June 28, 2005
I Really Wanted to Love Batman Begins (Sigh)
Over the last month, Bar/Bri has tried to convince all California bar-takers that our futures will be much brighter if we behave like sheep on the exam. For example, on one exam, applicants were required to write a closing argument. A professor told us that a former test-taker who failed the exam said she dropped literary references into her closing argument. “Good ideeeeeea? Good idea to drop in Shakespearean quotes on the bar exam? NO! Never! You NEVER want to draw attention to yourself!” We’re to behave like sheep because apparently the exam graders are half-comatose when they read our essays and give higher grades to applicants' answers when they don't actually read the answers carefully. (That's a hell of a system, huh?)
Speaking of blockbuster movies, I went to see Batman Begins on Saturday. Recent superhero movies have not really been my thing (Superman and Superman II were awesome, yet not recent!), but as mentioned in a previous post, I will generally see just about anything that finds its way into theaters. Sometimes this results in unexpected joy (e.g. I loved Elizabeth, Collateral, Love Actually, and The Notebook (feel free to start making fun of me now for loving The Notebook). Sometimes it results in unbelievable boredom (e.g. The Aviator, Spider-Man 2 (I liked the first one, but thought the sequel sucked more than a hooker in Vegas), Godsend (note to Robert DeNiro, I assume you need money for some strange reason, which would explain why you’re choosing some of the films that you’re choosing. If this is in fact the case, you should fire your money-manager, pick any company that advertises on CNBC, and have it handle your finances. Am I the only one who thinks DeNiro has no discretion when it comes to choosing films anymore?) and The Forgotten (this was one of the absolute worst films ever made. I understand that all people see things differently and that movies are highly subjective to interpretation. Nevertheless, even the family members of the people involved in the making of this film have to admit that it was absolutely atrocious. Wouldn’t it be great to host a television show and have an actor on to promote a bad film? Hosts always say, “Oh, I saw it and loved it; it’s fabulous; you’re fabulous!” If I were a host, I think I’d say something like, “Look, Julianne Moore, you’re a fantastic actress; we all know that. However, I went to see The Forgotten the other day, and I have just one question for you. "Did you lose a bet or something? How could you make a movie this bad?" (Naturally, the television hosting stint would be short-lived!)).
Batman Begins has received so much praise from critics, friends, and family members (i.e. a wide cross-section of society) that I entered the theater on Saturday truly expecting to love the film. Unfortunately, I did not. The movie was just marginal in my opinion. I enjoyed the first thirty minutes of the film because it told the story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman, but once the Bat was born, I started losing interest. I realize that I’m in the strong minority in not leaving the theater feeling completely orgasmic about this movie, and I’m fine with that (even if I’m supposed to be thinking like a sheep these days).
Katie Holmes (way too young for the role) played a District Attorney.
She was horrible.
Some clown named Cillian Murphy played an expert psychiatrist in the film. He did a nice job with his role, but Mr. Murphy is twenty-nine years old in real life and looks like he is about nineteen on screen. His youthful appearance served as a complete distraction to his role. (I realize it’s a superhero movie and that you have to suspend belief, but why not cast an actor who actually looks like he is old enough to legally purchase alcohol? I’m supposed to believe this joker attended college AND medical school AND is now some hotshot psychiatrist? To quote Eric (track 19), the piano tuner from the first Jerky Boys cd, “I don’t think so!”)
Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine were awesome, but they're always awesome.
To summarize, if you like the adventure that superhero movies take you on, you’ll love Batman Begins. If you get bored with action/adventure films and can only handle so many death-defying movies and fight scenes, this might not be your cup of tea. Either way, to the best of my knowledge, no one has EVER seen or refrained from seeing a movie based on my advice, so my opinion doesn't really matter. In any event, the Thinking Fool’s Final Grade for Batman Begins: C.
Comments
You are not the only one who has that thought about Robert DeNiro. I mean...Shark Tale? I expect that sort of thing from Will Smith, Angelina Jolie, and Renee Zellweger. But...et tu, Robert? I watched the Godfather II recently and it actually made me sad to see how compelling DeNiro once was.
Posted by: The Attractive Nuisance at June 29, 2005 07:57 PM
DeNiro's movies since 2000.
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle: Hideous (I didn't see it, but how could that movie not be hideous?).
Men of Honor: Heard it was great.
Meet the Parents: AWESOME.
15 Minutes: Absolutely Awful.
The Score: Good.
Showtime: Looked Terrible. They should have stopped making Beverly Hills Cop sequels after Beverly Hills Cop II.
City By the Sea: So bad that I almost walked out and was very angry upon leaving the theater for having two hours of my life wasted (and this is coming from a person who wastes a lot of time).
Analyze That: I thought Analyze This sucked, so I wasn't going to see the sequel.
Godsend: One of the worst movies ever made.
Shark Tale: Did Not see it. I defer to the Attractive Nuisance.
Meet the Fockers: AWESOME!
Hide and Seek: Looked horrendous.
That's not a good enough track record for an actor of his stature.
Posted by: Fool at June 30, 2005 01:13 AM
:P I agree Katie...Cruise was too young for the role, and I don't have a clue why they cast her for that part, but I thought the rest of it was grand. :)
Posted by: Marshall at June 30, 2005 07:15 PM
How could you think Katie was too young for her part, but the lunatic psychiatrist was not too young for his role?
Posted by: Fool at June 30, 2005 10:15 PM
