Signs Of Mediocrity From The Beginning

Rating: 1/10 (4 October 2015)

Perhaps this deserves a 3. I am not willing to expend any more of my time on the film to decide. I think 4 is about right. The tell-tale sign of an inept director, and an inept script, are present from the get-go. Scenes exist that are only present in films trying to stave off boredom by presenting flashy visuals at break-neck speeds. All flash - no substance. When you see a simple scene cut up into tons of half-second segments, you KNOW there's a problem; the action scenes are absolutely pitiful due to this. The viewer has absolutely no idea what is going on. It's an editor's nightmare.
So, within two minutes, I knew I wasn't going to be giving this an eight (I already had a very good idea I wouldn't like this film, which is why it's taken me until now to watch it), but it became apparent shortly afterward that it wouldn't even be getting a six. It's just more of the same Hollywood tripe, aimed at the lowest common denominator. The plot is nonsensical, the script is absurd, and some of acting, especially by Bale, is utterly laughable. It's another of those mindless films where anything the writer wants to happen happens, regardless of internal logic; sometimes a fall will hurt, other times blasting a car through a brick wall will leave only a scratch. You get the gist. If you have a brain, save yourself a couple of hours and give this a miss.
It's a real shame that this kind of baseless, silly farce is the standard film makers and audiences are holding themselves to these days. Shove in a cartoon villain, some stupid effects, a dumb chase or two, and you're Batman. If you want to see a comic-hero type action movie done well, watch The Mask of Zorro - it's infinitely better written and directed than this one.
Despite that, I will give The Dark Knight a viewing, even though I know I am not going to be overly impressed. It can't be any worse than The Dark Knight Rises... can it?