Okay, this is going to be kind of a lengthy post, so I apologize in advance. However, I feel that this is VERY important, and must be discussed seriously. Please walk into this thread with a mature attitude, and with the intention of having an adult conversation. Here we go...
The thing that I LOVED about ''Batman Begins'' is that there wasn't too much Batman. In other words, it was nice seeing the development of Bruce's character for the first hour, and then seeing Batman in all his glory for the last hour. It felt like the perfect amount of Batman for the movie.
The problem I had with the previous four movies (mainly ''Batman & Robin'') is that it felt like TOO MUCH Batman.... There was no build-up. He just showed up all over the place, and often times, he wasn't even needed. Take ''Batman Forever'' for example, where Batman is only present because he's talking to Chase Meridian, who turned on the Bat-Signal in that embarrassing and shameful ''chicks-dig-the-car'' scene. Completely uneccessary.
So, the thing that conerns me about ''The Dark Knight'' is that the movie will be about a Batman that has already been established, and therefore, is able to be in the movie from beginning to end. That bothers me, because I don't want the movie to be riddled with Batman scenes. A Batman scene should have a build-up to it, it shouldn't just be there because it can be. Seeing a GOOD take on the character is something we should all privelage, and seeing the way Batman should be in that final hour of ''Batman Begins'' was my personal dream come true, as a life-long Batman fan. The other four just didn't do it for me, because I saw Batman right off the bat (no pun intended).
''Begins'' was much more emotional because we saw the origin - finally - and we felt for Bruce Wayne, and when we finally saw Batman HIMSELF for the first time in 8 years (The REAL Batman), it made the experience so much better.
So, will ''The Dark Knight'' lose it's emotional qualities because there's no origin, and no build-up for his appearance? Not to mention, the fact that the selling point for this movie will be The Joker's return to the big screen?
I'm scared that this will feel like B'89 again... do you feel that way too? I just get this vibe that Heath Ledger will be the star, and Bale will just be sitting in the passenger seat while Ledger drives the movie.
So basically, I think the best way to solve this problem (if it actually is a problem... you may not think it is, but I certainly do), is to keep Batman hidden for a WHILE... maybe for *almost* the first hour, like ''Begins''.
If they can use the first hour of this movie to develop The Joker, and Harvey Dent, and the Bruce/Harvey/Gordon relationship, it will make Batman's appearance in the movie sooo much sweeter, and it will feel more important to see him on the screen than seeing The Joker. Afterall, we're supposed to be rooting for BATMAN, not the Joker... and often times, I found myself favoring Nicholson's Joker in '89 more, since he was more entertaining. I almost wanted him to win. That shouldn't be!!
Also, and this is the most important point I have to make... Christian Bale is too damn good of an actor for us NOT to see him as Bruce Wayne as much as we did in ''Begins''. If this new movie is completely filled with Bale in the costume, it will seriously disappoint me that I can only see Bale's acting IN THE SUIT, instead of out of it.... Because honestly, Bale's acting as Bruce Wayne was far greater - and more interesting - than when he acted in the costume (although he nailed them both perfectly, in my opinion).
AND, Bale is a far superior actor to Ledger, so if we can see him act as Bruce MORE than Batman, then he will definitely be the driving force of the movie. There could be so many great Bruce/Alfred scenes, Bruce/Harvey scenes, Bruce/Lucius scenes....it would totally show Bale's capabilites as an actor, and it would keep the film interesting.
Do you agree with this? If so, why? And if NOT, why?
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