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Ervell E. Menezes on Batman Begins, which is low on histrionic skills but still enjoyable, thanks to the out-of-the-world action sequences The best part of this film is that they don’t show this creature excessively. In fact, it is only towards the end that one sees him take off. But Bruce Wayne (Bale) of Wayne Industries, alias Batman, is still obsessed with probing the criminal mind. Gotham City has grown bad beyond recognition and even his childhood friend, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), now a District Attorney in New York, finds it hard to nail the guilty because of the underworld connection. Bruce’s mentor, Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), keeps psyching him about getting over his fear and he reels any number of lines, including the predictable "there’s nothing to fear but fear itself." Bruce’s grief over his parents’ death is hard to reconcile. But he seems to take his wrath out on anyone within his reach. So, the viewer gets an overdose of action, from snowy cliffs to barren plains, in crowded streets or on rooftops. You name it and they have it. But director Christopher Nolan must be commended for his handling of the action sequences. Some of them are really out of this world and have set a new high in the Batman films. But the screenplay could have been a wee bit more imaginative. In tow with Bruce is his butler, Alfred (Michael Caine), who has the best lines and former board member, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). "It’s what you do that defines you," Rachel once told Bruce but now they go their separate ways. Bruce has his identity concealed and, James Bond style, he has any number of secret hideouts and superfast vehicles which use the rooftops for their playground. One has shades of the 1960s’ The Italian Job when cars climbed steps and reached the roofs of Turin. Special effects are heavy but the staccato pace keeps the viewer absorbed for most of its 125-minute duration. There’s nothing very special about Christian Bale’s performance but Katie Holmes is more convincing. There are forgettable cameos by Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman but it is surely not a film notable for any histrionic skills. Michael Caine makes a welcome appearance but Rutger Hauer, Tom Wilkinson and Ken Watanabe are merely academic. Recommended for action aficionados and though there are no big stars it could well be the best of the Batman films. Razzle-dazzle
TAKE two of the most sought after stars in Hollywood today, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and let them don the garb of hired assassins. They are also the everyday suburban couple whose six-year marriage is very nearly on the rocks. So get them embroiled in lethal weaponry, snazzily shot and embellished in super-slick production values to set the viewer on a razzle-dazzle, roller-coaster ride of death and destruction called Mr & Mrs Smith. In 1969 at the height of the sex revolution there was a similar subject and top stars of the time, Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow, were brought together in a one-night stand. They only come to know each others’ names after having sex. But that film at least probed the sex mores of the period. Here, John (Brad Pitt) and Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) are under therapy and answer their off-screen psychiatrist in monosyllables. They scarcely talk at dinner (always at 7 pm), never pass the salt but never fail to tread on each other’s corns. That they are hired by rival agencies to kill each other doesn’t come as a surprise in this super-glitzy action movie. Jane has her bevy of females to support her and John only has Eddie (Vince Vaughn) as a sounding block. That Eddie lives with his mother is meant to raise a laugh. Actually, the screenplay has a few good lines, the operative words being "a few." Now Angelina Jolie is the type of actress noted for her histrionic skills as those who saw Girl, Interrupted will remember but they keep putting her in action films like this and Tomb Raider, which makes no sense whatsoever. Brad Pitt, however, is able to mix action with his histrionic talent. But the two do little else but go at each other hammer and tongs. It’s a love-me-or-hate-me relationship low on credibility. Why they do what they do and why they eventually stop doing it would be known by director Doug Liman alone, who doesn’t give the viewer a clue. So if you’re in a mood
to just lap up visual razzmatazz, Mr & Mrs Smith is the film
for you but be sure to leave your thinking cap at home. When you get
back there you’ll realise why two big stars do not a good film make.
— E.E.M. |
WHAT'S
in a name, said the Bard of Avon but Hollywood seems to think otherwise
and hence sequels to keep the subject going. Tired of that, they’ve
resorted to prequels like George Lucas. Now after Batman (89), Batman
Returns (92), both starring Michael Keaton, and Batman Forever
(95), starring Val Kilmer, they’ve come to Batman Begins (05).
It could well be a prequel with Christian Bale donning the garb of that
winged wonder.
