Batman Discussion

I won't be reading it because I haven't been able to go yet, but I suspect a goodly number of you have already partaken in the latest Batman flick that taunts me. Mocks me. And knows that I don't have time today or probably any time this week (unless there is a movie theater near the OSCON venue?) Anyway -- here is the official place to talk about the biggest geek movie out until the X-Files comes out next week, and I have similar frustrations.

Comments

What no discussion of the Bambi movie?

[baomike]

Batman is for the birds.
Why not just leave your money at the theatre, then you don't have to sit thru it.

Re:What no discussion of the Bambi movie?

[ShieldW0lf]

Why not just leave your money at the theatre, then you don't have to sit thru it.

Won't be watching Hollywood movies anymore, or any other films or shows produced in the USA. Sick of it, ready for a lifetime boycott. Don't like product placements and other assorted corporate propaganda in my fiction. Girlfriend and kid agree. Just not enjoyable anymore. Went from being a banal but vaguely amusing experience to a manifestly unpleasant one. Never again. Hope the international film making community has the good sense not to follow their lead into obscurity and oblivion.

Biggest geek movie until X-Files?

[Xest]

Not that that's saying much but can anyone elaborate as to why this is a big geek movie? Does it have lots of computing/IT stuff in it giving it more geek appeal and more reason to have it's very own uncategorized Slashdot article than any other similar film?

Or is it just the same, tired old Batman/Spiderman/Superman/Whateverman set of stories reiterated over and over, hyped to hell because that's what Hollywood does but isn't actually very good but with a bit of extra hype because it has a now dead actor in it?

Re:it was good

[Hyppy]

Seems to follow hollywood's classic "Heros journey" storyline...

I believe that far predates Hollywood. Or the United States. Or the English language. It was just given the name "Hero's Journey" or "Monomyth" recently.

Basically 9/11 Imperial Propeganda

[digitalextremist]

This is from Scribbalative Agincourting:

"New York's alter ego, Gotham City, is under attack. Bombs kill civilians indiscriminately. Panic spreads like wildfire. The perpetrator, a mysterious self-styled 'agent of chaos', has no apparent motive. Holy terror! Has the new Batman flick plundered its plot from 9/11? The imagery here is blatant: firefighters framed in tableau against the smouldering rubble of Downtown; politicians cashing in on the paranoia; bound hostages used to relay demands on television; the extraordinary rendition of a foreign suspect; a crusade against an 'evildoer' that turns more personal vendetta than reasoned response. Then there is the film's poster, which shows a flaming, wing-shaped hole punched through a smoking office tower. You can't disavow gratuity here - there is no such scene in the actual film." - Jeff Dawson, "Has the New Batman Plundered Its Plot from 9/11?" The Sunday Times

Also: the "terrorist" demolishes a building; Batman justifies invasive "supertaps" on all cellular phones to catch the terrorist; there's a cover-up of an elected official to preserve peace, and more.

Batman is first-rate, imperial propaganda. It soothes our conscience. It makes us feel good about the dark work of empire. We are so misunderstood. We must be hated for righteousness' sake. Our virtue is hidden. We're the real victim. Augustus would be so proud of us.