It started off as a comic book, went on to be a wacky TV programe, loved by children of a certain generation, starring Adam West and it is now a lucrative series of films, but has the original idea evolved out all recognition, has the legacy of Batman been hi-jacked? I went to the present film offering, only out of curiosity to see the final performance by the late Heath Ledger, whose performance has been much lauded. In truth the actor reigns over this film and anything else is on the periphery.

Christian Bale is a fine actor, but as Batman, his qualities don’t seem to permeate, maybe it is being stuck under a rubber suit? Batman’s gruff voice, just got on my nerves. Even the Batmobile has lost it’s shape. Batman even showed off his cuts and injuries, in previous incarnations of Batman, however hard he was hit, he was impervious to pain.

The joker, the villain of the film simply gets all the best lines, leaving Batman a bit part player. For me this is director Christopher Nolan’s vision and I prefer a more Tim Burtonesque approach, a more Gothic dark Gotham city and more quirkiness and charm. If you strip the film of various shots of Batman in his suit and various scenes of him swooping through the air, the film could easily metamorphose into another film, about a DA taking on the city's criminals.

The film really slips out of the reigns of a fantasy comic book story, into realism, it’s too bright and shiny with graphic violence and connections with the real world. Batman leaves Gotham and in one part of the film goes to Hong Kong, the joker is described as a “terrorist”. I was not happy with Christopher Nolan’s rendering of this film and for me the film was only illuminated by Heath Ledger, of course the special effects people did a grand job. His make up was rugged, his looked as if it had not been washed for years, when he popped up in the film, there was something to behold.

Francis H. Powell is originally from England and moved to Paris in 1999. In addition to being a writer (articles, songs and poems), he is a painter, DJ and English trainer. For more information, please click here to read his complete bio.

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