Last movie theater trip: Batman Begins (finally!)
Very impressive. Stars a refreshingly non-mainstream actor (the last time I remember Bale was as Quinn in the ill-fated Reign of Fire) and makes excellent use of Michael Caine's dry British butler humor, and Liam Neeson's aloof, crooked-nosed visage as tough-guy teacher*. I forgive them the necessary profligate array of neat and unlikely Batman gadgets, and appreciate the knowledge of their origin. One wonders why the anonymous Chinese company never begins to wonder about an order for 10,000 graphite masks with bat ears. The likewise requisite car chase and of course climactic high-speed train segments could be labelled contrived by the critical, but work out in the overall tone of the movie (dark...very dark). Cillian Murphy's baby-blue eyes and long lashes make him all the more chilling as a villain - he looks about fifteen most of the time, and yet is a total psycho. Youth as evil is twice as bad as your usual adult axe-murderer, since the destruction of youth's innocence makes these characters all the more unnatural. Even sans burlap mask and Nasty Chemical Spray, he's just creepy. Good ol' Soprano-style drug-running mob boss and his attendant chief mafioso are flat, textbook characters requiring no embroidery, but we completely expect to find them present in the underworld that Gotham has become. Morgan Freeman is flawless, as usual. And mad props to the make-up guys for Gary Oldman as the future Commissioner Gordon; I didn't even recognize him. Interesting look into the dangers of absolute justice, and also the crippling nature of fear. The ultimate enemy created is fear of fear itself. I was more than tempted to sit and repeat the Litany Against Fear from Dune to myself. Psychology over brute strength, to me, remains the distinctive quality of the Batman world. Although it must be noted that Christian Bale's voice navigates thirty degrees to deep and fifteen to raspy every time he puts on the mask, and some of the rooftop billowing-cape superhero shots were excessive (but they'll make GREAT posters). Excellent strategy on the director's part to stress the part of Bruce Wayne over Batman for the majority of the movie, and to go into great depth as to the motivations that brought the globe-trotting, criminal-insight-seeking Princeton drop-out from Gotham to the icy wastes of Asia and back again. Two thumbs way up, and thanks to the UK for such a predominantly non-American star-studded cast. Full recommendations for an enjoyable evening**.
*I am by conscience bound to compliment anyone who worked as a forklift operator for Guinness at one point in his life.
**Many thanks to M., who drove me to the theater.
Very impressive. Stars a refreshingly non-mainstream actor (the last time I remember Bale was as Quinn in the ill-fated Reign of Fire) and makes excellent use of Michael Caine's dry British butler humor, and Liam Neeson's aloof, crooked-nosed visage as tough-guy teacher*. I forgive them the necessary profligate array of neat and unlikely Batman gadgets, and appreciate the knowledge of their origin. One wonders why the anonymous Chinese company never begins to wonder about an order for 10,000 graphite masks with bat ears. The likewise requisite car chase and of course climactic high-speed train segments could be labelled contrived by the critical, but work out in the overall tone of the movie (dark...very dark). Cillian Murphy's baby-blue eyes and long lashes make him all the more chilling as a villain - he looks about fifteen most of the time, and yet is a total psycho. Youth as evil is twice as bad as your usual adult axe-murderer, since the destruction of youth's innocence makes these characters all the more unnatural. Even sans burlap mask and Nasty Chemical Spray, he's just creepy. Good ol' Soprano-style drug-running mob boss and his attendant chief mafioso are flat, textbook characters requiring no embroidery, but we completely expect to find them present in the underworld that Gotham has become. Morgan Freeman is flawless, as usual. And mad props to the make-up guys for Gary Oldman as the future Commissioner Gordon; I didn't even recognize him. Interesting look into the dangers of absolute justice, and also the crippling nature of fear. The ultimate enemy created is fear of fear itself. I was more than tempted to sit and repeat the Litany Against Fear from Dune to myself. Psychology over brute strength, to me, remains the distinctive quality of the Batman world. Although it must be noted that Christian Bale's voice navigates thirty degrees to deep and fifteen to raspy every time he puts on the mask, and some of the rooftop billowing-cape superhero shots were excessive (but they'll make GREAT posters). Excellent strategy on the director's part to stress the part of Bruce Wayne over Batman for the majority of the movie, and to go into great depth as to the motivations that brought the globe-trotting, criminal-insight-seeking Princeton drop-out from Gotham to the icy wastes of Asia and back again. Two thumbs way up, and thanks to the UK for such a predominantly non-American star-studded cast. Full recommendations for an enjoyable evening**.
*I am by conscience bound to compliment anyone who worked as a forklift operator for Guinness at one point in his life.
**Many thanks to M., who drove me to the theater.
3 Comments:
Liam has had a run of movies where he has played this "teacher" character though. If you have seen "Kingdom of Heaven" you know of how similiar this movies beginning was. I think he is a rather gifted actor, its too bad he hasn't had more lead roles, almost always seems to be in a supporting position.
Untrue. Though his leading roles do tend to be in movies that are rather on the esoteric side (Michael Collins, Les Miserables, Kinsey...). He is coveted as a supporting actor because he can be so damn calm when he wants to be...hence the profusion of philosophy-spouting, weapon-wielding mentor figures. The Force is optional.
Only you would say "untrue" and than argue along a very similiar line of thinking :). If his lead roles have been esoteric then perhaps thats why I think he needs more, I tend to see primarily mainstream movies.
However, some actors are prized because of the range of work they can do. I wonder if this is what the film making community view as his only skill. I suppose thats why I raise the question of why he has recently had such similiar roles. I've liked every single one, but it does seem repetitive. I'm sure you have thoughts for that hehe :).
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