(Also, I keep misreading Batman as Bateman. I blame Christian Bale.)

Oh good, it's not just me.

I have nothing to really add to the discussion, because Teppy and ita have been saying everything I would want to say.

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If it means Blue Mountain coffee every morning, hell yes I will!

For you, I will do this.

My mom will be SO pleased that I've landed a spouse, much less one with a good job AND one who can protect me from all harm.

Marvy.

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But, given the post-parole scene, and the couple of [spoiler omitted], it makes sense that she would

Also, if their ages are to make any sense, she apparently graduated law school around age 15. So she's smart enough to make that leap.

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I like the idea of the criminals not being sure if batman is a man or a creature, at least at first. Speaking to a criminal, not the best way to maintain that mystique. I don't necessarily think this movie wanted to maintain that idea, but it still seems that silent action would be both safer and equally as scary - a better tactical judgment, if nothing else.

I have to agree, but in the end, you really have to chalk that up to it being a movie. You need more face-to-face-like interaction for these scenes to work in a film. If there were a real Batman in the real world, your route would be the preferred one, but concessions have to be made for film structure.

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But he's not doing it to be all theatrical and faaaaabulous; he's doing it because he knows a little theatricality will leave an impression.

Oh, you know what I realized? I can't divorce the one from the other. In real life, I don't believe that you can use tools of manipulation without getting a charge out of being able to manipulate. There is no "I do this because I must" without ego; ego inheres automatically to that sentence.

This may be what is causing the confusion.

Edited to prove I kan spel.

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It is possible, but only if you actually hate the theatrics, in which case they become a necessary evil, though even here you could make a case that eventually you'd start to enjoy them despite yourself. So really, I'm not adding a lot to the discussion with this post. Away!

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In real life, I don't believe that you can use tools of manipulation without getting a charge out of being able to manipulate.

Really? When I taught, I did it all the time. Sometimes, as a matter of fact, I was annoyed I had to manipulate, but it was necessary to break up a bad dynamic or goose a kid into particpating or whatever.

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I have to agree, but in the end, you really have to chalk that up to it being a movie. You need more face-to-face-like interaction for these scenes to work in a film.

I agree. Totally. Like I said, scene cool.

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Bruce wanted a symbol that would be incorruptable and immortal. That's what he created, something that lurks in shadows, seems to be every where at once, and can take on all of them at once and still beat them down.

He wants to stop them and instill fear in them, and I think he did a fantastic job of that (relevent but spoilery) when he's got Flask, or what's his name and Batman's treating him like a yo yo. He's being thrown around by some scary creature and when Batman growls "Swear to me!" is so perfect. Whether they live or die depends on Batman. Not their crime boss, not god. Batman. He can snatch them up, drop them down, beat the ever loving shit out of them, and they only walk away because HE decides.

Batman appears from nowhere, can disappear, he can fly, they can shoot him and he keeps coming, etc. Wouldn't you fear that?

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askye: hot damn, that scene was cool.

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