This ain't Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson that's for sure!

Rating: 5/10 (22 July 2008)

Why so serious? Why make another movie! I'am an avowed Batman fanatic, I'm talking from the Adam West/Burt Ward days, on through Tim Burton's 1989 masterpiece featuring the aforementioned duo, after that film it seems that the Batman movies became quite dumb. Batman Begins I felt was completely unnecessary as along with Batman Returns, Batman Forever and who can't forget Batman and Robin! The content is always rehashed into an even grimmer format than before and Batman always gets new toys and for some reason Michael Hough turned into Michael Caine! Christian Bale's "hoarse" rendition of the bat-voice was completely foolish and I could never take his mouth movements while he spoke in this 'dark' tone too seriously at all. I never cared for Heath Ledger as an actor but his performance as the Joker I'll say was pretty good, a little kooky but far from the intensity that Jack Nicholson or even Cesar Romero for that fact could provide! Michael Caine I'll admit was a nice touch as Alfred, he had a few funny lines ('Courage juice' for example). Never cared for Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne at all, very cocky and undeserved, Aaron Eckhart's role as Harvey Dent/Two Face wasn't even necessary, only to let the movie continue longer than it definitely needed to. These DC comics movies are getting dumb and dumber each year. I praise the individual who was gripped by these performances amidst chaotic bunk because it takes a strong willpower to deal with all that garbage at once. What was up with Batman's new toys? And the fact that he could disappear and reappear anytime he wanted, a little stupid. At least Tim Burton's Batman was designed with a little more realism. If I really wanted to suspend my belief of reality and go into drone-mode for a little while, I think I'd watch some Saturday morning cartoons instead. Five stars because the cinematography was very good and Heath Ledger left our world with a very startling last performance, R.I.P.