I feel like the only person on earth who hasn’t seen it yet, and I don’t really want to. Everyone’s all like “it’s the greatest movie of all time, you gotta see it!” but my heart is telling me it’s gonna be shit for one simple reason: it’s fucking <b><i>BATMAN</i></b>.
I can’t get over the fact that someone thought it was a good idea to make a serious movie out of such a goofy character. All the old associations are there. I know if I attempt to watch it, I’m gonna turn it on, and it’s gonna try to be all dark and scary and act like it has something important to say about society, but no matter how gritty his voice is, or how badass any of his lines are, all I’m going to hear is ADAM WEST.
I don’t get it. I don’t understand how a movie can take itself seriously when the protagonist is dressed up in a Halloween-like bat costume and calls himself Batman. Like, are you serious? Someone really wrote a script for that? And someone else actually bought it? And people went to see it, and liked it? Maybe it has an absolutely brilliant plot, I don’t know, but the entire premise of the movie seems like it’s mocking the entire crime fighting genre. I want an explanation. And I want it to be more than just “you’ll like it if you let yourself forget you have any standards for storytelling and just try to have fun.”
Actually, I haven’t seen it yet, either (which will probably come as a shock to those who know me well ;p ) for a variety of reasons. First, I ran out of movie-going money (my budget is pretty tight) by the time the movie came out; second, my local movie theater shut down, making it much harder for me to go to the movies (I have to go the NEXT city over, and I don’t even have a car); and third, I really hate the Joker-as-a-serial-killer (as opposed to Joker the Mad Genius, who might kill as part of his plans, but never for the sick thrill of it) that is so popular in the comics these days. (Did you know Joker crippled Batgirl- permanently?) But now that I’ve heard more about the movie’s story, I look forth to seeing it on DVD (when I have some free time.)
Also, Hades: Adam West? Are you KIDDING me? THAT’S the Batman iconography in your mind? I actually watched that series as a kid, and it doesn’t bother my appreciation of the modern Batman. The Bats of your era had long stopped being goofy, unless you were watching Super Friends reruns.
In any case, this isn’t a “serious crimefighting” movie (like there aren’t awful ones of those too) but a SUPERHERO movie. Going in with that kind of expectation you can’t help but be disappointed.
There’s Adam West aka Caped Crusader and there’s Batman aka The Dark Knight, that’s how I see it. Just like one might draw comparisons between, say, any revived 70-80’s franchise.
I liked the atmosphere of the movie (the soundtrack had a nice kick to it) and I certainly never get tired of a certain B@ING-moment in the movie. As this movie is based on a comic which are a source of escapism (like movies themselves weren’t) it gives me a rare chance to root for the good guys just like when I was pint-sized. Joker? I prefer Mark Hamill’s take most, not too sure on Nicholson vs Ledger. Both have their strong points and weaknesses.
Adam West isn’t the only Batman in my head, but it doesn’t matter what you compare the Dark Knight to… Batman is a goofy, kid’s superhero type. He’s meant to be in comics and cartoons. He is light entertainment. If you’re going to make a serious movie, putting Batman in it really spoils the atmosphere, and that’s what I’m worried about.
If you wanna see the super serious batman done all wrong, watch Batman Forever and the other one where he was played by George Clooney. Batman has been done many times, many ways. It’s up to you if you wanna give this one a try.
Clearly, Hades, you’ve never watched the 90s animated Batman series. To me, that struck the perfect balance between goofery and grittiness. Plus it had Mark Hamil voicing the Joker, natch. It was the perfect Batman. But TDK is pretty awesome, even though it’s a bit off on the other end of the spectrum.
Just… see Dark Knight. Just do it. Seriously. Stop putting if off and watch it. I challenge you to not post in this thread again until you do.
You know those base and ignoble masses, Hades. They can’t listen to serious art, like Linkin Park, as do we of the intelligensia; perhaps if they had spelt it The Dark Nite.
If you’re worried about how Batman doesn’t make sense, make sure to watch Batman Begins first. It’s done plausibly and masterfully (unlike the 1989 movie, he doesn’t end up in an actual Batman costume till about 3/4 of the way through).
Ledger’s understated Joker was very scary to me… unlike Nicholson or Hamill, this Joker isn’t insane. He’s chaotic and evil and experimental and totally unscrupulous, but he’s dangerously sane. He even has a sort of nerdy voice to him, which makes his actions all the more unsettling.
Hades, I had my reservations about The Dark Knight, myself, but trust me: it’s definitely worth watching. I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest movie of all time, because it’s not. But it’s probably one of the best Superhero movies of all time, if not the best. I will say that I like Batman, so I’m a little biased, but I like the darker Batman. Adam West and his TV show… well… that wasn’t really what Batman was about until the show came out. It’s dark. I actually suggest reading The Dark Knight by Frank Miller- that’ll dispell your idea of Batman as goofy. Arkham Asylum is another good choice.
But we’re just talking about the movie. It’s a good movie. Watch it.
Batman and the associated characters are easier to take seriously when he’s less person and more symbol. As GAP cites, Arkham Asylum handles that one. Clayface as a physical manifestation of the fear of AIDs is a highlight, and Killer Croc (possibly the silliest batman character) takes on a role as the duality between Christ and the Serpent with Batman.
The thing is, the Batman show DID encapsulate what the comics were at the time. Until the 1970s, Batman was a fairly campy character. He had completely absurd stories that weren’t dark at all. There was on ridiculous golden age story that had him wear variously colored costumes. Aside from his parents’ deaths (and I suppose Dick Grayson’s parents’ deaths), Batman was a goofy character. The 1970s and later Frank Miller are the only reason Batman can be thought of as a dark, serious character.
The introduction of Robin himself is something that’s not Dark Batman. A kid sidekick? Partnering with the Dark Knight? The only reason we accept Robin as a part of the Batman mythos and not in someway… sacrilegious is because he’s been a part of the Batman story for so long. He’s been able to adapt (mainly because of Jason Todd). If Batman had never had a sidekick and DC suddenly decided to give him one, I daresay the outrage would be huge.
There are more categories than “seen” and “not seen.” I’ve seen and heard more than enough to think that although this is probably a decent movie, it’s going to be a let down to someone like me, and it’s not even the movie I’m bashing. It’s the premise of the movie that almost guarantees it to be shit that’s making me second-guess wasting my time on it.
So yeah, save your shit-headed knee-jerk reactions for someone else. I made this thread to get opinions, not to be trolled by a mod.
Well that’s funny because I don’t care. I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve said “I haven’t seen/played/heard this, but I’ve heard things from other people so I completely hate the concept of it.” You might have some weight behind anything you claim if you weren’t referencing hearsay evidence to back yourself up.
Do you realize how fucking dumb what you just said is? I’m perfectly allowed to hate the idea of something without seeing the thing itself. This thread has nothing to do with weight or hearsay. I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m asking other people to confirm or reject my impression of the movie so far. Say something constructive like everyone else already has, or go away. Your over-emotional enthusiasm for trying to pick me apart in any misguided way you can is annoying.
That wouldn’t be easier, and could turn out to be a big waste of my time. I also don’t get to hear what my good friends at RPGC think about it that way. I like threads
