Batman Begins

Today was a half day. Work until midday then get the hell out of there to do whatever I please. And you know what that means.
I took myself along to the nearest movie palace and saw Batman Begins.
In the early '90s I bought a LOT of comics. Back then I went to the comic shop every week, but when I got REALLY obsessive I went almost every day. Anyway, among other titles I bought a lot of Batman comics. One of the most memorable stories of that era was an enormous story arc that went right across all the Batman titles and even other DC titles. There was a massive dude who looked like a Mexican wrestler, and he had a gadget strapped to his arm that contained a drug. Tubes led into his arm from that gadget so that when he pushed a button, the drug pumped into his veins and he would go NUTS. It was like some kind of mutant steroidal amphetamine, and it turned him into a SUPERPOWERFUL KILLING MACHINE. This maniac's name is BANE. The Joker *created* bane and went on to let all the Supervillains out of Arkham Asylum. He did this with a particular goal in mind which you will soon see.
All these psychotic Supervillains are now running around Gotham City and somebody has gotta get them and put them back. You think the cops can do it? No way. They don't have a hope in hell. Of course the only one who can do it is Batman. So Batman goes after these supervillains one by one and puts them back into Arkham Asylum. But it starts to take its toll on the poor guy. These guys are not your average villains who run along the street and steal an old lady's handbag. No, these guys are SUPERvillians. And Batman is only human after all, he's not Superman. (And why didn't Superman lend a hand anyway? They're both in the DC universe, right?)
Anyway, Batman finally defeats the last Supervillain and puts him back into Arkham Asylum, but Batman is worn out. He's bleeding. Got some broken ribs for sure. He's tired. Hasn't slept in days. He's a wreck, but at least he's got all those damn Supervillains back in Arkham Asylum, right?
Ho ho. Right at that moment Bane busts into the room, presses the button on his arm gadget, sending a massive dose of those PSYCHOCHEMICALS surging through his bloodstream, lets out a mighty bellow, and tosses Batman from one end of the room to the other. Batman has nothing left. He's a rag doll. Now for the final, climactic indignity: Bane lifts Batman high over his head, pauses for a heart-stopping split-second, then brings him down with full force, breaking Batman's back on his knee.
.......................
Oh yeah. The review of the movie! Oh man, now it's late.
OK. I had very high hopes going into this movie. I was pretty sure it would be excellent and it was. It did not disappoint. Christian Bale is an excellent Batman (as good as Michael Keaton in the only other Batman movie as good as this one, the first one with Jack Nicholson as The Joker), the story is played for real, no goofy spoof or tongue-in-cheek bullshit. Everything seems to be possible in terms of science/technology. Although I'm not sure about the microwave device affecting the city's water system like that. But I'll let that one go. The Batmobile you will DROOL over, and go AH! and OOH! Micheal Caine is wonderful as Alfred. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon? Huh. That guy from 28 Days Later was pretty good as The Scarecrow.
Who cares. Liam Neeson was also in it and he is always brilliant.
The theatre was packed even though it was a 1:00pm session on a weekday. Pretty strange. All these Batman fans having half days. Haw!
One amusing thing happened in there: To my left two seats over was a young mother and her very young son, he was about five. He kept talking loud during the movie, it was pretty annoying at times, but I thought well he's just a little kid and he doesn't know any better. But why did the mother bring him in? Isn't that retarded? Well, maybe she had no other place to take him. I made up some excuses for them. Maybe I am getting less cranky somehow. Could it be? But anyway, three quarters through the movie they got up and started to leave. They got almost to the bottom of the steps near the exit door and I noticed she had left her umbrella or whatever the hell it was on the seat next to me, so me in my socks (yes I always take my shoes off in the cinema, no my feet do not smell bad) grabbed that thing, got up and ran all the way down, almost slipping at one point going down breaking my damn neck, but I made it to them before they got out the door and I says Here you forgot this! The woman turns around and giggles and says, Oh no, only going to the toilet! I feel a little silly and make my way back up in front of everyone back into my seat and continue watching the movie. The woman comes back with her kid and sits down, says thanks. Aw hell, I say, that's OK.
Superhero.