Yesterday’s adventure was going to the movies, I saw The Batman. I almost always go to the same theater, the Magic Johnson on 125th street, I always go to a matinee, and I always go on a Tuesday. Why? It’s the fastest theater to me to get to, half an hour on the D train. They first two shows of the day are 30% off and if you are an AMC Stub member there’s an additional discount on Tuesday. There is also a senior discount. Anything more they’d be paying me to go. I buy the ticket on the app, show it on my phone, and walk right in. I was finally smart and didn’t arrive early. The start time was 2 o’clock and I didn’t get there until five after. They always show so man trailers and ads. Sadly, the one trailer I wanted to see, Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness was the first one and I came in halfway through it. That is not enough to make me get there earlier next show. I was the only one in the theater when the movie started but one person arrived late. He came in with his phone making noise and shining brightly. He sat where I would never sit given a choice, at the extreme side. I can see doing that to make an easy exist in a crowded theater but not when it’s empty. Your view is distorted if you are off center. I sit dead center at the distance where the screen exactly fills my field of vision. If I’m with someone that doesn’t like that I’ll sit where they want but only if they feel strongly about it. I still get mad when I’m with people that just assume that I’ll sit where they want and will make no compromise. I give in because where I sit in a movie is not as important as keeping things smooth with a friend. I don’t want to me that friend, I’d rather let the other person be that friend.
Now on to the movie. I have never liked calling Batman, “The Batman” but I realize that’s stupid on my part. Just because it’s different from what I’m used to doesn’t make it bad. I had a lot of adjustments to make like that in the film, the biggest being that the Riddler was not in either of his classic outfits and he wore a mask. I gave myself the same pep talk to accept that. I less happy with the change they made to the character. The Riddler was always the least crazy member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery. He is a rational thinker. In the film he’s Joker level insane. Still that’s judging the film by fidelity to established cannon and that’s not always fair. The LOTR films were great as cinema but poor as adaptations of Tolkien. I can accept that duality.
I enjoyed the film, but it has a major flaw that turns what could be a virtue into a flaw. The film lacks focus. It feels like the director planned on making two films, maybe even three, and then was told he has to tell the entire story in one movie but that he could make it as long as he wants. The first film in a reboot like this should focus on one villain, this had three of the big four Batman foes, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman. The film went on forever. I don’t want to give spoilers but there were three moments that they could have ended the movie on if the direction was focused.
Some of the action sequences make no sense. You can see zero chance that anyone would come out of that alive. There was a chase scene where 50 people would have been dead if it happened. As we weren’t shown them surviving, I take it they did die. None of the “heroes” cared in the least. But it’s not the moral aspect that bothers me. We are seeing things first person and you see a crash coming, and then they don’t crash. They magically come out the other side of the collision with a jump cut. I found that entire long scene painful.
As for the virtue, it was the consistency of look. There are no brightly lit scenes. The entire film is shot in the shadows. Every daytime scene was in the rain. That could be great for the mood in a 90-minute film. It becomes wearing after 2 hours and 56 minutes. If they hired a ruthless great editor who wasn’t afraid of crossing the director this film could have been much better.
I didn’t buy any snacks as a small popcorn costs almost as much of the film with the discounts. I still have $7.35 left on my gift card. I’ll use that to pay for most of the movie next time I go. That will likely be for Doctor Strange as that’s the kind of film I want to watch on a big screen.
When I got home, I made something I haven’t made in ages, chicken cordon bleu, or is that Gordon bleu? I make it Cajun style. I used a four Mexican cheese mix on it. I make the best chicken; it came out so juicy. Most people overcook it.
I made plans for my Seder this year. My hosts aren’t having their usual big affair but were kind enough to invite me to the smaller family sized Seder. It’s funny, the hosts are my sister’s friends, and she can’t make it, but I’ve known them since I was a kid, so they are family. It’s a return to one of my important annual events. We are also working on getting the Budgiedome to Falcon Ridge. I haven’t talked to Terre yet but I’m expecting we’ll have the Sunset Singing Circles again this year. That will be the next traditional marker of the year, the events that recharge my emotional batteries.
Wise Madness 