Tuesday, June 21, 2005
NANANANANANANANANANANA….. BATMAN!!!!!!
Hello everybody out there in cyberland. Hope you are enjoying the summer and are avoiding the sun like the low-velocity deathray it is. I know I have.
If, like me, you detest listening to the opinions of others on a topic that you yourself haven’t had time to develop your own on, then avoid the review of Batman Begins below in the asterisks.
**************************************************************************SPOILERS
So Batman Begins very well indeedy. They are happy to hint at what is to come rather than get stuck right into it for the first hour or so, getting closer to the heart of Bruce Wayne than any of the previous films knew how to. For me this is the best element of the film. Inevitably, however, the third act brings with it the typical comic-book movie villain’s plan to hold the country/planet/city to ransom using a big deathray of some kind like the one described above (I’m deliberately being non-specific for those who haven’t seen it yet) and this element is no better or worse than, say, the Joker’s parade in Burton’s Batman. This is the weakest element of the film; they clearly wanted something spectacular and overblown (like Spiderman) to justify their no doubt gargantuan budget and old-fashioned noir-tinged detective mysteries (like the better Batman comics) just wasnae gonna cut it. So much for the plot.
The action is a bit of a letdown too. Frankly, I had been expecting this since I saw it was a 12a, and to be fair it doesn’t sidestep the issue of violence like the ‘other’ franchise; Bats is violent and people get really hurt; but the impact of the violence is TOTALLY FUCKING LOST in the editing. It’s as if they choreographed and filmed some really elaborate fights and proceeded to remove five second chunks from every six seconds of footage. Go figure. (The first swordfight between Wayne and Al Ghul is a doozy though; probably because it’s a swordfight where no blood is drawn). So much for the action.
The real strength of the film, however, is in the cast and the script, and I’m relieved to say, places it head and shoulders above any Batman film and any comicbook film with the possible exceptions of Spiderman 2 and Superman 2. If there is a problem in this area it’s that there are so many character to be introduced, and so many superb actors to play them that none of them really get a chance to shine. I was overjoyed at the casting of Jonathan Crane and Jim Gordon- both of whom where adequate with inadequate screen time, but the real revelation for me at least was with Alfred (again, I’ll not name names in case you ain’t heard who’s playing who yet) who consistently pilfered scenes from the main man. While it over-reaches in terms of plot twists the script is tight and witty when it needs to be.
The ‘look’ of the film is nice. Gotham’s faithful without being slavishly adherent to the source material and doesn’t look as gay as it did in the other films. The ‘Scare-o-vision’ bits when we see things through the eyes of people under the influence of Scarecrows fear toxin are particularly memorable, but there was a slight over-reliance on CG for my tastes (though nothing like as much as Spiderman/Hellboy/Pantastic Four) but yeah, in general, they got the visuals right (again, particularly in the earlier scenes).
So, overall I’m very glad I avoided seeing anything of this before seeing it in the cinema, and I came out whooping and cheering to myself, but it suffers in the same way the first Spiderman and X-men did; taking what should be a simplistic origin story and trying to cram too much in. A very noble effort and more than enough to get me all wet thinking about the sequels. Well done Mr Nolan.
Onto other news now, lets see. Counting down the days to going home. The city is so sweaty and clammy at the minute I’m relishing some country air. Myself and Jonathan have struck a deal of sorts whereby we give each other deadlines (me for the artwork on the comic and he for pages in his novel) and if we meet them, then the drinks are on the other guy when we meet up. My current deadline is 3 pages inked and mounted for Thursday week. Those of you who are thinking this sounds simple enough should take into consideration that I have been working on and off (mostly off) on this comic for the guts of four years and to date I have produced 7 finished pages, so if this deadline-giving idea has any legs, we may even see a finished comic before we both shuffle off our mortal coils.
Still hooked on Devil May Cry 3. I’ve finished it twice now, but, elitist that I am, I’m going back through all the levels seeking those elusive S-ranks. I’ve made the mistake of getting au fait with the folks on the message boards at gamefaqs.com , all of whom, it seems, don’t consider a game worth playing if you’re not going to dedicate your life to it to the exclusion of all others. I’m not quite as bad as these people yet; but watch this space.
No, not that one, this one.
Until next time, Aido ‘Nude for Good’ Potato.
Hello everybody out there in cyberland. Hope you are enjoying the summer and are avoiding the sun like the low-velocity deathray it is. I know I have.
If, like me, you detest listening to the opinions of others on a topic that you yourself haven’t had time to develop your own on, then avoid the review of Batman Begins below in the asterisks.
**************************************************************************SPOILERS
So Batman Begins very well indeedy. They are happy to hint at what is to come rather than get stuck right into it for the first hour or so, getting closer to the heart of Bruce Wayne than any of the previous films knew how to. For me this is the best element of the film. Inevitably, however, the third act brings with it the typical comic-book movie villain’s plan to hold the country/planet/city to ransom using a big deathray of some kind like the one described above (I’m deliberately being non-specific for those who haven’t seen it yet) and this element is no better or worse than, say, the Joker’s parade in Burton’s Batman. This is the weakest element of the film; they clearly wanted something spectacular and overblown (like Spiderman) to justify their no doubt gargantuan budget and old-fashioned noir-tinged detective mysteries (like the better Batman comics) just wasnae gonna cut it. So much for the plot.
The action is a bit of a letdown too. Frankly, I had been expecting this since I saw it was a 12a, and to be fair it doesn’t sidestep the issue of violence like the ‘other’ franchise; Bats is violent and people get really hurt; but the impact of the violence is TOTALLY FUCKING LOST in the editing. It’s as if they choreographed and filmed some really elaborate fights and proceeded to remove five second chunks from every six seconds of footage. Go figure. (The first swordfight between Wayne and Al Ghul is a doozy though; probably because it’s a swordfight where no blood is drawn). So much for the action.
The real strength of the film, however, is in the cast and the script, and I’m relieved to say, places it head and shoulders above any Batman film and any comicbook film with the possible exceptions of Spiderman 2 and Superman 2. If there is a problem in this area it’s that there are so many character to be introduced, and so many superb actors to play them that none of them really get a chance to shine. I was overjoyed at the casting of Jonathan Crane and Jim Gordon- both of whom where adequate with inadequate screen time, but the real revelation for me at least was with Alfred (again, I’ll not name names in case you ain’t heard who’s playing who yet) who consistently pilfered scenes from the main man. While it over-reaches in terms of plot twists the script is tight and witty when it needs to be.
The ‘look’ of the film is nice. Gotham’s faithful without being slavishly adherent to the source material and doesn’t look as gay as it did in the other films. The ‘Scare-o-vision’ bits when we see things through the eyes of people under the influence of Scarecrows fear toxin are particularly memorable, but there was a slight over-reliance on CG for my tastes (though nothing like as much as Spiderman/Hellboy/Pantastic Four) but yeah, in general, they got the visuals right (again, particularly in the earlier scenes).
So, overall I’m very glad I avoided seeing anything of this before seeing it in the cinema, and I came out whooping and cheering to myself, but it suffers in the same way the first Spiderman and X-men did; taking what should be a simplistic origin story and trying to cram too much in. A very noble effort and more than enough to get me all wet thinking about the sequels. Well done Mr Nolan.
Onto other news now, lets see. Counting down the days to going home. The city is so sweaty and clammy at the minute I’m relishing some country air. Myself and Jonathan have struck a deal of sorts whereby we give each other deadlines (me for the artwork on the comic and he for pages in his novel) and if we meet them, then the drinks are on the other guy when we meet up. My current deadline is 3 pages inked and mounted for Thursday week. Those of you who are thinking this sounds simple enough should take into consideration that I have been working on and off (mostly off) on this comic for the guts of four years and to date I have produced 7 finished pages, so if this deadline-giving idea has any legs, we may even see a finished comic before we both shuffle off our mortal coils.
Still hooked on Devil May Cry 3. I’ve finished it twice now, but, elitist that I am, I’m going back through all the levels seeking those elusive S-ranks. I’ve made the mistake of getting au fait with the folks on the message boards at gamefaqs.com , all of whom, it seems, don’t consider a game worth playing if you’re not going to dedicate your life to it to the exclusion of all others. I’m not quite as bad as these people yet; but watch this space.
No, not that one, this one.
Until next time, Aido ‘Nude for Good’ Potato.
Comments:
If I were you Id stay the fuck away from gamefaq forums. Most probably the most concentrated gathering of retards on this planet. Well, since we all met at Shauns last at least.
If you want a laugh go read the gamefaq forum for the new PC version of GTA:SC though they are probably all deleted by now. The first two mods for the game are (and I kid you not) a mod that adds a sex minigame to the girlfriend dating where you actually have to fuck her, and a mod that makes CJ WHITE! The gamefaq board imploded with idiots calling each sexist, racist, and what if Goku/Ash/Link/Master Chief/insert fanboi character here was black/white/yellow/furry.
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If you want a laugh go read the gamefaq forum for the new PC version of GTA:SC though they are probably all deleted by now. The first two mods for the game are (and I kid you not) a mod that adds a sex minigame to the girlfriend dating where you actually have to fuck her, and a mod that makes CJ WHITE! The gamefaq board imploded with idiots calling each sexist, racist, and what if Goku/Ash/Link/Master Chief/insert fanboi character here was black/white/yellow/furry.
# posted by 
: 8:47 pm
: 8:47 pm