X3

[ladybug_archive]

Finally saw Batman Begins, which I've been wanting to do pretty much since it came out. The Dark Knight spurred me to finally do so, since I wanted to see the first film first.

And honestly? I loved it. It was darkish, but just the right level that I like it. The story and ideas expressed are largely the kind of stuff I enjoy writing. The characters and acting were awesome. Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Katie Holmes ... all excellent! Michael Caine has never been a particular favorite of mine, but he was wonderful as Alfred. And I recognized certain plot points that were used in some way in The Batman TV show.

I did regret that there wasn't more done with the Scarecrow villain; having two villains made it more difficult, I imagine, especially since the other one was the top dog. And I remember some comic fans whining about The Joker not being the first villain faced. I dunno, I like it better the way things were here. And the nod to The Joker at the end was awesome foreshadowing.

One thing I wondered was, is the time period modern or not? XD; I was confused because I thought I heard the Depression mentioned at one point. Yet things looked fairly modern. **wondering if it was ambiguous on purpose.**

Overall, awesome superhero movie. Ever since I started really showing some interest in superheroes, Batman has been my favorite. I like that his powers come from his own strength and from technology; he doesn't have to rely on superhuman stuff.

On a semi-related note, I've always been one of the few people who hasn't understood the Spiderman craze; I found the first movie extremely depressing (though the graphics were awesome). I need to watch it again now that I'm a lot older and could maybe appreciate it more, but ... **shrugs.** I'm not sure I'll ever fully get why it's been hailed as being so amazingly awesome and better than many other things. I never even have watched the sequels, either, since the first movie overall disappointed me. I'll get around to it sometime, I imagine.

I may find The Dark Knight depressing too. Dunno. I guess we'll see.

Comments

[frozen-soldier.livejournal.com]

Batman Begins is an awesome movie! And even though Scarecrow was a little rushed, at least his powers were really cool. :3 And I'm really excited to see Joker in the new one. He seems so...crazy! >:3 *is going to the cinema today*

I never really understood why the first Spiderman was such a success either. In fact, out of the three, I found it the most boring. The third one, for me, is the coolest since it has all the inner struggle stuff.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**cuddles your Zack icon.**

Oooh! ^^ Hope you enjoy The Dark Knight!

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about the third one.... People thinking there were plotholes or things that didn't make much sense. I do plan to see it eventually, though.

[rose-of-pollux.livejournal.com]

Never been into any of the superhero movies in general (I usually prefer the stories where the hero is a normal person, inspired to do great things... like Tintin!)... so it's really that good, then? I've been receiving a lot of recommendations to see the latest movie. **shrugs**

I think it may have been better that the Joker was not the first villain. I know this is an odd comparison, but have you noticed how in YGO, the villains get steadily and steadily more formidable? First we had Pegasus, who took everything as a game for his own amusement, then we had devious (possessed) Marik, vengeful Noa, sinister Dartz, and, finally, Zorc...

Never saw Spiderman, either.

But that's great that you liked the movie!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

I usually prefer heroes that are more normal, too, or at least, not having superpowers. Again, that's why I like Batman. He doesn't have superpowers, just his own physical strength and intelligence, and his technology. I loved the movie. X3 I'm not sure whether you'd like it or not, since it is somewhat dark.... Not really any darker than what I write, though. I think the second movie is supposed to be a lot darker.

Yes! That's what I wanted to say. That's why it's better that The Joker wasn't first.

Marik wasn't possessed, though, unless you mean by his own dark feelings. Then later we saw his drastic multiple personality disorder.... XD;

Yeah.... Didn't like Spiderman 1, loved Batman Begins.

[rose-of-pollux.livejournal.com]

OK, then, I might look into that! ^^

XD Yeah, I was referring to the whole Yami Marik/dark feelings possessing him. ^^

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

I forgot to mention, Batman Begins has some surrogate family cuteness with Batman and his butler Alfred. X3

The Dark Knight is definitely a lot darker. **read up on it now.** Some of it sounds like it brings out some ideas I touched on to various degrees, but much darker and it ends on a cliffhanger to set up the third movie.

[rose-of-pollux.livejournal.com]

**nod nod**

Yay, surrogate family cuteness! X3 Will have to look into that, then!

[amanechan.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you liked it. X3 Yeah, Morgan Freeman is freaking awesome in both movies.

I dunno why they keep doing two villains. >_> I really liked TDK, but between the Joker and Two-Face, it was almost like there was too much movie, you know?

...But the car chase scene in TDK is incredible. o.o Just blew my mind. I can't believe I forgot to mention it in my LJ.

Yeah, I loved the joker card at the end of Begins. ^^ And you know that thing that Bruce says towards the end to get everybody out of the mansion? The bit about them being two-faced and "suck-ups who smile through your teeth at me"? Totally foreshadowing to the two villains in TDK. >3

*nodnod* I dunno, when I watched Begins I kinda thought of Gotham as being in something of an AU? So when they said 'Depression' I just figured they were referring to some other either fictional or Gotham-only depression. *shrug*

I like the first two Spiderman movies overall, but like... I dunno, there are a bunch of scenes I really like but the rest of the movie just seems to drag on and on. And let's just not talk about the third one. XD;

Yeah, Dark Knight's pretty depressing. Really doesn't end on a happy note by any definition of the word. XD;

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**nodnod.** That's one movie I definitely want to buy. X3

Yeah, two villains is really odd. That just seems like overkill. They were doing that with the Spiderman movies too, weren't they?

Foreshadowing is awesome. X3 And car chases!

**nods.** I was also considering maybe it was some kind of AU, since some things looked really modern and others were downright futuristic. XD

I hate it when movies seem to go on and on. XD;

**nodnod.** I decided I'd better read up a good deal. At least there's definitely going to be a third movie, I imagine, so things will hopefully get resolved!

[amanechan.livejournal.com]

I don't think so... I only remember Green Goblin in the first Spiderman, and Doc Ock in the second. The third one did have two, though.

Yeah. XD; Some of the gadgets he had were just ridiculously futuristic.

I've heard that it's like, not quite 100% sure about a third movie. They're "in talks" about it as the Hollywood lingo goes. XD; I just wanna know who they'd do for a third villain!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Man, they can't possibly leave it the way it is! I thought there'd surely be at least one more.

Maybe they should have The Riddler.

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I need to see Batman Begins again! It's been ages since I last saw it, and I kinda forgot what it was about. **didn't even know it had Liam Neeson in it!** XD;

Powers coming from his own strength and technology are definitely awesome. ^^

Hmmm.... I need to see Spiderman again, too, but I think I liked it mainly because the graphics and action were so amazing. I wish the ending hadn't been so depressing, though. I don't remember much of the second one, but my favorite part of the third was when Spiderman and Harry Osborn teamed up. ^^ Still had some really depressing parts, though. XD

I think I'd have to say that my favorite superhero movie was X-Men. ^^ The first was totally the best, though I was really disappointed with the third one. XD;

Isn't there some superhero movie out there that actually has a happy ending? XD

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Liam Neeson was amazing. ^^

**nodnod.** I wonder if the graphics and action are why many/most people liked it so much? XD; The ending really was so depressing and sad. ;__;

Yay teaming up! That would be awesome. ^^ I heard the third one had plotholes and whatnot in it, too. XD;

I need to see the X-Men movies. X3 I was really disappointed with what I heard of the third one, though.

I think some of the Superman movies end happy. ^^ The original one from the 70's does, and I think the one that just came out a couple years ago does too, though I'm not completely sure. Batman Begins ends pretty happy/satisfying, or at least encouraging. ^^

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

**nods.** Probably. And I guess a lot of people don't worry so much over such a depressing ending. Or they figure it's part of the tragic character. XD;

**ponders.** It probably did, but I can't remember any of them. XD;

Yeah, the ending was so awful! Not only that, but I was really disappointed with the way Phoenix was portrayed.... They didn't do nearly as much as they could have, and I felt it didn't do justice to the character at all. And the way everything else happened was just so wrong and sad. ;__; **kept hoping things would turn around and was stunned that they'd just left things that way.**

Hmmm.... I think the new Superman did, now that you mention it! **needs to see it again.** And that's good about Batman Begins! ^^ The Dark Knight really had a depressing ending, though. XD;

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**nodnod.** Yeah, superheroes really are tragic characters a lot of the time.

Ugh! It's so awful when movies are done like that. Phoenix? Is that like the Jean Grey Phoenix thing?

Yeah, it sure sounded depressing from what I read! At least there's surely going to be a third one.

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's the Jean Grey Phoenix. I'm used to thinking of Phoenix as mostly a separate character because of the TV series. But they never really got into that in the movie, so I'm not entirely sure what the movie idea of the Phoenix is. If I remember correctly, I think they make it look more like she loses control of her powers. ;__;

There is!? Was there supposed to be a hint in the movie about that? I can't remember if there was one. XD;;

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Poor Jean. ;___; I was kinda thinking the comics did have it that she lost control of her powers. In the TV show, was it more that Phoenix just possessed her?

Well, since WB wanted to make a whole new franchise, I can hardly believe they'd leave things like they are now. XD; There's still so many villains to choose from, too! And Robin hasn't even come yet! Though admittedly I think Batman works better alone.

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.... I'm not entirely sure what went on in the comics. In the show, I think they might have had her losing control of her powers, especially in the beginning before they really learn who Phoenix is. But they definitely explored how Phoenix possessed her.... There was a whole mini arc about that. In the movie, I'm not sure they really had Phoenix being a separate entity at all.

Oh, I see. Yeah, they totally need to do some more villians! I think one of my favorites was always the Riddler. And yeah, I think Batman works better alone, too. But it would be awesome if they were able to do a really good job on Robin!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Oooh. That sounds so intense!

I'll have to find out what was the deal in the comics. I'm not sure myself. XD;

Yeah! The Riddler was a really good one. I like his incarnation in The Batman TV show. His design there inspired me when creating Gunju. LOL.

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

It really was! But it all ended well, at least. ^^ Unlike the movie. ;__;

XD The comics really tend to do their own thing! I tried getting into the later ones, but it really turned into such a chore.... You can't even just get one set of comics and learn the whole story of what was going on, because different parts will be featured in different lines of comics. So you'd have to buy them all. -.- And they're expensive, especially with so many! I eventually just gave up on it.

LOL. I think I remember him most from the old live-action TV series they used to have. XD The one where Robin would say things like, "Holy bananas, Batman!" LOL. I'd totally love to see him say something like that in a new movie, just once. XD

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Waaah. ;__;

Yeah, seriously! That's how the Sonic comic is, too. It's just ... gah. So overwhelming! So many characters to keep track of, and plotlines, and so many things I don't like.... XD

**snerk.** I remember reading that the actor playing Robin always wanted to say, "Holy strawberries, Batman, we're in a jam!" and they never let him. LOL.

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. It gets so frustrating! Why can't they just have one comic? And leave out the things that aren't so great. XD;

LOL! That would've been priceless! Why didn't they let him? It totally would have been the best quote ever!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**nodnod.** Well, actually there is just the one Sonic comic in that verse. XD But it's gotten so confusing all on its own that I can't make sense of it. Several times I've tried to read about how things are going with the plot, and I end up more confused than before. LOL. I stopped collecting it years ago when I couldn't find it anymore, and over the years so many things happened that I didn't like and so many characters and twists were introduced that I got totally lost.

I have no idea why they didn't let him. XD They definitely should have!

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's how the X-men comics were, too, except for there being several comics. XD The plot and characters were so confusing, especially when you had to go between different comics to get everything. And the stories are so dark now! Not exactly a happy read. XD;

[garowyn.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed Batman Begins. ^_^ Planning to see The Dark Knight anytime soon?

Not sure about the time period, either.

I think a lot of people liked Spiderman because it was more "realistic" than other superhero films. Well, something like that. (Come to think of it, I don't really know. . .) Out of all the superhero films that have been released in the last 10 years or so, I've only really been interested in Spiderman and Batman.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hope so.... I'm kinda worried on if I'll be able to handle Two-Face's appearance, though. XD;

Realistic? Well, I know people say that Spiderman himself is a realistic character, though I've never been able to really relate to him. XD;

Superhero movies usually don't interest me at all.... I've seen the original Superman movie, but mainly because Dad likes it. I ended up liking it too, though. Still need to see the recent one.

And of course, I must buy Justice League to hear Superman talk. **puurr.** George Newbern....

[garowyn.livejournal.com]

In how he looks like or. . .? If it's the appearance, I was a bit surprised by how gruesome he looked, but I suppose it's more "real" compared to Tommy Lee Jones. Anyway, it was creepy.

Realistic as you can get with superheroes. I worded that poorly. :D Well, what I'm trying to say is, people tend to remember and like this film compared to other films, like Hulk (2003), Daredevil (2003), and Fantastic Four (2005), which didn't get all that great buzz (but some people thought they were done well). I realize it's all a matter of opinion, but Spider-man had better reviews for it (and its sequel; the 3rd one is debatable) than those ones did, and there must be a reason why, which I can't even explain. . .again. I'd have to see those films I listed first, but when I saw the trailers, I wasn't all that interested.

I saw the first Superman movie, too! Lost interest by the second one, and haven't seen any Superman movies, old and new, after that.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean physical appearance. I don't know how Tommy Lee Jones did it, either. LOL. I'll just need to buckle down and find a picture, I guess.

**nods.** I agree that Spiderman is better than those. What I meant was how people say it's better than many other movies, including ones that aren't superhero films. That's what I don't always understand.

I haven't had any desire to see the second, third, or fourth Superman movies because of what Dad told me about them (as well as mediocre reviews I've read for the third and fourth ones). I'm content to keep the good memory of the first one intact and unmarred by the others. ^^

[garowyn.livejournal.com]

Found ya a picture. It's 500x573 pixels and kind of gruesome, but it'll let you know what to expect if you see it or not. It kind of reminds me of Anakin's scenes in Episode III. :\

I see. That's kind of weird to compare Spider-man to other films that aren't superhero films. Not a fair comparison! Because there are certainly better films than Spider-man. ^_^

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Thanks. ^^ **shudders.** Yeah, that's the only one I could find when I did a Google search. Since he's in the shadows, more or less, it doesn't entirely help because I heard that when you first see the results, it's seen very clearly. XD; If it was always more in the shadows I wouldn't worry because I wouldn't be able to see it so well. I guess I could look away if it's only shown clearly the first time. XD

[skdarkdragon.livejournal.com]

I like Spiderman, but not as much as Batman. I like Peter since he's not really all that strong of an idividual, but still manages to be Spiderman when he is needed. And the supporting characters are good.

I found The Dark Knight very dark and gritty, but it was good at the same time. There weren't really any humorous moments (like Iron Man had) to balance out the darkness, but the movie is very awesome anyway. ^^ I bet you'll like it.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**nodnod.** I like that about Peter. ^^

**hasn't seen Iron Man.** That's encouraging that you think I'll like The Dark Knight. ^^ My main concern is if Two-Face's appearance will be too ghastly for me. XD;

[skdarkdragon.livejournal.com]

Well, Two-Face is gruesome. XD;; But I didn't mind that much, myself. It's sad, though, since you really like his character before the accident.

And I highly recommend Iron Man. :) Tony Stark is a great character, and it's all around a good movie, not just a good superhero movie.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**nods.** Yeah, that really is sad. ;__; Like how Seph was such a good man before he went nuts. **hugs him.**

Awesome! ^^ I'll keep that in mind.

[skdarkdragon.livejournal.com]

Also, you haven't seen the X-men movies yet?! o_o! You definitely need to see them. (Although skip the third one, haha.)

XD; I hated the third movie so much it's sad. But the first two are awesome. Though, I think X-men: Evolution is still my favorite X-men universe.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Heh, nope, I haven't. I'm not really big on superhero movies. That's one reason why it took me three years to finally see Batman Begins, even though I wanted to see it when it first came out. LOL. My interest was probably largely because of The Batman TV series (which probably came out for that very reason, to get kids excited for the movie a couple years later).

**nods.** I remember you talking about the third movie, and all the crummy plotholes and whatnot.