I can understand the philosophical basis for what you're saying, ita. It still pissed me off -- I think I just don't like the "stiff upper lip, be a man, here are some Inspiring Words" school of childrearing.

Seriously, I feel like I watched a completely different "Batman Begins" than everyone else in the world. I'm not sure whether that's good or bad.

But I don't like the "stiff upper lip, be a man, here are some Inspiring Words" school of childrearing anyhow.

I saw that bit as completely comforting, it's over now and everything will be all right parenting.

I think it works for some kids, and Bruce was definitely one of those kids, so I'm not bothered. Very in character.

It would have distracted me from my terror, but mostly as I wondered what the hell was wrong with my parents.

I loved that line. It made me tear up every time someone said it.

I can understand the philosophical basis for what you're saying, ita. But it still pissed me off. But I don't like the "stiff upper lip, be a man, here are some Inspiring Words" school of childrearing anyhow.

I saw it more as "Things will suck and you'll be in a lot of pain, but it will get better, and don't think of this as pointless pain, but pain that makes you stronger and happier," but I could just be projecting Bruce/Batman's notions about saving Gotham onto his father's words. Of course, I think Bruce was doing the same thing, so at least we're on the same page.

Fair enough, and I'm willing to accept that the line might have worked on Bruce. So ... am I allowed to just think Inspiring Words are really fucking cheesy?

It would have distracted me from my terror, but mostly as I wondered what the hell was wrong with my parents.

Hee. I would have started ranting at whoever said it, I think. "MY BACK hurts and my LEG hurts and I'm HUNGRY and there were a zillion BATS and MY DAD IS TRYING TO USE THIS AS A TEACHABLE MOMENT."

And yes, I would have said this in asscaps.

Believe me, deep in your bones lives a need you never knew existed: You must cuddle with a baby penguin. At once.

I can't wait to see the Peng'ns. And this will certainly be the reaction of everyone in the audience...except this former penguin wrangler. After taking care of the penguins at Seaworld, I can say that one of the primary benefits of the movie (besides the killer cutitude) is that it wasn't created in smell-o-rama. Bless their poopy little butts.

Still, can't wait to see 'em.

Believe me, deep in your bones lives a need you never knew existed: You must cuddle with a baby penguin. At once.

Please. With clips like this at my fingertips? I am well aware of my need for baby penguins in my life.

So ... am I allowed to just think Inspiring Words are really fucking cheesy?

Totally.

Sigh. I want to see the movie again. I think it's one of the ones where I'll get more out of each viewing, like an especially good episode of Angel or something, because now I'm smiling at the notion of Bruce as a naive cynic. Or just an optimistic one. For all that he's deeply, deeply wounded and cautious, there's still a childlike faith in essential goodness there. He wants to believe. Which is why a cheeseball line from a parent totally works on him and with him. He has hope, but it's all external, not internal.

It's probably a good sign for the movie that I'm having a hard time separating Movie!Bruce from Comics!Bruce, because the train of thought above was about to go into "and that's why Event X in Book Y has him so fucked up." before I realized that they're unmixy things.

Have I mentioned that that's my Bruce?

I'm (hoping) to see the movie on IMAX this weekend. I can't wait to see the scenes where you get people's fear-toxin hallucinations and also, that scene where the bats are flying down the stairwell and then Bats swoops down after them.