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Jun. 26th, 2005 03:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stakebaitI saw Batman Begins on Friday. It rocked. I wonder if it worked as well for bigger fans of the comic than I am, because I adored it -- but part of why I adored it was that it answered many of the things I'm not able to suspend my disbelief on for comic conventions, in terms of both physical and psychological realism, without turning into two hours of fanwank.
There were really only two moments that lost me -- and BOTH turned out to be "it's not a mistake, it's a plot point" later on.
I've seen someone else say it was technically perfect but soulless, but I didn't find it so. I found Bruce's self-blame and self-imposed mission considerably more understandable and sympathetic, his relationship with Alfred more three dimensional, and Katie Holme's character more of an ethical goad than the too often shortchanged love interest. Though I did find her final verdict of "this is not your real face" kind of -- abrupt. I don't dispute the verdict, I just wonder where she saw enough of what we saw to make that call.
And it seemed a bit harsh, considering to what extent he bacame that to live up to her expectations. But then, she's a character who refused to ever alter her persona for her company, so I can see how the idea would not be something she could lend herself to as an active part.
I was much more interested in Bruce than in Batman, but that's me -- I like interpersonal drama and personal realisations and growth more than kicking the shit out of bad guys. The Arkham doctor was startlingly young but satisfyingly creepy, and I enjoyed the "everyone sincerely thinks they're right" and "personal loyalty at odds with moral belief on both sides" nature of his conflict with Ras al Ghul -- in some ways, it felt like how the final Anakin/Obi Wan showdown should have gone, though it shared a certain ability to not hit the point quite head on.
I also enjoyed the ways in which different eras of New York's history were echoed in the set design and costumes. (I'm sure other cities were too, but I don't know them so well.) Particularly the graffetti covered monorail, so very 70s subway in spite of the cell phones.
I've not become enough of a convert to want to go and seek out the sprawling Batverse across all its various media, but as a stand alone summer blockbuster it really worked for me -- a prime example of how explosions and car chases can fit seamlessly with good dialogue and complex characters.
It did not, however, rival the intensity of my reaction to Serenity. I'm STILL not ready to post about that, though at least I'm able to read this next round of preview reactions from others.
There were really only two moments that lost me -- and BOTH turned out to be "it's not a mistake, it's a plot point" later on.
I've seen someone else say it was technically perfect but soulless, but I didn't find it so. I found Bruce's self-blame and self-imposed mission considerably more understandable and sympathetic, his relationship with Alfred more three dimensional, and Katie Holme's character more of an ethical goad than the too often shortchanged love interest. Though I did find her final verdict of "this is not your real face" kind of -- abrupt. I don't dispute the verdict, I just wonder where she saw enough of what we saw to make that call.
And it seemed a bit harsh, considering to what extent he bacame that to live up to her expectations. But then, she's a character who refused to ever alter her persona for her company, so I can see how the idea would not be something she could lend herself to as an active part.
I was much more interested in Bruce than in Batman, but that's me -- I like interpersonal drama and personal realisations and growth more than kicking the shit out of bad guys. The Arkham doctor was startlingly young but satisfyingly creepy, and I enjoyed the "everyone sincerely thinks they're right" and "personal loyalty at odds with moral belief on both sides" nature of his conflict with Ras al Ghul -- in some ways, it felt like how the final Anakin/Obi Wan showdown should have gone, though it shared a certain ability to not hit the point quite head on.
I also enjoyed the ways in which different eras of New York's history were echoed in the set design and costumes. (I'm sure other cities were too, but I don't know them so well.) Particularly the graffetti covered monorail, so very 70s subway in spite of the cell phones.
I've not become enough of a convert to want to go and seek out the sprawling Batverse across all its various media, but as a stand alone summer blockbuster it really worked for me -- a prime example of how explosions and car chases can fit seamlessly with good dialogue and complex characters.
It did not, however, rival the intensity of my reaction to Serenity. I'm STILL not ready to post about that, though at least I'm able to read this next round of preview reactions from others.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 01:16 am (UTC)