"Batman Begins" Review
Jun. 17th, 2005 03:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fembuckGO SEE IT!
This is probably the best comic-to-movie adaptation ever. Seriously, I saw the movie two days ago and I'm still squeeing. This is the movie that all Batman fans have been waiting for, Christian Bale IS Batman (and a damn fine Bruce Wayne...which is really the tougher job), Gotham City looks exactly like it should - not Burton's gothic nightmare or Schmaucher's neon eye-sore - it's huge, in same places beauitful and in other decaying and crumbling. There's the downtown metropolis and the docks and narrows that you would never want to walk down not even in broad daylight. Wayne Manor is old, gorgeous and impressive, the Batcave is actually a cave and not some underground super labratory, Gordon is competant and trustworthy, and the villians are creepy and effective instead of campy and irritating.
First off Christian Bale as Bruce/Batman. Inspired choice. I was pulling for him before the casting was announced and was thrilled when he was picked. And he is so good. Bruce Wayne is a character that I didn't relate to, or even really like, in the previous movies, and that in the comics can be hard to get a read on sometimes. But Bale (and the writers) did a great job making Bruce a man, and actually explored his feelings, gave him layers. I understood Bruce Wayne in this movie, and I think that was intrical to why it worked so well.
Now, the pre-Batman phase. The movie takes its time introducing us to the characters, setting the stage for how and why Bruce becomes Batman. This was a respectful and detailed treatment, not just a kid falling down a hole and being scared by Bats. We get to see what happens to Bruce after his parents die, we get to see how his rage and grief and anger are transformed from these deadening emotions that are holding him back from life, into something greater, into The Batman. And the training sequences and conversations between Bruce and Ducard are truly captivating, the writing is fantastic and Bale and Niesson knocked all of their scenes out of the park.
I also loved that we got to see how Bruce accumulated all of the cool shit he uses as Batman. We didn't just get dumped into him being Bat-gadget equipped. We got to see him work out the kinks and acquire all of his awesome toys. And I liked the realism of the Bat-gadgets, especially the Batmobile (or Tumbler as they call it).
Now, for the Scarecrow. I have to admit when I heard Cillian Murphy had been cast I thought "Oooh, pretty ... wait, the Johnathon Crane shouldn't be pretty! Boo". And Cillian Murphy is pretty and has great hair in this movie, but he's also CREEPY AS HELL. He's got this weird glint in his eyes and crazy calm, and every time he was on screen he wigged me out. So, despite the pretty he worked for me as Johnathon Crane. And the effects for the Scarecrow's gas were terrifically done. I was worried about how they'd portray the 'terror gas' and it was superbly done. I won't say too much about the details of the terror's though, because it's best to see it for yourself!
Katie Holmes works in this film. She was the piece of casting that I was the least thrilled about, but she did a good job in this movie. Honestly, she didn't have too much to do, but she did it well ;) I believed Rachel's convictions, Katie actually seemed like a grown woman, and she and Bale had nice chemistry.
There's so much more to say about this movie, awesome moments and scenes, but some of the pure joy I got out of it came from being surprised by these things and overjoyed that they were there, and just taking everything that Nolan was throwing at me and rolling with it, so no spoilers and scene break-downs and gushing!
Rating: 10!
Awesome movie ... GO SEE IT!
This is probably the best comic-to-movie adaptation ever. Seriously, I saw the movie two days ago and I'm still squeeing. This is the movie that all Batman fans have been waiting for, Christian Bale IS Batman (and a damn fine Bruce Wayne...which is really the tougher job), Gotham City looks exactly like it should - not Burton's gothic nightmare or Schmaucher's neon eye-sore - it's huge, in same places beauitful and in other decaying and crumbling. There's the downtown metropolis and the docks and narrows that you would never want to walk down not even in broad daylight. Wayne Manor is old, gorgeous and impressive, the Batcave is actually a cave and not some underground super labratory, Gordon is competant and trustworthy, and the villians are creepy and effective instead of campy and irritating.
First off Christian Bale as Bruce/Batman. Inspired choice. I was pulling for him before the casting was announced and was thrilled when he was picked. And he is so good. Bruce Wayne is a character that I didn't relate to, or even really like, in the previous movies, and that in the comics can be hard to get a read on sometimes. But Bale (and the writers) did a great job making Bruce a man, and actually explored his feelings, gave him layers. I understood Bruce Wayne in this movie, and I think that was intrical to why it worked so well.
Now, the pre-Batman phase. The movie takes its time introducing us to the characters, setting the stage for how and why Bruce becomes Batman. This was a respectful and detailed treatment, not just a kid falling down a hole and being scared by Bats. We get to see what happens to Bruce after his parents die, we get to see how his rage and grief and anger are transformed from these deadening emotions that are holding him back from life, into something greater, into The Batman. And the training sequences and conversations between Bruce and Ducard are truly captivating, the writing is fantastic and Bale and Niesson knocked all of their scenes out of the park.
I also loved that we got to see how Bruce accumulated all of the cool shit he uses as Batman. We didn't just get dumped into him being Bat-gadget equipped. We got to see him work out the kinks and acquire all of his awesome toys. And I liked the realism of the Bat-gadgets, especially the Batmobile (or Tumbler as they call it).
Now, for the Scarecrow. I have to admit when I heard Cillian Murphy had been cast I thought "Oooh, pretty ... wait, the Johnathon Crane shouldn't be pretty! Boo". And Cillian Murphy is pretty and has great hair in this movie, but he's also CREEPY AS HELL. He's got this weird glint in his eyes and crazy calm, and every time he was on screen he wigged me out. So, despite the pretty he worked for me as Johnathon Crane. And the effects for the Scarecrow's gas were terrifically done. I was worried about how they'd portray the 'terror gas' and it was superbly done. I won't say too much about the details of the terror's though, because it's best to see it for yourself!
Katie Holmes works in this film. She was the piece of casting that I was the least thrilled about, but she did a good job in this movie. Honestly, she didn't have too much to do, but she did it well ;) I believed Rachel's convictions, Katie actually seemed like a grown woman, and she and Bale had nice chemistry.
There's so much more to say about this movie, awesome moments and scenes, but some of the pure joy I got out of it came from being surprised by these things and overjoyed that they were there, and just taking everything that Nolan was throwing at me and rolling with it, so no spoilers and scene break-downs and gushing!
Rating: 10!
Awesome movie ... GO SEE IT!
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-18 02:43 am (UTC)I really enjoyed it as well, and I usually don't go for comic movies. I was actually VERY unsure about Bale being cast as Batman because I still had the pretty boy image of him from Little Women stuck in my head. He's grown up a lot. And I love his angry growl. The portrayal of Gotham City was beautiful. I did like the other two versions you mentioned, but this felt like a real city...oh and the soundtrack was perfect. Peeerfect.
...the Scarecrow guy looked like Michael Jackson's dream-face come alive. He creeped me out.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-18 03:44 am (UTC)I'm a sucker for them, although I get various levels of enjoyment out of them. For instance, was hella looking forward to this one, but I'm pretty sure "The Fantastic Four" will be crap. Still gonna see it - because I'm a sucker for comicbook movies - but pretty much expecting it to be crap.
I was actually VERY unsure about Bale being cast as Batman because I still had the pretty boy image of him from Little Women
lol. The first thing I saw him in was "Velvet Goldmine" and if that's the last thing I remembered him from I would've been very worried about the casting too! But mostly I remembered him from "American Pyscho" and "Equilibrium" both really intense roles. In "Equilbrium" especially he played a really emotion effed up soldier, and I watched that around the time they were casting so I was like "Bale, Dammit!" :D
And I love his angry growl.
Me too! I totally dug his "Batman" voice! It kinda jarred me the first time, but I was loving it after that.
...the Scarecrow guy looked like Michael Jackson's dream-face come alive. He creeped me out.
LMAO. Truer words have never been spoken. Oh man, I'm never gonna be able to look at Cillian Murphy the same way again. If you wanna see a really creepy Jackson looking celeb though check out some pictures of John Hensley *shudder*
no subject
Date: 2005-06-19 03:02 am (UTC)Have yet to see Batman Begins. MUST!
And hee--you new LJ header? The original pic is my desktop. Great minds, or what? *g*
(Must continue with my Sydia, I know. Life too busy right now. Ack! Need stress relief...)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-20 10:45 pm (UTC)Must. The awesomeness of the movie will help with stress relief. You'll be spending your time in open-mouth wonder, instead of worrying about whatever's stressing you out. "Batman Begins" is public service as well as a great movie ;)
And hee--you new LJ header? The original pic is my desktop. Great minds, or what? *g*
LOL, definately. Mia hotness must be displayed where one is likely to see it at least once a day. That should be made into some kind of statute or by-law or something.
(Must continue with my Sydia, I know. Life too busy right now. Ack! Need stress relief...)
Boo, it sucks when RL gets in the way of fic writing, but life tends to do that from time to time. I hope you won't be stressed out for too much longer, stress isn't fun at all :( I'll patiently wait for more of Sydia awesomeness.