Holy bat pablum, it's overrated!

Rating: 6/10 (24 July 2008)

It's an OK movie, but it shot for the stars and hit the footlights. Yeah, Heath Ledger is dead and it's a shame that there is one less drug addict in the world, but, that doesn't mean that this was the best performance ever filmed, with that grating fake-y voice it seemed that he was acting the part, not ever becoming it. I really did like his take on the role however, as it was a fresh take on an old role, but still, he is no Cesar Romero. Having Christian Bale as Batman was an error in casting as well, not that he couldn't look the part, but with that constant effeminate lisp when he talks (and yet, Two Face is missing half his lips and can speak clearly), he made Burt Ward's version of Robin look like vintage John Wayne. Now we know why he chooses to save when he is forced to make a choice. Maggie Gyllenhall is a decent actress, but is no leading lady. To pretend that Batman could find her attractive is really stretch fantasy even in this fantasy based popcorn movie. Even that horrible movie Catwoman had the sense to give us Hallie Berry in Vinyl. I know the movie was supposed to be deep and psychological, and I'm sure research on the motivation of the characters even included reading the dust-jacket to some college Psych 101 class, but it definitely fell short in the compelling and deep sections. The cinematography was really nice for most of the movie but even it could not work magic on the lame fight scenes, or the CGI crap of the Batguy hang gliding between buildings. Hell you were in Hong Kong, couldn't you stop by Jackie Chan's place for a little choreography help? The score to the movie sounded great but was instantly forgettable. Dany Elfman did the Simpson's, why not let him work magic on this cartoon, too? Finally the bat-car sucked! Lets see, put the tires up front, because they'll never get shot out there, even if it does make the Bat mini-van look buck-toothed. That's OK though, if they do shoot out one of the tires, there is a fifty percent chance it won't be the one attached to the bat-moped. At last we find the bat man is the Dark night because he beats his mom, and still maintains a sibling rivalry with his sister. I guess the bat-dude hasn't really evolved at all.