Disappointing

Rating: 1/10 (10 December 2012)

What I find disappointing about about this movie is that it follows the same trend as other actions movies. That is, weaker story lines and flatter characters, but more mindless action.
Intelligence is lost. But the very idea of the action movie used to be that the good guy facing more moral restrictions than the bad guy compensated this by greater wit and deeper understanding using the qualities of the bad guys against himself and of course stronger character. In stead we see ever dumber hero's that win by superior technology and bigger guns. And the character of our hero's mimic the bad guys copying their delight in sadism. What used to be a moral story is perverted into a fairly mindless bloodfest for action effect enslaved people. That is a pity.
As soon as you start to think about these stories they become meaningless. How can Batman be a weak punch ball before he is wounded and than wipe the floor after he done more mayor injuries in a hell hole because he did a successful jump to escape? If you ribs stick out of your body and someone jams them back with his dirty hands, is that making you stronger? Really? Blane on the other hand start off like godlike sadistic psychopath to end as a weeping nanny. In the most of the movie he is killing people like flies without showing emotion speaking in a foreign slightly civilized accent (another cliché). He is heralded as superior in any way and acts accordingly but then suddenly turns in a humble servant of his mistress. A woman that was first presented as decent person but than changes in the evil mastermind.
And Cat woman of course makes an easy switch from the woman who is ruthless to a kind hearted one.
There are no characters in this movie as every character is changing in his opposite during the movie. This is nonsensical but done to create a cheap element of surprise among the constant battering and explosions.
This all does not seem the matter to lovers of the action genre as they are only interested in technological marvel, explosions, bloodshed, sadism and self glorifying over-sized ego's they can relate to. But what they are watching is a bunch of lunatics that in real life would nicely fit in an asylum.
Do not misunderstand me, I like the action genre. I like to see a hero give his best and win through perseverance and willpower. But I also like him to be more than an self pitying murdering egomaniac. I like them to outsmart their opponents in stead being mindless punchers and winning because they have a bigger gun.
But there is no longer a place for this in modern action movies. That is all to static and as viewers are dumbed down by endless violence in action games, there is no longer need for a good plot or believable characters and dialogues.
And it so totally lacks imagination. I mean superhero's saving the city from the evil guy using a nuclear bomb? Wild pursuits in the city demolishing buildings? Is that all 250 million can buy? in fact it seems as if the director tried to cram every cliché in the movie.
The first Batman movies were totally over the top and comical. Batman was a clear cartoon figure. Then they made Batman more realistic and a darker, sombre figure, but again appealing. Now they made him a cartoon figure again but without the humor but even more silly. He is simple a avatar as you can play in the action games. Today's movies simply follow simple game plots where you start shooting from beginning to end. Do not even think about it, if you want more depth buy the comic.