Post-Bats
(Spoiler-free)
Too much of my day has been ill-used, and its still opening weekend for the movie, so this will be brief. As planned (though closer to mid-day) we saw Batman Begins. Though the David S. Goyer screenplay has what are becoming typical elements for him (some near-apocalyptic threat that seems to be missing a part somewhere) the characters and performances are solid, the pacing is good, and the Batman film franchise appears to be back on a good track. There are nice touches throughout, and I wouldn't dream of spoiling any of that for anyone.
The story's back on track, and the potential for future movies is wide open.
Christian Bale is solid in the Wayne role, though some of the Batman scenes were perhaps better lit than is adviseable; the costume doesn't hold its drama in the lights. Michael "You mean I could turn down a role?!" Caine does a good turn as Alfred. Also well-acquitted was Gary Oldman in the unusual good guy role of Jim Gordon. I was pleased to see that all three are already signed for a sequel. Morgan Freeman works nicely as Lucius Fox (a role considerably broadened from what old Bat-fans would expect), though as I understand it he's not (yet?) signed for future work in the series.
It shouldn't come down to comparisons -- it doesn't really have to -- but I'd still say that the both Spider-man movies hold up better to a thoughtful examination of the plot - of course over there one has to make the leap concerning the hero's powerrs. There's at least one big item in Batman Begins that the new, actually cool (if iconoclastic) Batmobile could drive through without scraping the armor, but overall it's a solid bit of entertainment.
[On a more local note, kudos to the AMC Neshaminy 24 usher who first warned and ultimately ejected a family when one of their children failed to keep quiet. A shadowy figure from my mid-theater vantage, you were the hero of the day.]
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