And that's what the doctors say.

P.S.:
1.)This movie had the worst music choices/"score" ever. Almost every time there was an instrumental or song playing in the background, it took me right out of the moment (not the library fight/cameo sequence btw).
2.)It was the first time I remember where there were hordes of toddler aged youth present, brought along by parents, and I can sympathize with you Widge, it was pretty distracting, if sometimes more entertaining than the film. This was not a kids' movie on any plane at all.

And do please lighten up. Just a smidge.

Comics are a medium. Along with radio, t.v. books. and movies. There are things each medium can do that the others can't and vice versa. Comics are just as viable as any other medium.

Aaron hit the nail on the head for me in Weekend Justice. I had the same problems as he did.

The acting was great. The editing was horrible (the Raimi film was beautifully paced and edited). The dialouge was beyond godawful.

And, Widge, I am glad you liked it. I am actually very very very glad you liked it. I'm not trying to ruin it for you. But this movie just... I don't know how to feel about it! You know?

For the record, Michael Uslan was the guy who created the first college course on comic books. He becamae a celebrity back in the 70's, and is considered an authority on comics and Batman. His belief was Batman was at its core a dark story and the West stuff is stain on the real spirit of Batman. It took 10 years to make a dark Batman movie because (as Uslan puts it) the suits all thought of Adam West and didn't see where Uslan was going.

And Bob Kane shared Uslan's feelings. He was tickled pink by what Burton did.

Sincerely,

Bruce

There's always something in the lexicon that draws attention and groans. First it was Michael Uslan who was mortified and aghast that the Batman of old was reduced to "bow! zap! and pow!" He worked and worked and we ended up with Batman (1989).

Then Adam West and others were upset and disturbed by Batman being so dark that it didn't appeal to kids. The Batman Returns (1992) Happy Meal controversy was another case in point.

Then Burton left and we got Joel Schumacher. Val Kilmer, George Clooney, a sidekick, and lots of spandex. We all complained about the empty-headed shallow spectacle Batman had become. Arnold Schwarzenegger watching Snow Miser, Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, and Jim Carrey doing a better Grinch than he did for Ron Howard. This and the Abercrombie and Fitch kitsch made people wonder if the serious Batman would come back.

Then came Christopher Nolan and his angst. And frankly anything after Batman and Robin (1997) was going to be better. But immediately people seemed to be drawn to it and the reputation of Batman Begins (2005) had a huge effect on everything that followed. It wasn't until The Dark Knight (2008) swallowed up everything that I started to hear the complaint. First by Adam West and then by some wanting to know when the funny engaging Batman would return.

This Batman thing is like the seasons. Though Nolan will move on to other things, Batman will end up alarming a new group of "fans" soon enough. The DC universe direction will certainly move Batman away from Nolan to a new flavor. And then someone new will complain and wonder if it will ever change. It will. Give it time.

Nothing lasts in Hollywood. Spiderman (2002) gets a remake. And the same will be true of Batman and in less time. WB needs the franchise. The Bat will be back. And some new director will become someone else's headache. Time will tell…

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Bruce

So relax. As a comic book fan, you should know better than most that nothing is truly permanent.

I feel for you on the Cop Out front. But I think you could sympathize with me on this if you think of it like this:

Imagine Cop Out was an ultra-serious deconstruction of 80's action films and it was a huge success and everyone loved it. Now imagine you hated this deconstruction and didn't get why people couldn't just appreciate 80's action films the way they are.

And to be perfectly blunt; Nolan's films will NEVER go away. They were so popular and so ingrained in the public mindset that Batman will always be remembered as the grim gritty growly guy who never smiles. And I like a Batman who smiles.

And don't forget, as a comic book fan I may get awesome movies but the comics themselves? Well let's say the New 52 and Marvel have been lackluster *cough*utter garbage*cough*.

There's enough "fun" super hero pictures out there. Like Widge, I'm sorry you didn't like it. But there are options. The Marvel brand has plenty of fun to offer. And there's always the Tim Burton original.

Back to Dark Knight, I enjoyed a serious film exploring Wayne's mystique. It provides a fine composite when you compare and contrast with what came before. Soon Nolan's experiment will be done. And we'll go back to the status quo.

As to your lack of options. As a fan of 80's and 90's action films, I really have no option unless I like cheap films in January and February or the Bourne films. Like you I too can go back and watch past films. And I do. But unlike you, I don't see anything new on the horizon to add to it. While the comic book craze is another story.

So don't tell me your troubles. You still get grade A product while I get stuck with Cop Out (2010).

All the best and sincerely,

Bruce

Yes, Byrne's Luther was very interesting. He was basically the Kingpin but he was also f-ing nuts.

My entire problem with the Dark Knight is that it is a crime epic. Batman is a costumed comic book character. A movie about Batman should be... I don't know a comic book movie! And it should be... I don't know fun! Batman is a fun character or at least he was before people like Frank Miller and Chris Nolan bled the fun out of him. (Memento is still a masterpiece though. Inception too.)

And I would much rather we have Evil Corporate Norman before any Goblin at all. Save Goblin for #3. Just like if you take Luthor straight to the green and purple armor, then...well, first I question your taste in armor...but Luthor as a normal guy fighting Superman I find much more intriguing.

Stunned you didn't like Dark Knight. I would never say you were wrong about your opinion--I reserve that for Jon and Casablanca and everybody is entitled to having whatever opinion they like except for that one--but I will suggest that you may have your genres muddled. Dark Knight to me is NOT a comic book or superhero movie. As I've said: it's a crime epic that happens to have two costumed weirdos in it. But since you said you didn't like it as a film then...not sure how to even approach that one. Other than to just say very sorry you didn't like it.

If we get Creature Goblin I'm boycotting the movie. Norman Osborn is my favorite villain in fiction and he needs to work for me to enjoy a Green Goblin movie.

I'm still trying to see this movie in the same light you did but... I can't. I was very whelmed by it (not overwhelmed or underwhelmed just whelmed). But than again... I hated the Dark Knight and personally see it as both a godawful superhero flick but also a horrible movie. So maybe I just have bad taste.

Bruce: That's basically your Hollywood No. In other words, they hardly ever give you a definitive no because then they can't tease you. Anyway, a Spider-Man/Avengers movie crossover will happen around the time DC gets their act together and actually does a Justice League movie. With the Big Seven. (And recall, this is a company that can't get their act together enough to do a World's Finest movie. And that's just two characters. So.)

Here is the article I was alluding to. Producer Avi Arad said the following about a Spider/Avengers crossover,

“Everything is possible,” Arad said. “If something like that happens, it’s great for Disney, it’s great for Sony. If the right story comes in, we are now working on Venom first. It’s our first out. So our thinking is in the right direction. Avengers to me was an expected success so I never looked at it because Avengers was successful.”

Arad went on to say, “Team ups can happen once you create the character, establish the CG, otherwise it’s not affordable.”

Here's the link. Take it what it's worth...

http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/190183-exclusive-spider-man-producers-tease-venom-storyline-avengers-crossover

Thanks.

He's always been able to zip along on power lines and lightning bolts to travel. It was recently (when Waid wrote that three-parter in the early 600's) that he gained the ability to pass through wires and such... Sorry.

He visited a shape shifting hooker in the Marvel Knights 12 part story and requested she become a man as he had 'discovered' something in jail. Yeah.