Odd thoughts of the day.

[bktheirregular]

Saw Batman Begins last night - and the comparisons I drew weren't to the earlier movies (never saw Batman and Robin, and I should probably be thankful for that), but rather, to the Animated Series.

In my opinion, the original Batman: The Animated Series is the best depiction of the Dark Knight mythos that ever went onto the silver or TV screen, but Batman Begins is not too far behind. You didn't even have to squint too hard at the Evil Plot To Destroy Gotham.

Christian Bale owned the movie, which is only right, because I suppose this is the first movie that was actually front-and-center about Batman.

(Oh, and I also like the New York Times-ish newspaper report that sandwiches a report from the Batman into the middle of the front page, flanked by more important articles.)

Totally aside:

Acquired (legally) the original cut of the original Star Wars trilogy the other day (not the widescreen, but you can't always have everything). Started to record the tape of the original, original movie, and one scene stood out.

Early on, when Darth Vader has captured Princess Leia's ship, an officer is actually challenging the Dark Lord. "Holding her is dangerous! If word of this gets out to the Imperial senate..."

One of the bad guys, yes, but you can't help but respect him a little, if only because it apparently takes some serious onions to tell Darth Vader you think he's doing something phenomenally stupid.

Comments

[hawkmoth.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, the original Batman: The Animated Series is the best depiction of the Dark Knight mythos that ever went onto the silver or TV screen, but Batman Begins is not too far behind. You didn't even have to squint too hard at the Evil Plot To Destroy Gotham.

Dude, you rock. B:TAS is the best animated series ever. We know have all three DVD sets. So freaking cool. (You have to hear the commentary on "Almost Got Him."

I'll be seeing Batman Begins in a few hours, and my youngest spawn has already given her approval, so I'm sure I'll like it. (Heck, I was on board when they announced Christian Bale in the lead.)

[bktheirregular]

I know that the Animated Series used the original Burton movie as its touchstone, but it took the Art Deco theme and just blew the movies out of the water.

You're gonna enjoy Batman Begins. Believe me. :)

[hawkmoth.livejournal.com]

I loved it.

(I kept hearing the Elfman main theme in my head and missed it being part of this.)

And in some weird alternate universe kinda way, this is the origin story of the animated series, and Christian Bale's Bruce/Batman matures into the Kevin Conroy version.

[bktheirregular]

Funny, I kept almost-but-not-quite hearing the Animated Series theme (I know they used the Elfman theme to begin, but they did have their own).

That was one of the few things missing from this one, I suppose: no actual theme music. After all, every good hero needs some.