Batman: Burton vs. Nolan

[nolife fanboy]The tank was actually a nod to Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns.[/nolife fanboy]

Being an avid fan of the Burton movies, TAS and comic book storylines by Miller and Loeb, Nolan's take felt a little weak on the villains side and maybe the fight scenes as well. Apart from the showdown we really never get to see how mean the Bale Batman gets when roughing up thugs and I think this has some relevance for the overall characterization (and well choreographed and filmed fights are more fun anyway). The casting was very effective nonetheless so was the gradual development of all the little aspects of the mythos.

Still, Burton did those most amazing things with his villains. The madness of the Joker, the chemistry between Catwoman and Batman, along with the overall style and poetry - those things made the old movies exeptional for me. And it's not quite Burton's likeable-misfits-routine as in Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands or Corpse Bride. The Penguin was disgusting and creepy, despite all the tragedy involved.

Anyway, at the moment I'm having pretty much a hard time comparing or judging Batman Begins. It's going to be part of a series, so give me the sequels and I'll take another look at the finished product. As an exposition to a more down to earth and still serious movie version of Batman it did very good. It didn't try to emulate Burton, nor should it.

How ya doing, buddy?