Thoughts on Batman: The Dark Knight
Is it just me or is this Bruce Wayne not quite the Bruce Wayne I grew to love in the comics? This Bruce Wayne who played at being a playboy (and managed his facade so well) and who's a criminological genius, able to build his toys down in a freaking cave? I realize his origin is somewhat outdated, but it's a classic. Batman is able to stand on equal ground next to guys like Superman because despite not having obvious meta human powers he's got a far above average mind which is his ultimate weapon. He doesn't just fight with his fists (he'd lose that fight with Clark any day), but with psychology! He makes the world afraid of him for more reasons than being able to beat some questionably organized mobsters into a pulp.
This movie!Batman is about as much of a Batman as Terry McGinnis - whom I love, make no mistake - who needs a second mind to back him up, someone to support him with gadgets etc.
I don't like it when movies deliberately ignore facts from the comics where it would have been so easy to avoid.
One, does Bruce not have enough love interests in the comics? Just why did they have to make up Rachel? I don't even dislike the character per se - she was well played and all - I dislike the fact that she was invented and became such a bog part of who Batman was, a man who's willing to sacrifice the cause for human notions like love. But maybe this movie!Batman needs some more darkness in his life, some more loved ones lost, get a sidekick killed. Yes, that would do nicely.
Two, why the hell do so many people know his secret identity? Not just Rachel, but also Lucius Fox? Again, I think a proper Batman whould be able to build a) his cave and b) his gadgets by himself, on grounds of him being a genius. I read somewhere that he's considered one of the three most intelligent men of the DC universe (the other two being, I think, Lex Luthor and Mr Terrific), but I do admit that with all those (mad) scientists running around it's probably a bold statement. Still.
Christian Bale is a great actor, I'm very much in favor of him playing Batman, but this is not the Batman I love so much. As for his attitude though, it might just be that he's the brighter pre-DeathInTheFamily Batman that with my 22 years I don't know that well.
As a side note, I hope to see a Tim Drake in the movies, one far away day. XD
This movie!Batman is about as much of a Batman as Terry McGinnis - whom I love, make no mistake - who needs a second mind to back him up, someone to support him with gadgets etc.
I don't like it when movies deliberately ignore facts from the comics where it would have been so easy to avoid.
One, does Bruce not have enough love interests in the comics? Just why did they have to make up Rachel? I don't even dislike the character per se - she was well played and all - I dislike the fact that she was invented and became such a bog part of who Batman was, a man who's willing to sacrifice the cause for human notions like love. But maybe this movie!Batman needs some more darkness in his life, some more loved ones lost, get a sidekick killed. Yes, that would do nicely.
Two, why the hell do so many people know his secret identity? Not just Rachel, but also Lucius Fox? Again, I think a proper Batman whould be able to build a) his cave and b) his gadgets by himself, on grounds of him being a genius. I read somewhere that he's considered one of the three most intelligent men of the DC universe (the other two being, I think, Lex Luthor and Mr Terrific), but I do admit that with all those (mad) scientists running around it's probably a bold statement. Still.
Christian Bale is a great actor, I'm very much in favor of him playing Batman, but this is not the Batman I love so much. As for his attitude though, it might just be that he's the brighter pre-DeathInTheFamily Batman that with my 22 years I don't know that well.
As a side note, I hope to see a Tim Drake in the movies, one far away day. XD