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PHOTO 121 - 46 Comments
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(That old BATMAN topic was starting to get awfully long, wasn't it?)
So what do you think of the batsuit? It looks pretty cool to me, although more in keeping with the previous rubber batsuit than I thought it would be. But what can I say -- I'm excited and eternally optimistic for a sweet Batman movie. It's gotta be better than BATMAN & ROBIN, right?
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I've got to be honest, so far I haven't seen much to be impressed by in the costume except the giant cape picture. I think the old Michael Keaton costume was much more awe-inspiring. Could it just be because we'd never seen a serious Batman costume before that one? I don't think so - because the short film Batman: Dead End (with the bodybuilder in spandex) had a costume that was much cooler to me. Even if you didn't like the spandex, I think that the mask he wore was immeasurably better than this one.
Here's my take on rationalizing something inherently irrational: if you're going to do something as nutty as becoming a crimefighter, your costume should go one of two routes: the functional, or the pyschological. In theory, Batman's does both - he decided to "become a bat" on the belief that criminals were superstitous and he could scare them. On the flip side, he had a lot of funds and engineering power to put into the suit, hence the utility belt, cars, electronics, etc. But in my mind, this suit has gone too far down this path at the expense of the first. Which to me, makes for less effective storytelling.
But it's too soon to know for sure. Just a possible early warning sign.
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I've always thought Batman's costume was sweet from a perspective of pyschological warfare. The main problem with it (in my mind) has always been the cape. In reality, I believe it would prove to be a liability when fighting hand to hand. I'm cool with it in the comics however, because it looks cool: and hey, it's a comic! The movie version of the costume has too much mobility reducing rubber in my opinion. How can Batman look over his shoulder to catch a sucker punch?
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The more I see of the costume the shittier it looks. Is that hard to make a sweet Batman costume? At least make it different from the original rubber suit. There seem to be some small cosmetic changes but it looks essentialy the same. I thought this movie was supposed to be a NEW beginning.
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That's sweet! Too bad every time I try to view the trailer, it crashes my browser. Anyone have a link to the file?
Speaking of Sin City, it comes out April 1! Can't wait!
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I just read two reviews of THE DARK KNIGHT that gave me a chub! Rolling Stone calls it an "absolute stunner of a follow-up" (3-1/2 stars out of 4) and IGN gives it 5/5 STARS! Can't wait! It opens July 18!
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I'm with you Zills! I can't wait either although I'm sure Bert will try to temper my enthusiasm. I've even heard talk of Heath Ledger disserving an Oscar posthumously, can't wait to see his performance. I don't know,Swerb this might be another masterpiece.
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I have to admit that that IGN review really got me excited. But I'm going to try to temper my own enthusiasm if for no other reason than that I've been burned too many times before. That said, I'm sure it will be a good movie. But I also expect that it will still have the shitty action scenes of its predecessor. And if you notice, IGN didn't say one thing about that.
And the costume still sucks.
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Ross said:
And the costume still sucks.
It's not that I don't agree with you to some extent however I've always thought it would be unrealistic for a guy with no superpowers to fight in spandex. A battlesuit that protects against stray bullets and knife wounds seems more real world to me. Even a skilled combatant wouldn't last long on the mean streets without some kind of body armor. That being said I do agree that the costume isn't pleasing to the eye. Though they made it so Bale has more freedom of head movement, I don't like the helmet look it gives it. It's also too busy looking from the pics I've seen. I thought the suit from Batman Begins while not perfect looked a bit better.
Still, from all that I've seen, this movie is looking pretty sweet and I can't wait. So far for me not a bad summer with Ironman, Hulk, and yes Wall-E, plus with The Dark Knight still looming it's been damn sweet. Actually I'm kinda looking forward to Hellboy 2 as well.
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I agree with you on the whole. I just think there could be a happier medium between form and function on the suit, and every time I see that Batman suit I think extreme mountainbiking brought to you by Mountain Dew or some such nonsense.
So I think the body armor argument is an interesting one but irrelevant to general objections to the overall look. I think I could make a compelling case that body armor would be a net loss if you wanted to be a Batman type guy, but that's a different discussion.
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First off, Christian Bale is wearing the suit, so obviously, it will look good... While a little too busy, it does appear to more flexible for his stlye of kick ass fighting than the original rubber suit. Anything is better than Val Kilmer and that crappy suit!
I love Christian Bale's Batman voice! It is hernie! Once he starts to talk his batspeak, I could careless about the suit!
I am super-excited about this movie! I am also excited that Katie Holmes has been replaced by someone with acting skills, a personality, and facial expressions!
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Bunky said:
...it does appear to more flexible for his stlye of kick ass fighting than the original rubber suit.
Wha-wha-WHAT??? Did you watch Batman Begins. What kick ass fighting style were you seeing that I wasn't?
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What sucks is it's clear from Equilibrium that Bale can do kick ass fighting style when given the chance. I hope the Dark Knight does a little better with this but even if it doesn't I'm sure it will be good. I can hardly imagine how great it would be if it were to combine the smart style with kick ass fighting and good acting, how sweet would that be?
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Are you kidding? Maybe because it wasn't the cheesy Warner Bros. gay action style, you didn't notice his use of the ol' hands to beat bitches! I like that the actions scenes weren't over the top. He went in, quickly kicked ass, and took off.
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I am not remotely kidding when I say that none of the other Batman films, not even the Adam West versions, had action scenes as shitty as those in Batman Begins. I'm not talking about the concept of his technique, I'm talking about the actual technical execution that was shown onscreen. The action scenes in BB were nothing short of a disaster.
Now don't get me wrong, I think overall, the trade-off is worth it, since Christian Bale is the best Batman/BW yet and Batman Begins is the best Batman movie yet. But it isn't perfect, and has plenty of room for improvement, IMO.
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It's mostly the camera angles and quick cutting style of the film that you're talking about right? Like flashing from scene to scene so quick you can't tell what's happening in the fight. This didn't ruin the movie for me, but I did notice it during some scenes.
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Yes, that's basically it.
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I kind of enjoyed it for a change. I prefered that versus the over done action scenes/crap storyline.
Thanks for making me reflect on Spiderman 3. I thought I had permantely blocked that stank out...
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I just read a really interesting article in Wired about the movie, and
Nolan talked about how he didn't rely on digital trickery (yeah, I
know, we heard that before with Indiana Jones), and went for realism...
going so far as to have Bale in costume shooting a scene on top of the
Sears Tower sans stunt double. Also, how the editing isn't as hyper
because portions of it were shot in Imax format, and he wanted the
audience to be able to linger on certain shots. That probably doesn't
pertain to action sequences, but it sounds sweet, and tells us he's
trying a different technical perspective this time.
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Yeah, I read that article in Wired as well...it all sounds good, but I am reserving judgement. I haven't yet read anything anywhere that implies that Nolan acknowledges his poor action directing in the previous movie or that he has taken steps to improve.
Bunky: even if you could argue that Spider-Man's action scenes were "overdone" (to which I would emphatically disagree), that doesn't mean that it's appropriate to replace it with some jumbled quick-cutting crap that's impossible to follow. I'm all for some Bourne-style ass whuppery on Batman's part, and I'm sure Bale could bring it. I'm just not sure that Nolan can.
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So Swerb, being a Movie God/Expert of sorts, what is your take on the fight/action scenes (or as Ross would say, lack thereof) in Batman Begins?
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Ross, are saying Spiderman 3 wasn't pure crap? Spiderman 2, full-sweet, Spiderman 3 = pure suck. Not even the action sequences could make up for the stank that the film reeked. Just the thought of it is making me throw up in my mouth!
Don't even get me started on Spiderman 3. I can deliver a week's worth of Ross Rants (TM) on that thing!
I loved that Nolan put some much energy into developing the characters, and did not bury them under barbied up action sequences. Sure the fight scenes were not blockbuster by any means, but to me, the thrill of not seeing everything and the unknown was exciting for a change.
The mystery appealed to me, and it added to Bale's overall hotness. I didn't get distracted by critiquing the action sequences and just enjoyed the film.
As full the Bourne series, I did enjoy the ass-whuppery that was delivered.
I am looking forward to see how the Dark Knight plays out and I am sure Bale will not disappoint. I enjoy him as an actor as I did Heath Ledger, and I am sure they will both deliver.
It is unfortunate that Ledger died so young, I think there was much more to his abilities than Brokeback Mountain.
We can settle this arguement like grown adults on mopeds in Liberty City!
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No, it wasn't pure crap at all (don't think I didn't notice how you shifted the argument there anyway, that wasn't something I claimed anyway - just that the action scenes in Spider-Man movies - in general - were good). Please support the assertion rather than simply assert your opinion with extra emphasis.
Spider-Man 3 was nowhere near as good as the nearly-perfect Spider-Man 2, but every single action scene in Spidey 3 was leaps and bounds better than any in Batman Begins. As movies go, yes, BB was better. But to say Spidey 3 was pure crap is being far too harsh.
I will demonstrate how to support my argument:
The opening scene where Harry attacks Peter was full on sweet. What Sam Raimi does in this scene alone conveys, via superbly crafted action, an emotional punch that is unequaled anywhere in BB. Not only does some amazing shit happen during it (albeit with a couple instances of sub-par CGI, I will allow), but you actually can sense Peter's conflict in how to best handle a situation where his best friend is trying to kill him. Can he explain his way out of it, or does he have to unleash his full power just to stay alive? In the end, he winds up hurting Harry and it tears him up. I don't care what anyone says, that scene worked, and it worked well.
For that reason alone the movie could not be considered "pure crap". Yes, it was deeply flawed. The Sandman was uninteresting as a villain, and Venom felt tacked-on. But the storyline and execution of the Peter/Harry relationship was just right, even if I can grudgingly agree with Serba that the the ending was obvious, but it doesn't even matter. That aspect of the story was its saving grace.
And wait, why are you knocking Heath Ledger's performance in Brokeback Mountain? He was great in that movie. If you're going to pick a movie that wasn't showcasing his full abilities, how about "A Knight's Tale?" Why choose a movie where he was actually at the top of his game?
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Ross said:
And wait, why are you knocking Heath Ledger's performance in Brokeback Mountain? He was great in that movie. If you're going to pick a movie that wasn't showcasing his full abilities, how about "A Knight's Tale?" Why choose a movie where he was actually at the top of his game?
Exactly, I was thinking the same thing. Heath's acting in Brokeback Mountain was full sweet. It was a beautiful love story brimming with real human emotion that could be translated only by superior acting. I don't care about the gender of the two envolved, it was still heart breaking. People that won't give this movie a chance are a bit myopic if you ask me. The perfomances in this movie brought to light the pain of two people that couldn't be together no matter what. I found the end of this film deeply moving and I for one am glad to set my hang-ups aside and enjoy the fine acting that evoked such emotion.
A Knight's Tale was pure shit by reason of absurdity.
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John said:
A Knight's Tale was pure shit by reason of absurdity.
Yeah, but I'd love to buttsex the girl that played in it.
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Ross said:
Please support the assertion rather than simply assert your opinion with extra emphasis.
...
I will demonstrate how to support my argument:
So you're the one who wrote red-ink comments on my high school thesis papers! Bunky, you're being graded on your ability to craft arguments, and the punishment is condescension!
Also: I don't think she was implying that Ledger was bad in Brokeback, just that the performance pointed at his potential for future excellence. Correct me if I'm wrong...
Then again, I also believe the action sequences in Batman Begins were easily its worst aspect. I generally follow gut instinct when watching action films - if I'm feeling confused and just want the camera to pull back or slow down and show us whats going on, it's evidence of A) poor directorial ability or B) time or budgetary constraints (it's much easier to piece together a fight scene out of bits and pieces of shots than to train actors how to make it look convincing on film).
That being said, the action in Spider-Man 3 was one of its better components, even if it didn't surpass the sweetness of the previous two. Its biggest failing was the writing.
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Thank you Swerb. I was in no way slamming Heath Ledger for his performance in Brokeback Mountain. He was outstanding in Brokeback Mountain, but believe had he lived a longer life, that role would have only been the beginning of many great and challenging roles.
First off, it is hard to argue on a Blackberry. You can only type so much!
Mock me if you must, I don't care. I don't believe the focus in Batman Begins was not as much on the action as it was on character development. I enjoyed the movie and Bale's "implied" ass kicking manuevers.
Okay, I will give you that the opening fight sequence between Harry and Peter was sweet. The movie had a lot of potential, and for me, never lived up to it. If I just watched the Harry/Peter emotional aspect of the film, cut the other crap, and never saw Kirsten Dunst, I would have enjoyed it. I am not even going to discuss the casting of Topher Grace because I have already wasted too much time revisting this movie. I stand by my assertion of "Pure Crap."
As for A Knights Tale, I never saw it. Most actors have atleast one cheesy film in the vault. Michele Pfeiffer was in Grease 2, and I can't imagine A Knights Tale being worse than that.
Would The Bone buttsex Michele Pfeiffer?
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Sorry Bunky, I too thought you were slamming Heath Ledger for his performance in Brokeback Mountain.
I actually like Topher Grace in general.
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I liked Topher Grace on that 70's Show.
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I thought he made a good "anti-Parker". He wasn't like Eddie Brock from the comics but I bought him as a character with motives in Spider-Man 3. I wasn't impressed with how the majority of Venom's screen time had Topher's head sticking out rather than Venom's. I think it would've been far better to only have hinted at Venom and made him the main villain in a sequel rather than a Johnny-come-lately sidekick villain, but oh well.
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I agree Rad. Venom should have been hinted at and saved for the next film for sure.
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Yep, #3 should have setup Venom who would then be the main villain in #4. Raimi is more of an old-school spidey fan and I heard was hesitant to even mess with Venom -- but did it for the fans. But the fans deserved more than that weak appearance! By the way, though Spidey 2 is my favorite, I had a great time seeing Spidey 3.
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I was saying the same thing all along, and speculating that they would save Venom till #4. Alas, he got short-shrift...
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Ughhhhh...
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Oh come on Bunky. I know you're favorite part is when Peter Parker's walking down the street all suave and cocky because of the black costume. Pointing at everyone. And then he takes Gwen Stacey to the night club that Mary Jane is working at.
That tension was classic. Cassablanca, Gone With the Wind, Spider-Man 3.
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I am busy perfecting my crankffiti techniques Nickaroo.I am thinking of sprucing up the game room walls Bunky Town style. I can only recall a specific scene from Superbad at the moment...
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Two-Face from THE DARK KNIGHT! Holy crap!
We're seeing it on IMAX Friday afternoon next week! Can't wait!
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Man, Harvey got f'd up. I like the leggo thing but with so much f'n and fighting to do, who has time to create this type of shit?
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Two-Face looks sweet as FUCK!
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Holy shit that is one badass Two Face! I'm not thrilled to have seen it without SPOILER WARNINGS, but shit, that's sweet.
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Way to roll without the spoiler warnings Zilla!
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Invalid comparison. The picture I posted was featured prominently in EW magazine, ie, released by production people and would be shown to everyone via trailers, etc., within days. This picture appears to be a leak, and is rightly considered (at this point) spoiler material - they have purposely not shown us Two Face yet.
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