mooooooovies. and tv.

[sarea]

See, good things happen when I listen to akscully. Last night she said, "Dude, you have to see Batman Begins if only because Christian Bale *falls out of bed* and starts doing push ups!!!" And this sounded like a good reason to see the movie indeed. So I did. And you know, it didn't really change my opinion of Christian Bale. This is because I have found him unbearably hot since I was 16 years old and first saw Newsies, and despite my fickle nature, that has not changed over the years. He is ridiculously good looking, only compounded by the fact that he is a superb actor.

I really, really, really liked it. You know how, sometimes when you watch a movie, there are Moments? Moments that you look forward to seeing, that stand out in your mind, that you think, after seeing another movie, maybe I'll go watch Movie A again because I might catch that Moment? And then eventually you see that Moment so much that you get sick of it and the movie doesn't do anything for you anymore? Well, I can't think of a single Moment for this movie. The truly great movies don't have Moments, because it's all about the movie as a whole. (Not that I'm knocking Moments or movies with Moments; I love puh-lenty of them.) If I caught part of BB somewhere, in the theater or on TV or whatever, I'd have to sit down and watch the whole thing, because it progresses in that dense, good-movie way.

(Which I am SO GLAD about, because the whole Batman franchise thing? Kinda iffy. And it didn't matter that this wasn't related to the previous films; perception is what counts. It's really past due for Christian to become a bona fide A-list actor. As much as I'd love to keep him to myself, he deserves it.)

The movie explains, for the first time that I can remember, that question that must occur to everyone at some point: Why bats? WTF? So that's good. Plus, Christian makes a compelling Bruce Wayne *and* Batman. He looks so slim when he's wearing business suits/tuxes (OMG the hotness), and yet when you see him undressed or in the batsuit, you can see he's built. My only complaint about him in the batsuit is that ... he might be a little too built. His face looked oddly chubby. But anyway, that is not important. What is important is that they made a good movie. Not a good Batman movie. A good movie. W00t!

Christian and Katie had some nice on-screen chemistry going on. I thought the kiss at the end was a bit rushed (and yes, a little out of nowhere ... we're given no indication that they were ever romantically involved, and yet Rachel kinda sorta implies it), almost was convinced that Bruce was dreaming, but otherwise it was FAB. Exactly the kind of UST I enjoy most. Like when they meet each other after Bruce has been swimming and cavorting with Ho #1 and Ho #2. :)) (Okay, that might be a Moment.) But I liked the sentiment behind her little speech, though -- about waiting until Gotham doesn't need Batman anymore. It explains why we don't see her much in the future or why he'd be susceptible to Vicki Vale and Catwoman and such. (Though I hope that within the context of this franchise, we will get to see a lot of Rachel. I don't know much about the comics -- is she a real character, or did they make her up for this movie?)

I wasn't very impressed with the directing, though. I mean, I loved Christopher Nolan's work in Memento, but I'm not sure he's really cut out for action flicks. The fight scenes in particular were kind of flat -- half the time the camera wasn't even focused in the right place, and you rarely actually saw what was going on (which is a minus considering you're supposed to see how Bruce is kicking everyone's ass). And like, what was with that scene early on where Bruce is just dropped off by that truck so he can make the trek up the mountain? Wasn't he in prison? Am I supposed to believe that they let him go because he asked? Or am I suppose to believe that Liam Neeson twisted arms?

Speaking of Liam, he should just rename himself "Mentor of Hot Hero Types." Well, it's true. He had a similar role in Kingdom of Heaven.

And what a feast of supporting actors!! It wasn't all splashy and in-your-face like some movies ... they were just all solid, wonderful performers. Who will all hopefully be returning in some kind of continuation.

Only ... I'm not sure that there is going to be a continuation. It was odd/interesting to me that they ended the movie with the clever little thing about the Joker. Because ... I thought this was suppose to be about Young!Batman's adventures. Surely there are a couple more stories to tell before we get to the Joker? I mean, why would they paint themselves into a corner like that? That movie's been done. It was even done when Batman was still good. (It wasn't until the 3rd one that the franchise began majorly sucking.) And while this Batman franchise is supposed to be different from the other one ... I just can't see them basically making the same movie. And if they don't ... why would they nix any chance of any kind of continuation like that? It baffles me. I can't sort it out in my head. My brain's going to explode.

I really did want the movie to just go on and on and on. Like a miniseries. I'd love to see another one. Or Christian as James Bond. *siiiiiiigh* But maybe not. James is ever so slightly creepy. Anyway I think those rumors have died down.

I also took the opportunity while outside in the real world to see Episode III. I'm not sure if I regret it or not. I guess I don't, because I would have always wondered. But if I'd known it was going to be like it was going to be, I wouldn't have seen it. (Which makes no sense, but go with me.) Everyone harps on the dialogue and the acting, but OHMYGOD IT'S FOR SUCH GOOD REASONS. The first 20 minutes made me want to open a vein. Eventually, as a total defense mechanism (self preservation), I fell asleep. Or maybe I was simply knocked unconscious from all the anvils falling upon my head. In any case, I hope I didn't snore.

I think I napped for 10, 15 minutes at the most. And maybe a couple of other snoozes here and there. But I was able to follow the story ... such as the completely incomprehensible storyline can be followed, at least -- because Jade had basically told me everything that happened (at my request) beforehand. I used to think Ewan MacGregor and Samuel L. Jackson and Hayden Christensen were good actors. I can sustain that belief no longer. Don't give me crap about the material. I KNOW how bad the material was. But Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet survived THEIR crappy script with flying colors. And the dude who played Palpatine and Natalie Portman did all right. But the rest of them, I shun.

The vaunted battle scenes? Sadly for me, were boring and hokey. The lightsabers do nothing for me. I can't help but think, "They're not really fighting, they're just moving their hands around. Really slowly." I guess I've been spoiled by movies like The Matrix and most recently, Hero, because these Jedi warriors? Not really very impressive. And could that fight scene between Obi Wan and Anakin have gone on for any longer?! They just kept ending up in increasingly more contrived walkways. Aren't Jedis able to have impressive duels that don't involve a 2D standoff? Sheesh. THE PRINCE FROM MY VIDEO GAME HAS MORE IMPRESSIVE BATTLE SCENES.

As for Anakin going evil, well... it's true that he gets pretty hot there. It's the only time the movie gets really interesting, is once he finally turns. But the actual moment when he turns to the Dark Side? Really not so believable. I mean, not 10 seconds ago he's asking Samuel not to kill Palpatine because it's not the Jedi way. And he kills Samuel for that reason. And yet 10 seconds later he's going Sith and getting a new name and pledging his life to the Dark Side? What? I mean, the implication is, if Samuel had just been more reasoned and not insisted on killing the dude, Anakin would have been appeased, and thus remained a little Jedi forever. So yeah, that makes no SENCE. (Deliberately misspelled, inside joke, so don't get on my case.)

I don't know Star Wars lore very well, so someone please explain to me why it was forbidden for Anakin and Padme to be married/have children. Other than the fact that she knew him as a little boy, which is just kind of creepy. I mean ... if that were truly the case, how were they able to live together? And why did everyone around them behave like they were a couple (Obi Wan going to Padme to ask where Anakin was, for example) if they shouldn't have been one?

Possibly the moment that was most emotionally riveting for me was when the dude who had backed Obi Wan up during all those missions, revealed that he was actually loyal to Palpatine. But then he did it so stupidly (he used a hologram thingy! In front of, like, EVERYONE! And it was supposedly all secretive!) that I quickly got over it.

Also, what was with Padme's dainty little pregnancy? I mean, she's so tiny she should have been HUGE with twins! You know what WERE huge? The freakin' babies. When that first one came out I was like, she wasn't even big enough to carry that one giant baby, much less TWO of them.

BTW Jade, I should really be used to your lying about what happens in movies by now, but just FYI, Anakin doesn't get told that Padme died in childbirth. Nor does he get told that the child died also. This is because he gets told that he killed them in his anger (that moment where he's all choking her). It's why he doesn't see that joining up with the Dark Side is a Bad Thing and made what he feared come true (since the implication on her deathbed is that there's nothing wrong with her; she just doesn't have the will to live anymore. Which to me is stupid, if she does believe that there's still good in Anakin -- she should want to live, then, to raise her kids and possibly bring Anakin back) -- which is something that perplexed me. But in context it makes sense, because if she died by his hand, the baby would have died also. Not that big a deal, but you know, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, SAY YOU DON'T KNOW, DON'T JUST MAKE SHIT UP. Hmph.

Also, if the babies had to be so carefully concealed, whytf would they send Luke to live with his family?? Doesn't that make him, I don't know, EASY to find? Who knows how crazy Anakin's gotten, whether he'll go after his own family next? Seems to me that it would have been better to send him to some anonymous home. And oh yeah, not GIVE HIM THE LAST NAME SKYWALKER. Gah. So lame. Hope the adopters aren't named Petunia and Vernon.

Tim Minear hates me, but I finally love Wonderfalls. I wasn't really into the pilot, which I saw when it aired, so I didn't ever feel compelled to see another episode. Turns out that it's the most forgettable of the lot. The rest of it is pretty fab (yep, I marathon'ed through my DVDs). I love Jaye and her family, and I love Mahandra. The worst part of the show is stupid Eric, who is played by an actor who is a poor man's Matthew Fox. Plus Eric was a total pussy. He was like Vaughn while looking like the eldest brother on Party of Five.

Comments

[leiliaxf.livejournal.com]

I don't know Star Wars lore very well, so someone please explain to me why it was forbidden for Anakin and Padme to be married/have children

Dork. Jedi are forbidden from attachments (which is why there are 'younglings' running around--as soon as a child exhibits any sort of power with the Force, they are removed from their families and put into the custody of the Jedi for training. Which is why, in the first film (TPM), they said that Anakin was too old--he'd already formed attachment to his mother, then to the young Padme.

Love usually involves attachment/possession/obsession. All emotions that get in the way and can get twisted to the dark side. Jedi are supposed to be detached, sort of like monks. So yeah--no marriages, no falling in love, etc etc.

I'm not sure about the 'just knockin' boots' aspect--I get the feeling this is ok, as long as it's just...friends with benefits? *eg* Not sure if the children thing was forbidden, but then that comes right back around to the whole attachment thing, now doesn't it?

George Lucas borrowed from Buddhist beliefs for some of the Jedi philosophy.

Why do I know this shit???? I'm a Star Wars geek from way back, and I've read a lot of the novels, which give more info on traditions/beliefs/background.

Or, I'm just a GEEK.

[leiliaxf.livejournal.com]

also, the whole sending Luke to his family??

Now, this is just my reading of what Lucas put together, BUT:

Anakin hates Tatooine. Hates it with a passion (see AOTC--he grumbles about the sand getting into everything and how rough it is).

Obi-Wan probably doesn't realize that Anakin survived being cooked for some time. Tatooine, in the scheme of things is WAAAAAAY the hell out on the Outer Rim of the Galaxy and Coruscant, or Imperial Center as it becomes, is a central world. So it's pretty much the farthest point he can go. There isn't much on the planet itself to attract the Emperor's attention (it's a poor planet, see ANH).

So, seemed like a good idea at the time??? As to giving him the same last name, well--chalk it up to a writer's conceit.

Now, hiding Leia with the Organa's on Alderaan IMO was more problematic--Bail is in the Senate (remember, the Senate isn't offically dissolved until early in ANH), and is a public figure. He's sympathetic to the Jedi and the Old Republic. And Alderaan, according to my sources, is also a central world. And Leia becomes a senator also--and would have to have had dealings with Palpatine in the Senate.

Now why Palpatine or Vader/Anakin didn't sense any of the Force in her....I dunno. Perhaps they did, but since she has no clue/training because there are no Jedi left to instruct, they passed it off as nothing.

Now, does any of that make sense???

[leiliaxf.livejournal.com]

oh, and Luke's adopters????

Duuuude, you are so obviously NOT a SWGeek. That's Owen and Beru Lars--his (step) Aunt & Uncle? The one's that get fried by the Imperials in ANH when they're looking for R2 and 3PO?

Anakin met them briefly in AOTC--when he went back to Tatooine to find his mother, only to find she'd been kidnapped by the Sandpeople.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Duuuude, you are so obviously NOT a SWGeek.

Hahaha, what gave it away? The fact that I've said that like a billion times? *snerk* I've probably given SW a try more than any other thing I haven't liked, ever. Because it's such an iconic series. But I just cannot go there. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I didn't even watch the first ones (meaning the last three episodes) until I was in college, and by then, I was already ruined by more modern filmmaking. Plus, I was never much of a sci-fi fan. So all the things about these films that SW buffs can overlook, I can't. I don't measure them on their own special scale; I measure them against other movies, and I just find them lacking. I think I've just come to accept that they'll never mean to me what they mean to 80% of earth's population.

Thanks for the clarifications -- indeed, I would not "remember" any of the details from the other movies, simply because none of it stays in my head. Not compelled to keep any of that info in my head. So while I am a geek of the first order about other things (XF, HP, etc.), SW isn't one of them.

Anyway, glad that some of the things I was puzzled about make sense with some background info. But doesn't Obi Wan tell Anakin at the end that he loved him? Isn't that against the rules? And if they're not allowed to love things, then how are they supposed to know what's worth protecting?

I forgot to mention that my fave part of the first three episodes is totally Padme's hair/outfits. I love them!

[leiliaxf.livejournal.com]

But doesn't Obi Wan tell Anakin at the end that he loved him? Isn't that against the rules? And if they're not allowed to love things, then how are they supposed to know what's worth protecting?

You are seriously worse than my 3 1/2 year old nephew! Always with the questions!

Yes, he does say that. I think that was more of an 'agape' kind of love, which, iirc, is more general and not like romantic/posessive. Sort of like a love for all mankind?

Either that, or a love that dare not speak it's name, which, judging from some of the fic I've stumbled across.....*VBEG*

There was some interesting speculation of a love triangle sort of subtext between Anakin/Padme/Obi-Wan, but Lucas obviously didn't want to go that far. Although, I think you can read a bit of it into Anakin's reaction when Padme shows up and Obi-Wan is conveniently stowed aboard...

And yeah-you seeing it when you were older made a big diff--I saw it for the first time when I was 12, in 1978. After having had the novelization and the soundtrack for months and months. It was like nothing else before it--and that's why it's such a big thing to me, I guess.

It also opened a huge world of film and filmmaking to me--in interviews Lucas talked about his influences, and his peers, and it made me curious. So, down the rabbit hole I went :)

[empressvesica.livejournal.com]

I understand what you are saying about movie moments. I had never thought if it that way. Some movies are just good - as a whole. And some have incredible moments. And rarely do those two categories overlap.

That being said - I loved this Batman.

[akscully.livejournal.com]

Good things always happen when you listen to me. If only the whole world did what I said. Happiness for everyone!

leiliaxf explained most of the SW stuff so now I don't have to. Sending Luke to Tatooine was probably the smartest thing they could have done. Anakin hated that place and he had no real family left there so he would have never gone back.

Anyway, Batman stuff--the movie was based on the Batman: Year One comic so that's why I think it was really packed with stuff and had a pretty good story to it. I think the comic ended that way--Batman had established himself as a force in Gotham; now was the time for the real crazies to show up and oh look, there's this weird dude leaving joker cards around, wink wink.

I don't think Rachel shows up in other comics but I'm not an expert and don't read them regularly. I think the real point of her was to have two views on fighting crime. Rachael knew that it was a losing battle but she still supported the justice system in Gotham and it was very important to her that the legal system was used, whereas Ras al Guhl (Liam Neeson) was Mr. "I Fight Crime By Killing People Myself, Bitches". A core part of Batman is that he doesn't go around killing people but instead let's the police and legal system take care of it and the movie did a great job of showing how Bruce came to that point despite the fact that he started out because he wanted vengeance.

I also liked that Rachel was a brunette because Bruce has shown a distinct preference for brunettes in the comics. Zatanna (a magician's (who actually turned out to be, like, some sort of magic alien) daughter), Talia (Ras al Guhl's daughter), Wonder Woman and Selina Kyle are all brunettes in the comics and Bruce falls for all of them.

Oh, and Bruce got out of prison because Liam Neeson twisted some arms. Ras al Guhl is sort of immortal so he's accrued a lot of power. When he was talking about the League of Shadows bringing down Rome and Constantinople, he was talking about himself. His deal is that he wants to take over the world (as should any proper supervillan) so he's got contacts everywhere.

But yeah, Christian Bale? So very, very hot. I agree totally about the tuxes/suits. He would be great as James Bond but I think he might be a little too young. Bond has always struck me as just slightly older and more mature looking. Or maybe a little more rugged? It doesn't matter; he should do more "getting out of bed shirtless, falling to the floor to do honest to god pushups" scenes much more often.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

I just can't see them basically making the same movie.

You know that somebody, somewhere in Hollywood had the exact same idea, right? "We'll make exactly the same movie, save us a bajillion dollars in preproduction and make a megagazillion dollars in profits!"

Anyway, there are many ways they can make a different Joker movie. They can put Robin in it (it would be a bad idea, but they could!). Or they could adapt some of the best Joker/Batman stories from the comics, now that they got Batman's origin out of the way. If the Rachel character comes back, they could do an amazing adaptation of the ultimate Joker story, The Killing Joke (but it will never happen, since I doubt the kiddies would understand why Gordon is naked and has a dog collar around his neck). Or they could have him kill Robin - now *that* I would like to see. Not that I don't like Robin (I prefer him over Batman, really), but I don't see him working in a movie. And having the Joker kill Batman's sidekick onscreen can give us a great story while pleasing us comic fans who remember that event as one of the Joker's crowning achievement.

But, most likely, if the Joker comes back in the next movie he will have Harley Quinn - the Joker's female counterpart and sidekick who was created after the original movie -, so it will become a much different movie than Tim Burton's Batman. And this time they will let him survive the movie. Let's hope.

I don't have anything against them recycling villains. Especially if it means they will erase all the great mistakes they made with them in Schumacher's movies. I will take my grim, emotionless Mr. Freeze and psychotically obsessed with chance Two Face over the Joker wannabes we were stuck with in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.

Oh, and Thalia. If there's going to be a new love interest in the next movie, it'd better be Thalia Al Ghul.