Netflix delivers a good one.

[gridlore]

Batman Begins was one of those movies that I really meant to see in the theater.. but a combination of other obligations and a lack of funds kept me from doing so.

Netflix brought it to my door the other day, and I am very happy with the film. Christian Bale is nearly perfect as the young Dark Knight, and Gary Oldman simply becomes Lt. James Gordon.

But the best part was how they handled Batman's gear and Gotham City. One of the problems of the last couple of Batman films was that I stopped believing in both the city and the equipment. Batman is supposed to be based somewhere in reality.. someone could do what he does with enough money, talent, and determination. In the same vein, Gotham is supposed to be a real city. Dirty, crowded, with different neighborhoods showing different faces. The later Batman films turned Gotham into some weird art deco nightmare, with nothing at all real about it. Same with Batman. The gear was ridiculous by the time of Batman & Robin. Not so in Batman Begins. Gotham is a very real city, with the exception of the monorail system. Batman's gear is quite feasible. (Forbes magazine did a story on what it would cost to make yourself Batman. About $3.5 million, but you're on your own in finding an ancient order of ninja to train you.)

Possibly may favorite point was that while there were two members of Batman's rogues' gallery in the film, they were pretty much separate stories. Ra's Al Ghul was masterfully played by Liam Neeson (and if you object that he actually played Henri Duchard, you don't know your Bat history.) and Cillian Murphy was appropriately psychotic as Dr. Crane/The Scarecrow.

Good film. Well worth seeing again.

Next up: Better Off Dead, one of my all time favorites.

Comments

Of a similar genre, perhaps

[speaker2packets.livejournal.com]

It's been a few years, but there was another urban superhero, a TV show whose acronymish (M.A.N.T.I.S), a few years back. They broke several apparent barriers, as the protagonist was both a paraplegic and black.

As I remember, it was fairly good the first two seasons, and handled doing things in a plausible urban environment. IIRC, the city was never named, but I think was Vancouver,

In the third season, they started going weird, with alternate universes, alien invasions, etc., and blew away what had been a fairly good show, crime-oriented as was Batman.

Anyone else remember it or have thoughts?

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[speaker2packets.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I forgot how to edit a comment. That should be "acronymish name." IIRC, the acronym was never explained, although it was probably the best set of adaptive devices ever made available as a wheelchair alternative.

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[kat-box.livejournal.com]

I remember it and yes, it was filmed here in Vancouver although I don't know that it was *set* in Vancouver. And I Googled the show and found on IMDB what the title stood for: Mechanically Augmented Neuro Trasmitter System (where did the "I" come from then?).

Lots of cool stuff has been filmed here, including Fantastic Four where Vancouver stood in for NYC. Very cool to walk down a street and see incredibly realistic-looking subway entrances that actually lead to nothing. ;)

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

When they were filming "The Rock" here in SF, the film crew painted fake cable car tracks down Jones street.

The "tracks" were so realistic the city had to put up signs stating that there was no line running here, and to go one street over for the real cable car.

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[kat-box.livejournal.com]

That's cool, and funny. :)

I took pictures intending to post them, but I've never had much luck posting them because I don't upload them to a personal website. It's fun to watch locally filmed stuff to pick out the impossibilities of going down one street, turning a corner, and being physically 10 miles away. :D Of the recent films shot near my work, Blade Trinity, Fantastic Four and I Robot come to mind. Although they tend to film at night so I haven't seen anyone famous. Oh, and Smallville... the LuthorCorp building is right next door to me. :)

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[speaker2packets.livejournal.com]

Hi Kat_box! My feline staff sends greetings; they are remarkably kind and wise, but require very high box standards,

Vancouver is one of my favorite cities; I've been known to annoy people by saying that if San Francisco was set in prettier terrain, it would be more like Vancouver.

Actually, I love both cities, but live in the urban suburbs just outside Washington DC. I was in the city proper, not far from Georgetown University, when they filmed "The Exorcist". The wind machines were distinctly annoying.

Thanks for finding what it stood for...the I is the I in transmitter? When it was on, my ex was more and more dependent on a wheelchair, and, from a practical and engineering standpoint, enjoyed what they did with adaptive devices. I wish they had stayed "mainstream" and kept the show running longer.

Good comment -- I'll put you on my friends list, and you'd be welcome to reciprocate.

Howard

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[kat-box.livejournal.com]

Yes, I suspect that's where the I came from, although I think it's a little bit of a cheat. ;) If you want more info on the show I really do recommend imdb.com as they're quite a comprehensive site. They list the show as being 1994, although I would have sworn it was older. Amusingly enough both Gina Torres and Marcia Cross were in it (I didn't remember that). :D

The other cool thing about imdb.com is this exactly. You can look up an actor you like, look at their acting history and see something from waaaaay back that you never realised they were in. :D

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[kshandra]

Sorry, I forgot how to edit a comment.

The site doesn't let you. :-/

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[speaker2packets.livejournal.com]

Well, at least you taught me how to use cite, Thanks!

Re: Of a similar genre, perhaps

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

I remember that. Pretty cool show.