complain about is how much of a 'pilot movie' it was.

Man, now I'll have to wait for two or three years for the next episode. Damnit.

 

[Taelorn76]

I thought the movie was good, still likes '89 better IMO. The only thing that baothered me about the movie, and this has been a theme through out the other BAtman films as well, was the fact that the female lead always finds out who the man beneath the cowl is.

Batman Alfred brings Vikki Vale to the bat cave
Batman Returns Dialogue between Selena & Bruce is repeated when they fight as Batman & Catwoman
Batman Forever IIRC he comes out and tells Dr. Chase Maridian.
Batman & Robin I am drawing a blank since the movie does not exist
Batman Begins Dialogue between Bruce and Rachel is repeated when he saves her.

Why do they insists on doing that in every movie, can't the movie end with out the female lead knowing who is behind the mask.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I wouldnt see a problem with it if the female lead STAYED the female lead. If they change women for the next movie then I'd have a problemw ith it. If Rachel (and the lovely Joey, err i mean Ms Tom Cruise) stays teh female lead I think it will be ok.

As for why? I thought it was plain to see. Bruce really does love her, or at least yurns for her approval. The movie paints her as his moral compass. He trusts her as much as he trusts Alfred.

Now, on the topic of Alfred. I know the actor did a good job, but seriously, I kept thinking he was gonna start speaking in British or that he'd jump into a Blue Mini Coop. Austin Powers Faaaaaaaaaaasssa as Alfred? heh.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

10.

Superb in every imaginable way, the best comic book movie ever and probably knocks off Unleashed as the best film this year.

IMO, anyone complaining about the fight scenes misses the point completely. The fight scenes in Batman Begins are filmed horror-movie style rather than action-movie style, with the hero in the monster's part. It's an amazing twist and superbly done if one doesn't go into it expecting "superhero movie" fights.

I didn't mind Katie Holmes' Rachel character. If the series switches female leads, I'll agree with those who ragged on her; as a recurring character, she was both necessary to the plot and well-done.

Christian Bale was absolutely unbelievable... except that I expected nothing less than perfection from him since the day I heard he'd have the part. As an aside, I enjoyed Revenge of the Sith (albeit much, much less than Batman Begins), but Bale would have been the perfect Anakin Skywalker, too.

The Scarecrow was great, too, except that he was much more terrifying without the mask. Great casting, great job.

Liam Neeson was... well, the same role he's been playing in pretty much every movie lately, but he's sure good at it.

The rest of the cast, the pacing, the set designs... all superb.

 

[Agamon]

Brilliant. Gave it a 9, degraded from a 10 mostly because of the choppy fight scenes and Katie Holmes, who just seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. DC finally has something that stacks up against the X-Men and Spider-Man films. Here's hoping the new Superman movie also rules, and that they get busy on a GL flick.

 

[Hand of Evil]

gave it a 7 should have gone with an 8, I liked it for its dialog and characters they were very good. It's weakness; Katie Holmes - don't get me wrong she is cute and a fine actress but I am media'd out on her and all things Tom, I think this hurt the movie.

(Okay, I know, someone is going to point out how much I liked Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the media of the stars, the difference: the public display.)

 

[ShinHakkaider]

10.

IMO, anyone complaining about the fight scenes misses the point completely. The fight scenes in Batman Begins are filmed horror-movie style rather than action-movie style, with the hero in the monster's part. It's an amazing twist and superbly done if one doesn't go into it expecting "superhero movie" fights.

See i read that "horror movie" bit an review somewhere, so youre not saying anything new. For the encounter on the docks and at the apt where Bats first runs into Scarecrow it works. But the fight scenes are poorly shot from the get go (including the stuff at the LOS HQ and the final fight between Batman and Ras' on the monorail was just awful.

It's as simple as this and it has nothing to do with "superhero movie" fights. When I see someone throw a punch or a kick, I expect to see that puchh or kick make contact or see why it didnt make contact.

So seriously, I "GET" what Nolan was trying to do, it was IMHO, done poorly. I study movie fights and for the most part I understand why things are shot a certain way and why things are framed the way that they are. It's not a "twist", it's was a stylistic choice. I didnt expect a "superhero movie" fight in BOURNE IDENTITY, but that movie had one of the best hand to hand exchanges in movie in a good long while. The 1st BLADE which you could call a "superhero type movie" had pretty good fight scenes. Hell, even the brief hand to hand exchange in COLLATERAL was shot in a dark club, with Tom Cruise as a sociopathic hitman, you could still SEE what he was doing. He was DIRECT, QUICK and BRUTAL. The way that you would expect to SEE Batman fight. But I didnt get that, so for me the movie was less than satisfying.

 

[Desdichado]

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...

Really? I loved the music. I'll probably pick up the soundtrack so I can add it to my mix of stuff I use for my rpg sessions. Don't forget; the soundtrack was a collaberation of Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. I love most of the work of both of them -- I've got several of their soundtracks as integral parts of my RPG session soundtracks, and I'd continue to add more if I could justify buying more soundtrack CDs along with all the other crap I buy. I like the tracklist for the soundtrack too --

1. Vespertilio
2. Eptesicus
3. Myotis
4. Barbastella
5. Artibeus
6. Tadarida
7. Macrotus
8. Antrozous
9. Nycteris
10. Molossus
11. Corynorhinus
12. Lasiurus

 

[Desdichado]

IMO, anyone complaining about the fight scenes misses the point completely. The fight scenes in Batman Begins are filmed horror-movie style rather than action-movie style, with the hero in the monster's part. It's an amazing twist and superbly done if one doesn't go into it expecting "superhero movie" fights.

No, we don't. It makes sense for the docks scene where Batman is pulling the mooks up into the air and scaring the piss out of them, but it sucks for his League of Shadows training and the final confrontation on the train. There's no good reason to use the style there except the real point of those fight scenes: no good stunt choreographer and no good stuntmen.