So I just got back from a midnight screening of Batman Begins and my oh my does this movie rock. I don't even agree with some of the decisions that Christopher Nolan and David Goyer made with certain characters (namely R'as al Ghul) but the movie is so full of Bat-lovin' goodness that I'm more than willing to let that slide.
Remember when Sin City came out and I claimed that the movie had a very vibrant and inventive style but little to no substance at all. Well for a better example of what substance is then look no further than Batman Begins. It's not that the movie's all that deep it's just that it's got a very workmanlike character about it. More than anything in the world there's just a sense of logic about everything from what motivates the characters to why Batman needs certain gadgets. Despite some of the plot's more outlandish elements, for the most part the movie is rooted in logic. Unlike the last two ridiculous Bat-movies (at least Batman Forever was smart enough to hop on board the Jim Carrey bandwagon and let him go crazy) this movie simply doesn't condescend to the audience, which is really all we ask for.
It's so good. So so good. Christian Bale makes a solid Bruce Wayne/Batman. There's a line in Kill Bill Vol. 2 during Uma's narration where she says something along the lines of what else do men who grew up with no fathers do but collect fathers (or something like that.) Not to get too much into details but I just want to say that the way they establish Bruce/Batman's relationships with Sargeant Gordon, Alfred, inventor Lucious Fox (played by Morgan Freeman) and even R'as al Ghul you can that's what Batsy appears to be doing, building a collection of father figures. I think if they keep that in mind throughout this new incarnation of the series (without getting too heavy-handed with it) that will really help give the series a sense of thematic continuity.
But whatever, Batman Begins kicks so much booty in pretty much every capacity that I'd be willing to say that THIS is the quintessential non-super super hero movie. I just feel so warm and fuzzy about this one. The best part about BB is that where all of the previous films, including Burton's, focused so much attention on the villains, this one doesn't. This new version is all about the Bat, the whole Bat and nothing but the Bat. I absolutely loved this film and anticipate seeing it several times while it's in the theaters because, well, I'm a geek.
Oh and the Batmobile is pretty flippin' sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This weekend, I will be returning to Baton Rouge. My parents are selling their house, so I want to check out all the repairs and other work they've put into it, see it one last time, and figure out what to do with my stuff that is still there. This may very well be the last time I ever go to Baton Rouge, my home town, as my parents are planning on moving to North Dakota. A weird feeling, the idea of never going back.
Anyway, if you are there this weekend, you should look me up.
In other news, I talked to Kaycee in Japan a few days ago, she is doing fairly well, considering, but I'm sure she would like phone calls/emails/packages to cheer her up. Md folks, I plan on putting a package together, so if you want to give me stuff to send, do it.
A final question: what is the most pretentious movie title you can think of? Mine is "A Loss of Sexual Innocence" by Mike Figgis.
If any of y'all want to make the drive to the Outer Banks, that's where the party is. We've rented a big beach house for the week, and there will be celebrity guests, including MEREDITH and JULIE. A one-night only appearance by ANGELE is also rumored.
The first one to pass out Thursday night gets their bikini top frozen or hermit crabs in their shorts.
oh, joy! i am bright pink. mostly my face, which is now peeling off in sheets. my freaking ears are peeling. i look like the vicitim of a chemical spill! i have aloe everywhere and i'm a big red greasy oozy burn ward patient with skin flaking off!
the left side of my nose got it the worst. i think the sun bounced off my nose stud and fried the flesh surrounding it,
how long will this last? when will i be adorable again?
i'm sittiing in the dark in my office. i'm gollum.
Please give me recipes that contain a lot of protein but not necessarily a lot of meat.
I'm not getting enough protein, but trying to eat meat as a main ingredient is just not working out for me.
Soy products are expensive. Whats up with that?
I think i sweated all my liquids out for real.. I went to pee and shot out bright yellow sand, and a whole fish skeleton.
I downloaded DoggyStyle a couple weeks back and have been listening to it pretty regularly for the first time in 10+ years.. I used to jam the shit out of it right after I got out of high school, but I haven't heard it in a loong time. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it still sounds fuckin' good- Snoop was at the top of his game and he was like 20 (snoop dog is only 3 years older than me?? wtf) when he made it.. Anyhow, yes it's old as dirt and silly on many levels but I've been digging on it. The point I was actually going to make is that I put it on my iPod and was listening to it today while walking around campus, so I ended up muttering little snippets like "agreed/proceed/ to smoke weed" and "I can't die/my boo-boo's bout to have mah baby" or whatever, and then I'd look around to make sure no one was walking behind me laughing at the very white puerto rican dude listening to the very old hip-hop album on his headphones, unable to resist the infectious flow of snoop dee oh double oh gee.
