I may be a bit older than most of those watching this flik but I have to admit that I'm a fan. Some of the earlier volumes in the series were a bit slow, building on the story line - but it was all so you could get to this point. And, it's a great ending. To be honest, the acting is just adequate, but the effects and scenery were perfect. I don't really see any of the kids going on to be great actors, but ... time will tell. Definitely a got-to-see if you're a fan and even a good story if you haven't read the books or seen any of the other movies.
Action! That's all you need to know. Who cares that the effects were iffy at best? It was FUN. And with a bunch of non-A-list stars, it's that much more fun. You don't get distracted by Mr. Name - although the lead guy was very good. And, the girls??? In a word - Yummy! Gorgeous, athletic and kicking major butt. What more could you ask from a toy?
This was one of the most boring movies that could have been made on this subject . None of the characters was developed to the degree that you cared about any of them - Not Depp's Dillinger, nor Bales' hard-nosed G-man. And all of the supporting cast either over- or under-played their parts - all to the detriment of the look and feel of the film. Why do we care about Depp's gf when he keeps fooling around on her? Why is FBI Director, J Edgar Hoover played like a fop? There really wasn't even a good explanation of why the FBI was focusing on Dillinger rather than all the other bad guys. I liked the basic story, but there was no cohesion to the side-stories - and no reason to care.
While the movie is supposed to be about the Gere-Lane love story, that is the weakest part of the movie. Their "love scene" was terribly forced and uncomfortable. It didn't make any sense or feel right at all. The more touching part was really the mother-daughter relationship. And, the fact that Lane finds the strength she needed to get out of a bad marriage. That's really about it... very weak.
Easily the best of all the Batman flix. Only Maggie Gyllenhall made me wonder what the casting director was thinking. Who is casting the female roles in these action movies? (Must be the same casting director as in Iron Man.) The Batman series deserves better than Plain Jane female roles. And tell her to stand up, for goodness sake! That said, What an amazing acting job by Heath Ledger. And, what a sad series of events that he will never reprise the role. Had he lived, this movie would have put him over the top on the list of current Best Actors. Hard to believe anyone would have been able to out "over the top" Jack Nicholson in the Joker role, but that's exactly what Ledger did. All the other characters did a fantastic job as well, but it was The Joker who stole the screen. SEE IT!!!