Initial Conditions

A brilliant film this, probably the best I’ve seen this year.

Having only watched Batman Begins last week, I was unfamiliar as to the new direction the Batman series was going, though I gathered it was a lot closer to the Michael Keaton portrayals than the poor Val Kilmer and George Clooney ones (the latter of which I will never speak of again as it makes the 1960’s TV series look dark).

First, my gripes, for there are few. Christian Bale’s Batman voice isn’t suited for lengthy dialogue. At one point, he sounds distinctly like the Sea Captain from the Simpsons, but that is a minor point. More pressing is Rachel Dawes Doctor Who-esque regeneration into Maggie Gyllenhall, which seems to have gone unnoticed by the remaining cast. I guess it’s all you could do when Katie Holmes is busy, but they could have put someone who was slightly more convincing.

Spleen vented, time for praise. Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker as an amoral criminal who does bad things “just to watch them burn”, and the effect he lends the Joker is effective: you are genuinely scared for everyone he encounters.

Christian Bale’s strange voice aside, the rest of the cast do a fine job, and praise to Gordon Freeman for not being an old mentor for a change- while he does occasionally dole out a bit of wisdom, that role falls largely to Albert, who is marvellous, as is Gary Oldman’s commissioner/lieutenant Gordon.

The plot itself is gripping enough (basically some criminals wanting Batman dead and the Joker taking it on) and the transformation of Harvey Dent to Two-Face, of which the Joker is especially proud, adds an extra air of menace (and is better than the Two-Face of Batman Forever, who might have been better if The Riddler wasn’t also involved) and a dilemma towards the end at sea will leave you on the edge of your seat. Thankfully it’s free of contrived plot twists and a Deus Ex Machina ending which I’ve seen too much of lately.

But don’t take my word for it, go see it. Now.

As for the next film, we can only speculate as to who the villain will be. The Riddler? The Penguin? Catwoman (bad Halle Berry films aside)? Poison Ivy? (please no) Mr Freeze (=career suicide)?

Product placement watch: I could only see Dell (and that wasn’t obvious) and Lamborghini was quite prominent although you could argue this wasn’t really product placement. Good show for not selling out.
Addemdum: I’ve slagged off Hollywood for doing too many remakes/sequels of old films lately, but when they’re actually good and not blatantly just attempts for actors to revive flagging careers, I don’t mind them so much. The end.