Anyone else looking forward to "Batman Begins"?

I just saw that Ebert and Roeper gave this movie two enthusiastic thumbs up. They both agree that this time, the Batman people FINALLY got it right.



I've been a HUGE Batman fan since before I could read. In fact, I actually learned HOW to read from Batman comics (during the Neal Adams / Denny O'Neil / Irv Novick days). It really looks like this is the movie I've been waiting all my life to see. And I can't think of a better Bruce Wayne than Christian Bale, nor a better Alfred than Michael Caine.

I think Christian Bale is brilliant, and I can't wait to see what he's done with the part.

Unlike the last four travesties (well, two travesties and two OK movies), this one's all about the BAT.

The reviews are "supposedly" embargoed (NO REVIEWS ALLOWED ANYWHERE) until the film opens next Wednesday, June 15th, so I plan to respect that admonishment from the Seattle-based publicist for this film.

This one looks sooooooooo good.

Keaton's first Batman movie was also phenomenal. It's really too bad that the series so quickly devolved into putrid shit.

And Val Kilmer as Batman? Give me a fucking break. What a piece of shit. Keaton was fuckin' BRILLIANT as Batman. And George Clooney also was excellent as Batman, it's just too bad that they had him play the role for such a suckass shithole of a movie. Even given the pure shitness of the movie and the lines and everything in that movie, Clooney managed to show us that he could, in fact, make an excellent Batman.

And Clooney could have done a great job with the role, given a script and director that was worth beans.

But Bale, man. He's the only actor I know of that looks like he could actually BE Bruce Wayne in real life.

So far, my favorite Batman movie has been Mask of the Phantasm, if that tells you anything.


That was the one that did it the best, so far.

But that's because the animated series was very good.

I am very much looking forward to this.

Gonna see it on IMAX, June 15!

The Batman and Superman shorts he's done are the BEST!!!

and that bodybuilder guy in the Alex-Ross-ish Batman getup?

That was quite good. Evidently, this new movie has that same sort of vibe.

The producer of that short is a friend. There is also a Superman and Batman short done as a trailer! You can probably find it somewhere online. I have DVD copies of both.

I will admit that the one I saw (with the Joker) was great.

and said it was fantastic

he is the best at it and he knows it. it makes me so mad :mad:

It's been years since I saw it though. It might be worth getting on DVD.

I didn't mind the second either. I actually though DeVito and Pfiefer did a decent job as the Penguin and Catwoman. The plot was kinda stupid though.

The last two sucked terribly. They had a great actor in Tommy Lee Jones and even Jim Carrey, but Schumaker is probably one of the worst directors I've ever seen and he turned Batman into a fuckin glitzy costume party. He ruined Batman.

Don't even get me started with the fourth one.

I've only seen Bale in one or two movies (American Psycho being one of them). I think he'll make agreat fit. I heard the plot is quite different though, atleast in terms of how Bruce Wayne become Batman.

I also want to see The Fantastic Four.

Tim Burton made that movie what it was. He was perfect for it. It was outrageous and pretty. GREAT flick. Even better on DVD.

As for the new one, I'll go see it. The last few have sucked so bad that my anticipation has dwindled. Maybe it'll be like Sith and actually live up to expectations this time.

of that movie sort of spoiled it for me. As much as I liked the first movie (solely because of Keaton), all the usual Tim Burton freakish theatrics sort of took me out of it. It was very difficult for me to get that emotionally involved in Batman's struggles with the Joker, et al. Unfortunately, that "circus" atmosphere was only escalated to stratospheric heights by the ridiculous Joel Schumacher.

From what I have heard, this new movie tries to make Batman seem like a real guy. And its focus is on Batman/Wayne, NOT on the flamboyant "villain of the week".

That's why I like the first one and not the others. Unlike J.S's take on the movies, Tim Burton's was a dark, but beautiful backdrop to the story. It was just this side of too much. And the casting was terrific. Everything in that movie melded together: Prince's music, Jack N.'s performance, Keaton, the sets...etc. I liked it all. The only thing I can always do without, however, is Kim Bassinger. I've never liked her or her characters. Other than that, one of my all time faves.

Im definately going to see it in the theatre.

and your brevity.

Everything I've seen him in, particulary "American Psycho" and "Laurel Canyon," I've just thought he was terrific.

Hope this gets him more into the public consciousness. :thumbsup:

Christian Bale is a terrific actor. When I saw him in "Equilibrium", I knew that he WAS Bruce Wayne. He somehow musters the perfect mix of strenght, intensity and sympathy.

It doesn't hurt that he is, reportedly, very much a political liberal. And my wife informs me that he is quite easy on the eyes.

I bought it on DVD sight unseen just because Bale was in it. I was not disappointed. I thought he was absolutely dead-on playing Cleric John Preston.

I can't believe I never even heard of the movie until the late, great Khephra recommended it. I rented it on DVD and was completely blown away.

And yeah, Bale is just terrific in that movie. He really plays the conflicted hero well, and that's just what the Batman character needs.

What a pleasant surprise! Like Orwell run amok and taken to the next level. Outstanding cast, cool production values. :thumbsup:

BTW, my wife has the same visceral reaction to Christian Bale: "Wow, he's in *good* shape!" "Gee, he's good looking!" Etc. :)

I've always been a big Batman fan but never really enjoyed any of the film versions -- besides the Animated series' films. I wasn't too enthusiastic when I heard Christian Bale was playing the lead (he's definitely better than any of the others but wasn't exactly who I pictured as the Dark Knight), when I saw another rubber suit, when I heard they had ditched the Batman: Year One adaptation, and when I heard they were altering Ra's Al-Ghul's character (he's my favorite Batman villan).

All that said, Freeman as Fox and Caine as Alfred is absolutely awesome! And I just watched the interviews and I *love* the attitude Bale has about playing Batman -- especially his "the suit makes Bruce Wayne a growling creature" kind of comments. I've heard the Scarecrow's performance is great and the screencap of the young Batman and Lt. Gordon gives me chills!



I have high hopes... I think this one just may be close to the one us Batman fans have long deserved.

For a short video clip and interview clip, visit here:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808490910&cf=trailer

EDIT: You might want to skip the second interview clip -- Katie Holmes being interviewed about Tom Cruise...(why couldn't they come out about being a pair AFTER this film?) though I think the question, "So , where's Tom?" and the answer, "Oh, he's out over there signing autographs" is pretty friggin' hilarious.

Yeah, that pic of Batman and Gordon is awesome. It's like something right out of the early '70s comics--Batman's heyday, as far as I'm concerned.

Actually, I enjoy Batman anyway so I would probably have watched it even w/o him in it. His appearance in it gives me an incentive to see it soon.