RE: Review: Batman Begins
June 22nd, 2005 02:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalihaThe Boyo Batman
Specially Selected trailers aka Trailers we saw with our eyes:
The Corpse Bride
Very similar in stylistic look to The Nightmare before Christmas. Has a wonderful gothic fairytale look and the voices (that we heard) match the character looks completely.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Very excited about seeing this. Johnny Depp looks wonderful and the sets look wonderful. The trailer doesn't give away too much of the story (although we do get to get the Great Glass Elevator) and introduces the different kids. The special effects do look very nifty.
The War of the Worlds
Tom Cruise smiling. Tom Cruise with a slightly perturbed crinkly brow. Tom Cruise getting angry. Some explosions, bit of slo-mo. getting bored now.
And other trailer, but as always my brain is only able to remember three. (Stupid head).
The Orange Advert:
Starring Ewan McGregor. Plugging Make Poverty History. There was bad rapping. Would have been even better if Ewan has no clothes on, but hey, you can't have everything.
And now the Feature Attraction
What's it all about?
Have you been living under a rock? Batman was one of the original superheroes. For those of you who've not heard of the Dark Knight, Batman is billionaire Bruce Wayne. He suffered a terrible family tragedy as a child, which, when he was was all grown up led him into the Vigilante game, helping the helpless and looking all mean and broody in his pointy eared mask.
The bit that has the proper review in it:
Batman Begins is essentially a reboot of the Batman mythos, consigning Burton's Gothic stylings and the neon of the later films to movie memory; the new, improved Gotham is shaded in browns and blacks, rain slicked and shadow-filled with just the occassional white street light, fire or bar sign to illuminate a Gotham that is falling into decay.
The film opens with the familiar introduction to Wayne's life, the Well, the shooting but then fills out the backstory more by introducing Commissioner Gordon as a beat Cop, showing Wayne as a vengeful young man and introducing Wayne's love interest (Katie Holmes) in the form of DA's assistant (...).
The film as a whole was tightly paced. There wasn't a moment where I was distracted by bum-ache from the uncomfortable chairs in the UCI, or by the chavs in the audience. (The man who was kicking the back of our chairs and forced us to move deserves a Batarang in the face for his annoyance).
The fights were very slick and framed in close-up, reflecting the comic book style. It dodn't work quite as well as it could have done as the camera was so close up you couldn't tell who was hitting who.
The sets were fantastic. From the modern squalor of Gotham, all metal, rust and puddles to the darkly shining Batcave and the faded opulence of Wayne Manor. Everything felt real, nothing was swamped in special effects. Gotham could have been a modern London or New York.
Introducing our players
Christian Bale: the boyo from the valleys of South Wales excels in his dual-role of Wayne and Batman. He gives Wayne a serious/playboy sensibility, although his Batman voice was a bit silly.
Michael Caine: absolutely loved him. Played a very deadpan Alfred who was obviously very proud of his young master. He stole pretty much every scene he was in (the scene on the plane got a huge laugh from the audience). I loved the way he threw himself into helping Wayne make and design his costume as well as playing the cornered father-figure.
Gary Oldman: it's nice to see him playing good guy roles for a change. He was a wonderfully understated Officer Gordon. His moustache was a bit silly though
Liam Neeson: started off all very Jedi with his training of his young, American Padawan with his flowing robes and very Zen attitude to life. Only to turn out to have been a Sith in disguise all along. His not forgotten his Star Wars fight training, his fights looking nicely impressive.
Katie Holmes: the only weak point in the film. His Lordship commented on her being a bit of a one-trick pony and it's true. She was just Joey from the 'Creek in nicer clothes. And she still does that annoying half-smile thing that makes her face go all lopsided.
Morgan Freeman: looked after the techno-babble side of things with aplomb. It's just a shame we didn't see more of him.
Cillian Murphy: last time I saw him he was battling rage-infected people in 28 Days Later.... Was nicely creepy as Dr Crane and downright terrifying as the Scarecrow. But again he was underused.
Verdict
Very, very good. Almost totally obliterating the shuddering mess that was Batman and Robin from my memory. (Which I believe is a good thing).
Bale makes an excellent Batman, with a nice mixture of brooding and pleasant. I think the franchise's future is in good hands.
Final score: 8.75/10
Rating: 12A
Showing: Nationwide
Specially Selected trailers aka Trailers we saw with our eyes:
The Corpse Bride
Very similar in stylistic look to The Nightmare before Christmas. Has a wonderful gothic fairytale look and the voices (that we heard) match the character looks completely.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Very excited about seeing this. Johnny Depp looks wonderful and the sets look wonderful. The trailer doesn't give away too much of the story (although we do get to get the Great Glass Elevator) and introduces the different kids. The special effects do look very nifty.
The War of the Worlds
Tom Cruise smiling. Tom Cruise with a slightly perturbed crinkly brow. Tom Cruise getting angry. Some explosions, bit of slo-mo. getting bored now.
And other trailer, but as always my brain is only able to remember three. (Stupid head).
The Orange Advert:
Starring Ewan McGregor. Plugging Make Poverty History. There was bad rapping. Would have been even better if Ewan has no clothes on, but hey, you can't have everything.
And now the Feature Attraction
What's it all about?
Have you been living under a rock? Batman was one of the original superheroes. For those of you who've not heard of the Dark Knight, Batman is billionaire Bruce Wayne. He suffered a terrible family tragedy as a child, which, when he was was all grown up led him into the Vigilante game, helping the helpless and looking all mean and broody in his pointy eared mask.
The bit that has the proper review in it:
Batman Begins is essentially a reboot of the Batman mythos, consigning Burton's Gothic stylings and the neon of the later films to movie memory; the new, improved Gotham is shaded in browns and blacks, rain slicked and shadow-filled with just the occassional white street light, fire or bar sign to illuminate a Gotham that is falling into decay.
The film opens with the familiar introduction to Wayne's life, the Well, the shooting but then fills out the backstory more by introducing Commissioner Gordon as a beat Cop, showing Wayne as a vengeful young man and introducing Wayne's love interest (Katie Holmes) in the form of DA's assistant (...).
The film as a whole was tightly paced. There wasn't a moment where I was distracted by bum-ache from the uncomfortable chairs in the UCI, or by the chavs in the audience. (The man who was kicking the back of our chairs and forced us to move deserves a Batarang in the face for his annoyance).
The fights were very slick and framed in close-up, reflecting the comic book style. It dodn't work quite as well as it could have done as the camera was so close up you couldn't tell who was hitting who.
The sets were fantastic. From the modern squalor of Gotham, all metal, rust and puddles to the darkly shining Batcave and the faded opulence of Wayne Manor. Everything felt real, nothing was swamped in special effects. Gotham could have been a modern London or New York.
Introducing our players
Christian Bale: the boyo from the valleys of South Wales excels in his dual-role of Wayne and Batman. He gives Wayne a serious/playboy sensibility, although his Batman voice was a bit silly.
Michael Caine: absolutely loved him. Played a very deadpan Alfred who was obviously very proud of his young master. He stole pretty much every scene he was in (the scene on the plane got a huge laugh from the audience). I loved the way he threw himself into helping Wayne make and design his costume as well as playing the cornered father-figure.
Gary Oldman: it's nice to see him playing good guy roles for a change. He was a wonderfully understated Officer Gordon. His moustache was a bit silly though
Liam Neeson: started off all very Jedi with his training of his young, American Padawan with his flowing robes and very Zen attitude to life. Only to turn out to have been a Sith in disguise all along. His not forgotten his Star Wars fight training, his fights looking nicely impressive.
Katie Holmes: the only weak point in the film. His Lordship commented on her being a bit of a one-trick pony and it's true. She was just Joey from the 'Creek in nicer clothes. And she still does that annoying half-smile thing that makes her face go all lopsided.
Morgan Freeman: looked after the techno-babble side of things with aplomb. It's just a shame we didn't see more of him.
Cillian Murphy: last time I saw him he was battling rage-infected people in 28 Days Later.... Was nicely creepy as Dr Crane and downright terrifying as the Scarecrow. But again he was underused.
Verdict
Very, very good. Almost totally obliterating the shuddering mess that was Batman and Robin from my memory. (Which I believe is a good thing).
Bale makes an excellent Batman, with a nice mixture of brooding and pleasant. I think the franchise's future is in good hands.
Final score: 8.75/10
Rating: 12A
Showing: Nationwide
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(no subject)
Date: Thursday, June 23rd, 2005 01:08 am (UTC)Very true, that movie was okay - the first time but after that is extremely silly. I'll glad this one took on a completely different aspect, different style and not so 'kiddie'. Heres to hoping Liam doesn't come back as a spirit again ;)
rage-infected people in 28 Days Later
THANK YOU! It was bugging me. I think it's the hair.
(no subject)
Date: Thursday, June 23rd, 2005 08:33 am (UTC)