mooooooovies. and tv.
Jun. 19th, 2005 12:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarea
See, good things happen when I listen to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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.
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.
