Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The LEGO Batman Movie

It opens with a black screen, because all important movies start with a black screen.  Batman (Will Arnett) offers such narration through the opening logos before the movie gets rolling.  The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) has assembled virtually every Batman villain - even Condiment Man! - for his latest scheme to take over Gotham.  When Batman arrives on scene, he embarrasses the score or more of villains with humorous ease but the Joker manages to escape.  Celebrated as the hero of the city and the toast of the town, Batman returns to his vast - really vast - Bat Cave and Wayne Mansion where he is alone.  So very alone.
 
Though bursting at the seams with action, the movie has no shortage of plot and character development.  The central hate affair between Batman and Joker is just awesome.  After 78 years of conflict, Batman has still not said, "I hate you."  Worse, he won't admit that Joker is his greatest enemy.  It is a weird idea but is brilliantly done.  But there is more!  Bruce Wayne unintentionally adopted an orphan, none other than Dick Grayson/Robin (Michael Cera).  Robin suffers hero worship throughout the movie even when Batman is clearly treating him badly.  This father-son dynamic also shows with Batman and Alfred (Ralph Fiennes).  But there is more still!  The solitary Batman is infatuated with Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson), who is a graduate of Harvard for Police.  She plans to fight crime with a powerpoint presentation of four spreadsheets.  There are constant references to the vast history of Batman, including a clip from the Adam West era!
 
LEGO Batman is much better than Batfleck.  Definitely see this movie.  Lots of fun!
 

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