Share Editor's profile
Editor
Editor's stats
- Review count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewJuly 19, 2008
- Last reviewJuly 19, 2008
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
Editor's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
Overwhelmed, thus a bit underwhelmed
PostedJuly 19, 2008
Editor
from Maryland
Okay, I liked it; but not quite as much as I had hoped, going in.
<P>
Look, I LOVE the new Batman franchise, starting with "Batman Begins." Unlike so many comic-book-to-film series, it takes itself seriously, and it brings first-rate acting talent to the enterprise. The production values are stellar, too.
<P>
But in thinking about the film after I saw it last night, I have to say that it didn't hit me with the force of "Batman Begins."
<P>
To be sure, all the elements of a great comic-book-film thriller were there. But too many elements, I think. Everything about this film was just a bit too much.
<P>
The decibel level in the theater was too much.
<P>
Heath Ledger's Joker was wonderfully sinister in his quieter, more menacing moments; at times, though, he was over-the-top and just too much, too.
<P>
The fight scenes, especially the one at the end, were just too frenetic; you couldn't tell what was going on. It was like watching a fight scene while seated on a passing roller coaster.
<P>
The plot itself was overstuffed with too many subplots -- subplots involving Harvey Dent (which was the strongest, and okay), but also good-cop Gordon and his family, plus the girlfriend and her romantic triangle issues, plus the mob. Also, too many machinations going on simultaneously: the Joker, the mob, dirty cops, problems within Wayne Enterprises, emotional issues with Bruce Wayne, emotional issues with Harvey Dent, emotional conflicts at the end, between a boatload of Gothamite citizens and a boatload of criminals. I mean, YEESH.
<P>
When I'm really involved in a story, I never look at my watch. I looked at my watch at least four or five times during the two-and-a-half-hour running time of this film. It FELT long, because it was just not tight enough.
<P>
Will I recommend this to friends? Yes -- but with those caveats. It is a film that Batman fans will enjoy; it should be seen on the big screen; and it has a lot going for it -- but it also contains too much baggage along for the ride.
<P>
Look, I LOVE the new Batman franchise, starting with "Batman Begins." Unlike so many comic-book-to-film series, it takes itself seriously, and it brings first-rate acting talent to the enterprise. The production values are stellar, too.
<P>
But in thinking about the film after I saw it last night, I have to say that it didn't hit me with the force of "Batman Begins."
<P>
To be sure, all the elements of a great comic-book-film thriller were there. But too many elements, I think. Everything about this film was just a bit too much.
<P>
The decibel level in the theater was too much.
<P>
Heath Ledger's Joker was wonderfully sinister in his quieter, more menacing moments; at times, though, he was over-the-top and just too much, too.
<P>
The fight scenes, especially the one at the end, were just too frenetic; you couldn't tell what was going on. It was like watching a fight scene while seated on a passing roller coaster.
<P>
The plot itself was overstuffed with too many subplots -- subplots involving Harvey Dent (which was the strongest, and okay), but also good-cop Gordon and his family, plus the girlfriend and her romantic triangle issues, plus the mob. Also, too many machinations going on simultaneously: the Joker, the mob, dirty cops, problems within Wayne Enterprises, emotional issues with Bruce Wayne, emotional issues with Harvey Dent, emotional conflicts at the end, between a boatload of Gothamite citizens and a boatload of criminals. I mean, YEESH.
<P>
When I'm really involved in a story, I never look at my watch. I looked at my watch at least four or five times during the two-and-a-half-hour running time of this film. It FELT long, because it was just not tight enough.
<P>
Will I recommend this to friends? Yes -- but with those caveats. It is a film that Batman fans will enjoy; it should be seen on the big screen; and it has a lot going for it -- but it also contains too much baggage along for the ride.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.