BATMAN BEGINS

Odd that I should be starting this new blog with a Film Review. But I just watched the movie last evening and its been nagging me ever since.

As with most new releases the post production is far better than the real thing.

We watched the movie at our local IMAX screen, though in my opinion the movie wasnt shot for the format, as too much of it was up-close and cropped, esp the fight scenes, which doesnt help very much in understanding who's doing what to whom.

To start with the movie begins in what appears to be the far east where Bruce goes off to learn from a mystical bunch of secret society NINJA vigilantes. WTF !

Cut back to his return to Gotham, which is a fusion of Chicago and parts of a Hong Kong shanty. The mono-rail which was supposed to be the key set, appears to stretch for not more than a kilometer, was tolearble but not believeable.

Bruce is too much Bruce with a vague love interest in some childhood friend.

Michael Caine is poorly cast as Alfred the butler, and delivers some lame one liners and is too stuck up on Bruce's father Mr Wayne.

The start of Bruce's transformation into Batman had potential, but was failed by his costume, gadgets and stunt scenes which dont deliver.
The Batmobile ( every kids dream car ) is a disater which looks like a Tractor meets Tank meets Modern Day Industrial Art, and has no real personality / superhero appeal.

The only thing I liked were a couple of sweeping night shots of the dark knight perched atop dizzing heights, looking down at Gotham.
And a line by the girl :
Its not who you are inside; its what you do that defines you.
Overall I left the movie with an urgent need to re-visit the first movie by TIM BURTON who in my opinion is a genius, and the only one who has done any justice to the character of Batman so far.
Overall I would rate the movie a 2.5 on 10

Why am I a Batman Fan ?

Batman has been my childhood hero as well as one of my heros in adulthood.
What makes him special is that he is essentially human with no real super-powers.
He develops and makes his own weaponry and gadgets.
He has a kick-ass car.
He inspires people to join him and be like him. ( Robin )
He wears a sexy black costume.
He is a deeply disturbed man, who in addition to crime fighting, is also at war with his own self where he lead a dual existence as Bruce and as Batman.
He cannot let one persona completely override the other, and within that context he seeks a balance in his life.

I guess somewhere we all need our Heros, to inspire us to be greater than we currently are, as well as pursue those ideals which our daily life doesnt hold.