I haven't mustered up the wherewithal to give this movie a second viewing. After watching the final installment of the trilogy I did go back to my favourite -- the first -- to see if it still held up for me. It did, it does, because it has all these other fantasy film elements working for it (including, esp., Shambhala). But as you point out, the second movie put all this effort into "being realistic" -- a trend Nolan doubled-down on for the finale (only to give some overused comic book tropes a huge pass, like Wayne miraculously recovering from spinal damage to face down the roid-raging Bane. But that's the other movie). This see-sawing "This is realistic/this is fantasy" got to be too much for me. For one thing, how was the Joker able to recruit his goons?
I'm just going to stop there, because there are innumerable bunny-trails that branch off once a viewer gives these films serious consideration.
BTW The Long Halloween is a terrific Two-Face origin story.
Also, I recently picked up The Complete Animated Series. I think that may very well be the best Batman, period. Well ... with the possible exception of the Lego Batman movie.
One of these days I'm going to get around to catching up on the lego movies. I've heard nothing but good things about them, but I haven't seen any of them. Just googled "The Long Halloween" now, and it does look interesting. I've never heard of it before (despite the fact that it's about 25 years old now!). But I stopped reading comics when I was 17-18, which looks like it was just about the time that theseries came out, so I think I just missed it.
I got back into Batman comics when I noticed my kids' interest. The omnibuses were an easy "add to cart" at Amazon (alas). My interest dropped after following "The New 52" for a bit and being disappointed.
Speaking of N52, I read the Long Halloween wiki before my last comment, and was surprised to see Mark Waid was an influencing factor in that storyline. Waid's hands are all over N52, so my current opinion of his work is not especially high.
Re: Lego movies, Batman is the best of those also, and stands independently of them, so you can watch it first if you so choose. And I haven't seen it, but I understand Ninjago is a turkey.
And since you're the one who turned me on to Valerie D'Orozio let me just say, if the Batman we're watching cannot endure a visit from Bat-mite, it ain't true DCU.
Oh right, is that where Valerie D'Orozio ended up? I lost track of her I don't know how many years ago. Thanks for showing me where she's at now. I would say Bat-Mite has always been one of my favorite editions to the Batman family, except... I don't think I discovered Batmite until Wikipedia came on to the scene. Like, I can't remember reading Batmite in any comic books during the 1990s. But once I discovered him via Wikipedia, I immediately felt like he was so whacky that he must be interesting.
I always assumed Lego Batman was a spinoff from the Batman character in the Lego movie. But I can just start with the Lego Batman one then? I'll keep my eyes open for both of them I guess.
I haven't mustered up the wherewithal to give this movie a second viewing. After watching the final installment of the trilogy I did go back to my favourite -- the first -- to see if it still held up for me. It did, it does, because it has all these other fantasy film elements working for it (including, esp., Shambhala). But as you point out, the second movie put all this effort into "being realistic" -- a trend Nolan doubled-down on for the finale (only to give some overused comic book tropes a huge pass, like Wayne miraculously recovering from spinal damage to face down the roid-raging Bane. But that's the other movie). This see-sawing "This is realistic/this is fantasy" got to be too much for me. For one thing, how was the Joker able to recruit his goons?
ReplyDeleteI'm just going to stop there, because there are innumerable bunny-trails that branch off once a viewer gives these films serious consideration.
BTW The Long Halloween is a terrific Two-Face origin story.
Also, I recently picked up The Complete Animated Series. I think that may very well be the best Batman, period. Well ... with the possible exception of the Lego Batman movie.
If we're talking movies, Lego Batman gets my vote for best Batman Movie. It's not "canon" mind you, so that might disqualify it(?).
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I'm going to get around to catching up on the lego movies. I've heard nothing but good things about them, but I haven't seen any of them.
ReplyDeleteJust googled "The Long Halloween" now, and it does look interesting. I've never heard of it before (despite the fact that it's about 25 years old now!). But I stopped reading comics when I was 17-18, which looks like it was just about the time that theseries came out, so I think I just missed it.
I got back into Batman comics when I noticed my kids' interest. The omnibuses were an easy "add to cart" at Amazon (alas). My interest dropped after following "The New 52" for a bit and being disappointed.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of N52, I read the Long Halloween wiki before my last comment, and was surprised to see Mark Waid was an influencing factor in that storyline. Waid's hands are all over N52, so my current opinion of his work is not especially high.
Re: Lego movies, Batman is the best of those also, and stands independently of them, so you can watch it first if you so choose. And I haven't seen it, but I understand Ninjago is a turkey.
And since you're the one who turned me on to Valerie D'Orozio let me just say, if the Batman we're watching cannot endure a visit from Bat-mite, it ain't true DCU.
ReplyDeleteOh right, is that where Valerie D'Orozio ended up? I lost track of her I don't know how many years ago. Thanks for showing me where she's at now.
ReplyDeleteI would say Bat-Mite has always been one of my favorite editions to the Batman family, except... I don't think I discovered Batmite until Wikipedia came on to the scene. Like, I can't remember reading Batmite in any comic books during the 1990s. But once I discovered him via Wikipedia, I immediately felt like he was so whacky that he must be interesting.
I always assumed Lego Batman was a spinoff from the Batman character in the Lego movie. But I can just start with the Lego Batman one then? I'll keep my eyes open for both of them I guess.