h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I feel like the last person on earth to have done so, but I've finally seen the new Batman movie. And having listened to other people speak of little else for weeks, I now feel the need to discuss it. Sorry Awix

It reminds me of why I've always liked Batman above all other superheroes (not just superhero movies, note). It's his mortality that does it for me. The fact that in the darkness of Gotham, the distinction between good and evil is not so clear. It makes the audience a bit uncomfortable, maybe, but why shouldn't it? So I really appreciated the ending to this film.

That having been said, the other reason I love Batman are the gadgets. Sadly, I agree that they weren't great in this one. The cell phone sonar machine was good. I think Batman used his grappling hook (or bathook or whatever) once. There's that new vehicle. But nothing fantastic.

I have to say, Christian Bale remains somewhat unimpressive as Batman and Bruce Wayne, to me. His Batman voice grates. In all the Batman films I've seen, I've never been that impressed with the casting of Batman. I think most people liked Bale in the role, and I think he was better than some of the previous Batmen (for instance, Clooney, who would be a good choice for Bruce Wayne only, and Adam West, who was just goofy). Maybe I'm alone, but I don't feel like anyone has truly "nailed" Batman yet. Heath Ledger's Joker will probably be the definitive representation of that character, but I'm still waiting for someone else to provide a truly definitive Batman.

And speaking of Ledger, I'm only now realizing that he was a truly gifted actor. Sadly, I think his "sex symbol" status sometimes got in the way of some people (read: myself) realizing his talents. But he really stole the show. I think his performance is what bumps this from a "Great Superhero Movie" up just a "Great Movie". Maybe even a classic.

I never really had any conception of Ledger as a proper actor (as opposed to just a movie star) until Brokeback Mountain, but I thought he was at least as good here... would anyone have recognised him if they hadn't known who it was?

As far as the Bat-gadgets go, I don't think they're a necessary or defining element of the character. If you go too far down that route you end up with things like the Anti-Barracuda Bat-Repellent Spray which one former Batman carried around.

By the way, I thought George Clooney was by far the best of the earlier screen Batmans (Batmen?). He had the potential to be at least as good as Bale but got saddled with a lousy script.