Ok so the world doesn't need another superhero film right? Well not any more. Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan of Memento and Insomnia fame, is absolutely stunning. Dark, brooding, and introspective - it pushes all the right buttons for me, and yet unlike Revenge of the Sith (which I did enjoy), manages to do so without feeling forced and soap opera-ish.
Does it follow the cliche's? It is Batman, but George Clooney and Adam West this ain't! Yes, there is the obligatory loss of parents scenario, the tortured soul looking for redemption and the doomed love interest; but there is so much more to this film. For a start Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman provide a superb support cast that add subtle humour and light, to Christian Bale's darkness.
And then there is this whole Nietzche and Freudian underplay of what do we truly fear? What makes for social responsibility and when is social obligation forfeit? What is the redemption that humanity really searches for? Freedom from guilt, or fear of power? Or ultimately is it the chance to be a brooding dark anti-hero scaring the crap out of people? Hmmmm
5/5 - brilliant.
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20 comments:
My word, you found Nietzche in League of Shadows? and what Freud??? the fear of bats manifests itself as....a fear of bats. Mmmm, complex. Is there another Oedipal angle I missed? Truly please explain what I did not see, as, apart from the beautiful man in the suit, I am under the impression I saw the worst movie of the century on Friday. sure sure there is the redemption theme. And, if you want to consider it, imagine what I thought I may have intuited (when I wasnt feeling like chucking up my popcorn over the dialogue. eg, Opening line - Why do we Fall down? To get up and walk....oh geez man) - here it is - the League of Shadows was the law of the old Book to be superceded and replaced by the grace of the new Book, where we find the philosophy of the Christ figure who advocated what was it? .... oh yes, hope, grace, new life. second chance. Oh so done, so done. Mmm do we need another superhero? Nope. Do we mind a really well built Christian Bale dressed in a rubber suit, - sure, why not, and on that base value, the movie has great merit. Great merit. But no, lets not leave it there, let me go further, note the action scenes, ie, the "beat the living crap out of everyone? scenes, note how fast they were, so fast you actually never saw anything. And note, Batman, amazingly, whilst using violence to the full force of his capability doesnt actually kill anyone. What is this? What could it be? oh, yes, well, with violence you cant actually see but you can feel and without any killing scenes, it gets an M rating, thereby making lotsa money off lotsa kids. And to finish - Note the marketing of the toys is to Children, not to Adults. Tacky Tacky.
Look no offence, but the days of superheros are over. He's just a man, and we've had so many - men before - in very many ways, he's just one more....oops slipping into song. But thats the point, you are not looking at it from a girl's view, who cares about philosophy,or religion, or redemption - when we watch them, superheroes from Hollywood, its with the FEMALE gaze - and superheros are about sex, thats why they wear funny outfits, silly underpants, cute spidersuits, sweaty black rubber geez - I mean really - in what situation would you wear rubber? and smear your eyes with beautiful black eyeliner.? and all this before you rush out to save the world? Oh please. Just think Halle Berry in rubber. Nietzche, Freud? No honey, just good old fashioned hormones.
Ciao caro
From "Anonymous"
Wow, I think your last reader is a supressed superhero, obviously wanting to spin that wheel or crack that whip.......Believeing that this person (who I suspect is a women) just needs a female version of Batman. A whip and a black leather outfit is all it will take. Hang on ....... Cat Woman. Yeah Cat woman is the answer for Miss Anonymous!!!!! Although she may not have the muscular devine body of Christian Bale she does have 2 very special features...... (her whip and outfit).
Anonymous, I think you may have missed the point of Batman Begins. It was not about sex, although the thought of Katie Holmes........! Anyway, the point being Batman Begins was more about fear and the impact of us dealing with such things in our lives. And the fact that he became what he had feared, to over come this was some what a beath of fresh air. I thought it was so much more that a super hero film.........It delved into his character so much more than any other super hero film. He had no super natural powers, it was all him. No webs, x-ray vision, boobs or anything else. Just who he was and who he was becoming. This movie is the best film hollywood has seen in ages because it actually went past the point of just being a nice movie. It kicked ass! It had all the elements of a great entertaining film. I think if you didn't like this film you are very hard to please and should probably stick to "Bambi farted in the forest" type films in the future. Thank you to Christopher Nolan (Director)and the wonderful cast for playing such realistic characters. How well cast was this film? Thank you Urban Stone for speaking the truth of what Batman really stands for. We fall to get up and walk again and we thank you Batman, although you will never want us to, for being a symbol to over come all corruption and to place fear in those who prey on the fearful. Now this is quality dialogue.
Robin
"Free Katie" web designer
www.freekatie.net
Wow, I didnt realise boobs had supernatural powers, thanks for letting me know. "Robin"
xAnon.
G'day to you all, How awesome is this discussion you are all having. Some of these comments are very amusing. I must say I would have to agree with Robin, Boobs are a supernatural power that a women always has over a man. It worked for Wonder Woman. They can put men into a trance and allow the bearer to be in total control. What a gift you females have.
Now about Batman. I have almost lost my thought pattern talking about this. I have to say Batman was just a fantasticly fun and "drooding" film. I loved it in every way. The word that comes to mind for me is flawless. Flawless in that when I left the movie theatre I couldn't think of anything that I didn't like or that didn't gel with me. I saw it twice to try and pick holes in it but just couldn't. It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!! I have to give it a 5 star rating, the first five star rating I have given in about 5 years. I loved the cast, Dialogue (I know anonymous will totally disagree), story, action, romance stuff, direction, sets and of course Katie Holmes. I thought she could actually act. What's this free Katie thing all about?
Batman Rocks, 5 stars.
How awesome are boobs??? I agree with Batman Rocks.
Boobman
I didn't realise how much controversy my comment about Boobs would cause!!!!!!!!!!!! They are a topic that I would be happy to discuss at any time. In fact I think we may have come up with our new superhero. What do you think Miss Anonymous ?????????
I must say there is something very sexy about you being a frustrated superhero.
Batman Rocks, you are a tool. If you are as keen on Katie as you say you are you should check out our website........NOW!
Robin
Hi boys, I assume you are all boys, accept for Anonymous, she actually has some class. I think we need to get the whip out and sort all you guys out. What is the attraction with boobs anyway? We all have them, sure some are bigger than others but at the end of the day they are just boobs. Just muscle and tissue. Get a grip fellas. There is so much more to us girls than you realise and concentrating on the breasts I find to be extremely shallow. Now let's get back to Batman as that is what we are supposed to be discussing. I thought this movie was OK. I thought it started a little loose but tightened up at the end. I think ultimately I would have to agree with Miss Anonymous's comments but would have to add that Christain Bale is just it. Have you seen American Physco? He is just fantastic in that and has proven to many critcis that he is one wonderful human being. So thanks Miss Anonymous for your comments and for all you other "guys", get a grip.
Salma,
Orange County
USA
What is the attraction???....Is this chick for real! I think you had better get your whip out and spank me Salma.......Bring back the boob chats!!!
I was told by a friend to check out this site. Very interesting! I have a friend that lived in Toledo, Ohio and went to school with Katie Holmes. I might get her to check out this site aswell if any of you boys are interested in finding out more about Katie. I will have to have a look at this Free Katie site. How weird. You Aussies are a strange bunch aren't you.
Sam
Costa Mesa
USA
Thanks Salma for your classy comments.
Yes mention boobs, they go to water. Silly how easy they go to pieces before a woman's breasts
But really, with all these posts, look they are only displaying their freudian return to their polymorphous beginnings. Their adoration of batman is a little, shall we say, too adoring, and their comments on boobs and their supernatural abilities are utterings from the deep unconscious of the power of the archetypal lactating mother. Nurturer or Destroyer. They have never worked it out. Do you like that boys? Are you feeling queasy yet?.
As for Robin, personally, I always thought he was gay. Why else, wear those little, and I mean little, underpants and a green and red elf outfit. Robin, Your original post with its moving tribute to Batman (really I cried when I read it) confirms my suspicions. Bet you'd love to die sliding down that pole in Batman's rubbered up loving arms into all eternity.
Spread the love, either way you like Boys. Boobman, Batman Rocks, Robin, love you all, as you upend your subliminals for all to see.
As for "I dont give a crap", what do you expect when you put in a google search with "boobs". You Tool.
xxMs (not Miss) Anon
G'day, I must say I did wonder myself whether Robin was gay.Ms (not miss) Anonymous I am enjoying your comments. Who are you??????
All the breast!
Batman Rocks
Hello to all you Aussi's.
Sam, right on, this site is very strange.
My buddy Sam suggested I log onto your site and mentioned some of you could be interested in my school days with Kate Holmes. She will always be Katherine to me and my buddys. Katherine was and still is a wonderful person and a good friend.
She always managed to get the lead parts in our colledge productions. I have photos. Can I paste them on this site anywhere?
Katherine didn't have many boyfriends but there was this one time at her birthday party in December 1993 when I caught her making out with one of our friends older brothers. Boy o boy did she turn red. If any of you would like to know more about Katherine's childhood days let me know.
Robin, I hate to tell you this but Katherine really does love Tom and she doesn't need saving....yet.
Pru
Toledo, Ohio
USA
Well glad to see you've all dropped by onto Urban Stone. And Ms Anon, as always you've left controversy in your wake! Well done.
As for your critique - I'd have to say yes and no. In the end it's all about your reference point. Do you see superheroes from a woman's point of view? Of course you do. Do I? Call me an unreconstructed misogynist, but no - I remain male. Does Hollywood? Frankly I don't care.
But about the film itself. If you want to compare it to say "Journey to the Stone Country" (for example), then no; Batman Begins certainly ain't addressing any big issues. But if, as I might wildly presume, the film's reference point is previous Batman movies or perchance the whole Superhero genre, then maybe there's a different take?
The modern superhero is all about power and responsibility. Not surprisingly the whole genre grew out of the emerging superpower of the 1940/50's USA. How should we use this new power? What is our responsibility? The original superhero's (Captain Marvel and Superman) fight the evil foreigners who want to destroy America. The next wave (Spiderman, Daredevil etc..) fight the evil individuals within America seeking power for themselves.
And now Batman begins. Still in genre - but suddenly the enemy is fear, decadence and corruption. The fight is about overcoming our own selves. Can we live out of hope instead of fear?
And yes, it is still a Hollywood movie with all the usual whistles and bells. But does it use the genre to turn the gaze onto ourselves? Yep. Is there an element of Nietsche's will to power? As a crayon thumbsketch I saw it.
And freud? Well you got me on that one.
And boobs? I love em. Just don't know what they've got to do with Batman Begins.
And finally, Pru from Toledo, welcome to this strange Aussie discussion. If you'd like to put up some photos on this site, just email them to me at jono@datacodsl.com and i'll put them on.
Cheers
Go Jono!!!! You are the Dark Knight!! No one will change my 5 star rating for Batman Begins. Where has Robin gone? I think Ms (not Miss) Anonymous must have scared him off. And Pru please if you can send some photos of Katie that would be awesome. I'm very keen to know more...... How did you find this site?
Batman Rocks
batman begins - I couldn't wait till batman ended!!!
bring back Val Kilmer any day...
still waiting to see the photos of Katie...
I am yet to see Batman Begins, but I do have a number of videos of the Adam West TV series. I'm hoping Batman Begins is along the same lines?
Is Batman Rocks the next Batman film?
Roy Smeck.
Who the heck is Roy Smeck?
did you notice that "Who the heck is Roy Smeck?" rhymes?
can't wait for your 'War of the Worlds' review with Katherine Holmes' other half involved... i wonder what that will degenerate into???
Captain Smollet
Smollett, Smoofo, Smuffy or what ever your name is.....YOU ROCK!!!!! Bring on the Tom Cruise controversy!!!
John Farnham
Oh oh John Farnham, my goodness, I love JOhn Farnham, Can I have your autograph, Can I, Can I??? I will pin it up on the wall next to Aragorn and other collectibles. I need to Let you know, John, that I have read the book War of the Worlds, (on the net the other night) and read of the political climate which influenced it. And I feel the need, i feel the need for speed - sorry, wrong movie. I am ready to discuss War of the Worlds, in light of....September 11. As for Tom Cruise, Well...out of courtesy to Pru and Katherine, we shall not prejudge his performance. However, I believe, in advance, his best performance was in Magnolia. Forget the rest. Has anyone seen it? He played a misogynist bastard sooooo well. From Sylvia Plath: "Every woman adores a fascist."
L
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