Posted on August 21, 2012 by Corey
Here’s what you have to know about me. I have given myself permission to be a purist about two things. One of them is Batman movies. I will go on unpopular record and say I hated every movie before Batman Begins. The casting especially. When I first watched Batman Begins I had to go with director Christopher Nolan premise: realism. In all the years I have read comics the art was number one for me. I’d crack a book and know instantly if it was worth my time. So it was a little tricky for me to relax and let go of the fantastical elements I had grown to love. After thinking about this approach dawned on me. If you ask any kid why they love Batman and the majority will tell you “He’s not Superman but he still kicks ass.” Nolan has taken this and extended into a universe that in my humble opinion took guts to do in a major film franchise.
My wife had warned me that this was a three hour movie, but somehow I said to myself “yeah the last one was 2:20 something so…” When we got the theater and i saw the 2:45 on the marquee I was taken aback. After the moviegoing experience, a word that has been reduced to wearing “special glasses” in a dark room with strangers. the film’s length is the aspect that i can’t stop talking about.
Any of that endured Superman Returns Fully conscious know that sometimes longer is not better. Nolan however whether premeditated from pre production or on set epiphany used the running time to thematic and storytelling excellence. You were stripped as Bruce Wayne was of any easy outs. You sat as the citizens of Gotham did to the point of giving up hope. This film relied on discomfort to draw you in. I was left with the question “Does a Superhero Movie have to be fun to be good?”
SPOILER ALERT!
I did have only one minor issue with the film. When Alfred leaves Bruce it was too matter of fact. They maybe could have picked a location more symbolic to their relationship.
Casting in this movie was on par with the other films and in some cases better. Anne Hathaway exceeded my expectations. She brings comedy to an otherwise bleak story but she never leans towards camp. The other ground breaking achievement this movie has is a Catwoman whose strength is not her feminine wiles. Say what you want about Tom Hardy’s Sean Connery impression, he gave the character not only size but a classic grandeur that never went over the top.
I can say that even the deviations from traditional Batman Mythos didn’t matter by the end of my long stay in an uncomfortable seat. It is also my privilege to say that if Warner Bros. and DC Comics collapsed due to earthquake or Wall Street, there would be three movies this BatKid could be proud of.
Here’s what you have to know about me. I have given myself permission to be a purist about two things. One of them is Batman movies. I will go on unpopular record and say I hated every movie before Batman Begins. The casting especially. When I first watched Batman Begins I had to go with director Christopher Nolan premise: realism. In all the years I have read comics the art was number one for me. I’d crack a book and know instantly if it was worth my time. So it was a little tricky for me to relax and let go of the fantastical elements I had grown to love. After thinking about this approach dawned on me. If you ask any kid why they love Batman and the majority will tell you “He’s not Superman but he still kicks ass.” Nolan has taken this and extended into a universe that in my humble opinion took guts to do in a major film franchise.
My wife had warned me that this was a three hour movie, but somehow I said to myself “yeah the last one was 2:20 something so…” When we got the theater and i saw the 2:45 on the marquee I was taken aback. After the moviegoing experience, a word that has been reduced to wearing “special glasses” in a dark room with strangers. the film’s length is the aspect that i can’t stop talking about.
Any of that endured Superman Returns Fully conscious know that sometimes longer is not better. Nolan however whether premeditated from pre production or on set epiphany used the running time to thematic and storytelling excellence. You were stripped as Bruce Wayne was of any easy outs. You sat as the citizens of Gotham did to the point of giving up hope. This film relied on discomfort to draw you in. I was left with the question “Does a Superhero Movie have to be fun to be good?”
SPOILER ALERT!
I did have only one minor issue with the film. When Alfred leaves Bruce it was too matter of fact. They maybe could have picked a location more symbolic to their relationship.
Casting in this movie was on par with the other films and in some cases better. Anne Hathaway exceeded my expectations. She brings comedy to an otherwise bleak story but she never leans towards camp. The other ground breaking achievement this movie has is a Catwoman whose strength is not her feminine wiles. Say what you want about Tom Hardy’s Sean Connery impression, he gave the character not only size but a classic grandeur that never went over the top.
I can say that even the deviations from traditional Batman Mythos didn’t matter by the end of my long stay in an uncomfortable seat. It is also my privilege to say that if Warner Bros. and DC Comics collapsed due to earthquake or Wall Street, there would be three movies this BatKid could be proud of.