So i was a bit disappointed with Batman. Obviously, a comparison is in order between this and Dark Knight, both being the Joker flicks. So i’m eager to watch Nolan’s version again with Burton’s rendition fresh in my mind. This was far more comic-booky than i remembered. Long shadows and sinister lighting, steam and smoke, air so thick you can cut it with a knife. Trench coats, fedoras, and pinstripes. Nicholson’s Joker is a joke after Ledger’s masterpiece portrayal — more silly Riddler than mastermind of anarchy. But it seems the point was more Dick Tracy than Bourne Identity. The original was trying to be true to the comic book, where the modern version gives a glimpse of what a real-life millionaire-by-day/crime-fighter-by-night might be like in today’s world.

It looked remarkably 80s — very dated. The wardrobe, the lighting, the film stock, the cars. It all looks like a backlot. Everything has a “pale blue moonlight”. This was still the age where the medium left its signature all over the final product, before the look could be created entirely in post. Nowadays films can look or not look like literally anything the director can imagine (think 300) — they don’t actually even have to have been shot on film. But in a way it works, because this Gotham wasn’t ultra-modern, but almost retro — a big metro from the past, now grimy, gray, run down with crime. The reporters write stories on typewriters, and research on microfilm. Photographers snap with manual focus SLRs and look at big white-bordered prints. They call each other on rotary phones and watch tube TVs in wooden boxes. The guns sound like they were sampled from an old western. But remarkably, it was presented in HD, i assume rescanned from film, and looked great for its age.

But man, that iconic theme. Timeless. To this day it’s instantly recognizable as The Batman Soundtrack. The pop songs included are drastically 80s.

So many classic lines, most delivered by the Jack Nicholson. Some truly terribly special effects (note the opening shot of Batman walking in from the rooftop). Interestingly, the plot tends to stand on its own, tying up all loose ends — Batman “creates” Joker, and it’s revealed that Joker “created” Batman. In Nolan’s Gotham, events are more organic, less tidy.

I think we’ve all seen the horrible rewind shot of Robin splashing in Poison Ivy’s pool. Well i spotted another use here, in the shot where the Batmobile stops in front of Batman, but it looks much better.

Now to watch Dark Knight, and maybe Batman Begins, with a critical eye.

Somehow i’ve never seen The Fugitive before.

The thing that stood out most about this film was how many familiar faces were in it. Most under-the-radar of whom is probably Laverne Scott Caldwell who played Rose on Lost.

What is there to say? Harrison Ford is Harrison Ford: smart, resourceful, and in trouble. Tommy Lee Jones is Tommy Lee Jones: an old cop with a country accent that just wants to go home.

I remember from a class at Full Sail the instructor using The Fugitive as an example of protagonist and antagonist vs hero and villain. Protagonist is the character that changes and the antagonist is the character that doesn’t. Harrison Ford was actually the antagonist: in the beginning: “i didn’t kill my wife”, in the end: “i didn’t kill my wife.” Tommy Lee Jones’ marshal character was therefore the protagonist. I have no idea if that’s “correct”, but for some reason that’s one of those little things that i remember.

Interesting that all the dramatic shots i remember from trailers (jumping from the waterfall) were in the first 20 minutes or so. Drawn out fights between hero and villain for the conclusion bore me. But i like being thrust into a mystery with the hero.

I remember i was hatin’ on this after seeing commercials for the theatrical release, but i actually enjoyed it. Plenty of the crazy Sandler film usual suspects, and a interesting enough story. Perfectly entertaining for a lazy Friday night.

The thing that gets me though is how much it was just like girls today. It reminded me of Mean Girls. There truly are no new stories.

There’s a name for you ladies, but it isn’t used in high society—outside of a kennel.