After the premiere ended, Dante Cortez and the newly acquainted Noel chatted about their thoughts on the film.
"I think the best part of the movie is actually the first half, the process of Bruce Wayne going from confusion to rediscovering himself and regaining his faith.
A hero isn't a hero from the start; there has to be a period of growth."
"Exactly," Noel agreed. "A hero is necessary; they are needed. For a superhero like Bruce Wayne, his mental and spiritual qualities far surpass his actual abilities."
The two grew more engrossed in their conversation and later found a bar to continue discussing the film.
Noel said, "Christian Bale used to work in B-movies and indie films. He starred in Empire of the Sun, Spielberg's work, when he was only thirteen.
I have to say, in terms of casting, Director Gilbert really has a good eye."
"Yes, Christian Bale has a certain light-and-dark aura, perfectly suited for Bruce Wayne, a character with such a complex inner world."
Dante Cortez brought up another point: "I heard Marvel Studios is preparing their first film, telling the story of Iron Man. How do you think Gilbert would approach that project?"
"I don't know," Noel shook his head. "But Marvel and DC have different tones. Iron Man probably won't carry the same weight of suffering and responsibility as Batman does."
These two were the type of fans who had their own thoughtful perspectives, able to see deeper meanings in the film. But many fans were just there for excitement—while the first half might feel slightly slow, the second half had audiences cheering with delight.
Especially the stunning IMAX experience—it conquered all viewers.
"I strongly recommend watching the IMAX version of Batman Begins; it's truly amazing."
"An unparalleled viewing experience. Batman Begins in IMAX looks absolutely spectacular."
"Director Gilbert broke away from the rhythm of past superhero films, and even most Hollywood films in general.
Using powerful visuals, score, script, dialogue design, and action sequences, he immerses us in a real Gotham."
"I'll just say one thing—live-action shots look much better than CGI. Realism and immersion are exactly what superhero films need most."
"The Gilbert version of Batman focuses on how Bruce Wayne becomes Batman and his development as a rookie, including his training and equipment creation.
Without a doubt, this is something previous Batman films never gave us; here, we see it all.
I heard this is the start of a completely new trilogy series. I think the first film is very good, and I hope the rest will improve like The Return of the King."
Of course, some people like a film and some don't—it's normal. Gilbert devoted much of the film to Bruce Wayne's growth, with plenty of dialogue and inner monologue, almost like an indie film.
For audiences who prefer straightforward action or spectacle, the first half might feel a bit dull.
The most criticized part was the use of flashbacks and non-linear storytelling, which made understanding the plot more difficult.
A typical example is a scene where Bruce Wayne's parents are shot, followed immediately by a conversation with Henry Ducard, during which Bruce's father appears again in a memory.
Crucially, this shot lasts only about ten seconds.
If viewers drifted slightly due to the slower first half, they could easily miss this detail, which naturally made understanding the plot harder.
So negative reviews from some audiences are understandable.
Even though opinions about the pacing and narrative style vary, there's no doubt that everyone enjoyed the second half's action sequences.
The most popular shot was probably the ferocious Batmobile rampaging through the streets!
This version of Batman excels in action design, far surpassing Nolan's. The final battle scene was spectacular, leaving fans wanting more.
Some critics had different opinions. They felt the first half was excellent, but the second half was somewhat redundant or overdone.
One critic suggested that Gilbert should have delved deeper into Bruce Wayne's inner world, showing his pain and struggle more vividly.
As it stands, this film is too commercialized, making it a failure as a Batman movie, according to that critic.
But those comments are just opinions. Today's film market, along with the rise of the internet, has meant critics no longer hold the influence they did in the 1980s or 1990s.
Nowadays, critics can only really make an impact during awards season.
Top critics, like Roger Ebert, had already secured their own paths, becoming major internet personalities in the digital age.
Kenneth Turan was similar. Both seemed to have cracked the code of the internet era, gradually shifting their focus online.
But in reality, the internet was still not at its most developed stage. Once smartphones became fully commercialized and mobile internet matured, the influencer economy would likely take off.
Gilbert never cared about the opinions of those critics, and after winning the Oscar for Best Director, he cared even less.
For Gilbert, pleasing the audience was the top priority. The films the audience enjoyed were the ones he wanted to make.
Beforehand, Gilbert had advised Warner not to invite so many critics, especially with PR expenses—it was a waste of money.
However, Warner, having been burned by previous Batman film failures, felt it was risky and still invited some critics, who predictably ended up criticizing the film.
There was no need to worry, though. If one's work is strong, influential voices will defend it. Even Roger Ebert, the most influential critic in the U.S., sided with Gilbert.
"The film provides a complete and satisfying account of why Bruce Wayne became Batman, from self-doubt through rigorous training to reclaiming justice.
The character's inner emotions are authentic and rich. An excellent series opener, and among all the Batman films so far, this Batman is the most captivating."
Roger Ebert posted a review on his social media account, immediately receiving massive support from loyal fans.
Since the premiere was in Chicago, he didn't need to travel around. The next day, he recorded a review show. On the program, he criticized those "prestige-chasing" critics, saying they didn't understand movies at all.
"For the superhero genre, I can't find a better film than Batman Begins. If this kind of movie doesn't count as excellent, then what does?"
Ebert continued earnestly: "I advise you all to first understand the concepts of filmmaking and art.
Gilbert's films are very well-made. Why give a bad review? Huh? No shame at all."
It's uncertain whether General Fan would find these words familiar. Other critics giving negative reviews, unlike Kenneth Turan, didn't have the same thick skin and were publicly rebuked by Ebert.
After the premiere, Gilbert and the key crew returned to Los Angeles and held a meeting with Warner's marketing department.
The film was set for a nationwide release next Friday, but Gilbert had to travel to Istanbul, so the promotional tour would be handled by the other key crew members.
.....
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