Batman Begins

[ringsyde]

Is anyone else getting excited about this film? From all the reviews and all the buzz going around, this is the definitive Batman movie. Being a huge fan of all things Batman, I'm anxious to finally see a worthy interpretation of Bob Kane's creation.

I'm also hoping for a great film because I've read some interesting plans Chritopher Nolan has for introducing the Joker and Two Face, and the only way his plans are ever going to fly is if this movie does well. the sting of the last two Batman flicks has put this film in a "do-or-die" state.

Again, from all of the reviews, it sounds like it "does" pretty well. I can't wait for Wednesday.

[TheOtherTravis]

I'm right there with you Ringsyde.

I thought this summer was going to be a one movie deal for me (Revenge of the Sith). Now, after seeing the previews for Batman Begins, I'm stoked to see that I was wrong. There are other movies that I will see, and think I will enjoy, but Batman Begins is the only movie besides ROTS that I am really looking forward to. ;D

[Chris Ingersoll]

We'll definitely be catching Batman this weekend.

Unless Howl's Moving Castle finds its way to us. Then we'll push back our blockbuster schedule.

[josharpie99]

The movie is getting strong reviews. Looking forward to it.

[macho midget]

saw it today... WOW... this movie was awesome!

[stephenvegas]

I saw Batman Begins earlier today and I have a question which I am hoping somebody here can answer. When the first Batman movie directed by Tim Burton came out in 1989, if I am remembering correctly, it had a young thug named Jack Napier (before he turned into the Joker) as the killer of Bruce Wayne's parents. But, without giving too much away, Batman Begins had the killer of Bruce's parents murdered as he leaving court which seems to indicate that he was not actually Jack Napier/the Joker (obviously the villian once again in the next Batman movie based on how the movie today ended). What is the explanation of this apparent incongruity? Perhaps the answer is more obvious than I understand. Overall, I thought Batman Begins was a good movie (but not quite as good for me as Cinderella Man which I saw yesterday) but the identity of the killer of Bruce's parents left me somewhat puzzled. Could anyone here help me resolve my confusion?

[ringsyde]

The thug who killed Batman's parents was just that; a thug named Joe Chill. He was never the Joker or any other major player.

When Warner Brothers and Tim Burton decided to do the movie, they made this change to create a greater sense of opposition between Batman and Joker. Because they never explained Batman's and Joker's origins, it was easier and faster for them to create this full circle story in which the guy who drives Wayne to become Batman is the guy who also becomes Batman's arch nemesis.

According to (Bob Kane and) DC comics, Joe Chill was just a petty purse snatching thief, Joker was a struggling comedian who became the RED HOOD (against his will after his wife and unborn child were electrocuted). His first crime caper turned horribly wrong, and he was converted into the Joker - physically and mentally - upon seeing his "partners" heads blown open (this was in the same night as his family died) and later being bathed in a chemical that turned his skin white.

The good news is that we get an accurate Joker and Two Face story in the sequel. I understand Steve Buscemi is in the lead to play the Joker.

[Chris Ingersoll]

Awesome. I always thought that the biggest drawbacks of the other Batman movies were that the villians usually ended up dead, negating any chance of seeing them again. Good to see they're pretending that those movies happened in another continuity for this go-round.

[Swarm]

Saw it last night. I give it 4 stars. Everything I had hoped it would be really. Very dark, very serious. EXCELLENT back-story for Bruce Wayne...absolutly loved the ninja training stuff.

My only complaint was that is was soooo long. We went to a 10:20 show and got out at 1am. Other than that, it was awesome.

[stephenvegas]

The good news is that we get an accurate Joker and Two Face story in the sequel. I understand Steve Buscemi is in the lead to play the Joker.[/quote]

RingsYde, thank you for informing me about Joker's actual origins. I think Steve Buscemi could work as the Joker. At least, I could imagine Buscemi in the role better than Mark Hamill who movies.com claims is one of the leading candidates to be the next Joker.

[ringsyde]

I read that, too. Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale both denied Hammil's role in a Rueters interview for last Friday's Chicago Sun Times (or Tribue; they both ran huge feature stories, so forgive me if I'm wrong here).

Steve Buscemi, Jude Law and Patrick Dempsey seem to be the candidates all eyes are on to play Joker. If anyone's ever read THE KILLING JOKE, there's a panel where the Joker is grinning with a gun in his hand (he just shot Barbara Gordon) that looks eerily like Jude Law in ROAD TO PERDITION. Just a little something I noticed.

By the way, Vegas man, if you've not read THE KILLING JOKE, that's your homework for the weekend!! Find it, read it and dig in to one of the best Batman stories ever. I'd also recommend ARKHAM ASYLUM, NIGHT CRIES, YEAR ONE and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

[stephenvegas]

Thanks once again RingsYde, I will definitly look for THE KILLING JOKE tomorrow! Do you (or anyone else) know when the sequel to Batman Begins is currently projected to be released? Since the next movie plans to have the Joker, I'm hoping it comes out by 2007.

[ringsyde]

I saw the movie earlier tonite. I have to say that all the hype and praise are real. BATMAN BEGINS may well be the new definitve superhero movie of the modern era.

There are so many things about the movie that Nolan and Goyer got right that the few liberties they took are very acceptable. I loved the story and the character development, especially the surprise character twist they use for Liam Neeson. I even enjoyed the reference to the clown prince of crime.

This movie had everyone in the theatre glued to their seats and giving standing ovations during certain scenes throughout. It's a must-see film for certain.

No definitve word on the date for a sequel, but 2008 seems most likely. Clearly, a sequel is on the way.

[ringsyde]

If anyone's interested, ign.com has a great list of the 25 best Batman (stories) graphic novels ever written. Here's the link:

comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

I would personally switch the #1 and #2 pick. However, with the new movie drawing so heavily from YEAR ONE, I can see how some may view it as the absolute best Batman story.

[TheOtherTravis]

ringsyde said:

By the way, Vegas man, if you've not read THE KILLING JOKE, that's your homework for the weekend!! Find it, read it and dig in to one of the best Batman stories ever. I'd also recommend ARKHAM ASYLUM, NIGHT CRIES, YEAR ONE and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

"There were these two guys in a lunatic asylum..." ;D

I think The Killing Joke was one of my all time favorite Batman stories. I'll have to go back and reread it again. Thanks for reminding me about it, Ringsyde.

[baldue]

I just saw Batman Begins today,
it started slow... but thats not
a bad thing in this case. I loved
this movie, Bale was the best
Batman of the last three.

I really liked the Scarecrow,
the actor who played him (what
is his name?) really brought a
edge to the movie.

With all the Cruise / Holmes
romance, I was not sure how she
would be in this film... she did
a good job.

Batman Begins is a 5 star movie!

[The Doctor]

I really enjoyed this movie. Batman needs to be grounded in reality somewhat (although not totally. I mean, he is a comic book character), and they did a good job explaining a lot of things on why he does what he does, where he gets everything, why he wears the costume. The best part for me, however, had to be Ra's Ah Guul (probably spelled wrong)/ Liam Neeson (possibly also spelled wrong).

[baldue]

I forgot to mention, I loved the
new beginning to DC Comics intro
title... the DC logo is awesome
and the intro was some what like
Marvel's.

If this becomes a trilogy or
abit longer, they must keep
Bale and try to get as many
done with Caine as Alfred.

[Darth Turkish]

Not a big DC fan, but after seeing Batman Begins I believe that this was probably the best, most complete comic movie I have seen.

Better than Spiderman I and maybe even II.

[stephenvegas]

ringsyde said:

I read that, too. Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale both denied Hammil's role in a Rueters interview for last Friday's Chicago Sun Times (or Tribue; they both ran huge feature stories, so forgive me if I'm wrong here).

Steve Buscemi, Jude Law and Patrick Dempsey seem to be the candidates all eyes are on to play Joker. If anyone's ever read THE KILLING JOKE, there's a panel where the Joker is grinning with a gun in his hand (he just shot Barbara Gordon) that looks eerily like Jude Law in ROAD TO PERDITION. Just a little something I noticed.

By the way, Vegas man, if you've not read THE KILLING JOKE, that's your homework for the weekend!! Find it, read it and dig in to one of the best Batman stories ever. I'd also recommend ARKHAM ASYLUM, NIGHT CRIES, YEAR ONE and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

I just finished THE KILLING JOKE . It portrayed the Joker in a complex manner as it showed him doing some sadistic things such as shooting Gordon's daughter yet offered a sympathetic explanation of the Joker's origins. One of the Joker's lines, "all it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy" also caused me to stop and think. One of the reasons I like the Joker is because his antics (especially in other books and movies) tended to make me consider him the Rowdy Roddy Piper- my first favorite wrestler during the 1980s which is when I, as an elementary student, started watching wrestling-of Batman. Similar to how I laughed at Snitsky's speech during Edge and Lita's wedding on RAW, I laughed at the Joker's poem/song after he forced Gordon (who I really felt sorry for) onto the amusement park ride. While I definitly considered THE KILLING JOKE somewhat dark, I overall enjoyed it.