I don't believe any work of art can be interpreted objectively, that is, completely removed from one's own understanding.
Batman Begins is the best retelling of Batman's origin story, in all media, because... well, there aren't any that has explored the character's origin in such detail. Begins was an amalgamation of more than one comic-book, or hell, even one era. The source materials by themselves only gave us one glimpse of that era, but Begins managed to bring all of them together AND deliver a coherent tale too.
I appreciate the content on display but I would argue that a the quality quotient is what drags it below the other interpretations. Which falls in line with my argument against the directional choices in that film. For example, before we were told(in various stories) that Bruce traveled the world and different monasteries becoming essentially a phenom in the art of crime fighting on this stage. It's common knowledge that Bruce Wayne is an inhumanely skilled individual. That was the origin and it's outcome before Begins. After having seen the film I personally find it to be a very underwhelming display of both(training or prowess). What's more, the very fragile and complex psyche of the character readers have come to identify over the (more recent)years. Not so much because of the content of the story but moreso because of the directional choices of Nolan.
Begins may have explored his past more than other films, but it wasn't his "best" origin story.
Could you explain more about that duality? Because it seems to me that not only did in Begins we get a better characterisation of Bruce, but one that was very, very close to the one we've seen in Miller's Year One.
I'm a huge fan of Year One, one of the things that I love so much about it is the world FM created. It was immediately so close to the detective / noir world that gave birth to Batman in the 40s, as well as a very real and explored look at that world in the contemporary world. But one thing was always true in it - despite the character arc and everything else, it was not a Batman origin story, and I don't think it was meant to be either. It was a chronicle of Batman's first year in Gotham, and Gordon does get more time in it. I really wish DC Animation continue to tell stories that are set in that world, I know they won't, but one can hope. There is was a sense of maturity in it that wasn't present in any other Batman animation. But that's another point for another time.
Compared to the previous live action films, the concept was conveyed. But again the direction left much to be desired. For example, the idea that Batman wears a mask. Not so hard to do and is almost applied with every hero(especially Superman).
In celebrated incarnations we find Batman has 2 identities. The facade of Wayne, a character, had he lead his normal life, one would still find somewhat improbable mainly due to the lengths he goes to discredit himself(year one comments on this). And his true face, that of the astutely silent revenge minded rage monster archetype. It's very simple, when he's around people in his circle of crime and crime fighters, he's batman and when he's around anyone else he's the clown. Begins presents this blurring of the line that I can only guess pays service Hollywood. You find the character of Bruce Wayne stepping outside his true face when he's alone. For example all the seemingly out of character jokes he makes to his keeper Alfred. Or the rather tersh conversations he has while in the clown role. Of course there are moments when Nolan wakes up and get's it right, such as the dinner scene. But I would hope he'd explore this fundamental concept with more commitment. What I find is more in line with the classic Zorro portrayal. In conclusion, like a lot of bat aspects, I find the exquisite duality of Batman is ill presented in Begins. He talks of his anger outweighing his guilt yet he never misses an opportunity to shares genuine laugh with one of his "friends." One finds in other adaptations, his "friends" full stop when "Batman" smiles. That's not to say Batman doesn't have a sense of humor, but one would find that it's almost painfully cynical, especially in Waynes old age. More of Nolans subtle commitment. What's really interesting to me, is all this and with the Equillibrium/American Psycho guy.
Now one need only look at the presentation of a another rage monster to see said concept respected. Zack Snyder's own Rorschach. Like I mentioned earlier Superman has a similar duality though much more result of choice and study as opposed to a condition, I have hopes that the matter is broached.
I have high hopes for Snyder too. But I think he should opt for both a good movie as well as a good superman movie. It is possible (ala Nolan's Batman films). Here you're talking about how the character was subdued in Begins, and I have to ask, what makes you think that? The writing or the direction? Because Batman comes into the movie, full-mask, half-way later? That only made his emergence all the more appealing. I for one hope that Cavill's Superman gets a good characterisation, not simply good screen-time with the suit.
I hope that unlike Begins, MoS presents all the aspects I've seen in prior superman incarnations with as much commitment and appeal to cinema as I've seen in those very incarnations.
My brother recently watched the YearOne animation. And I told him that, that was were a lot of begins came from. He asked, where was flass, I said he was there. He asked where was the uneasy and overwhelming corruption, I told him it was there. Where was the Swat team scene, it was there...etc. I appreciate that begins presents this aspects of a great story. In fact I think that why it's so "loved." What I personally hate about it is that it presents so many and in a less then memorable way, relatively speaking. What's more the clumsy appeal to cinema that Nolan presents(in begins mind you), just kills the film for me. I find myself cringing during the escape from arkham scene(and many others.
Now Snyder is an entirely different beast. In some ways stronger in others weaker. I am very keen see what Snyder does with a Goyer script. So far I've been very pleased with his direction.
