On Writing, Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale

Let's start with Christopher Nolan, shall we?

But before I do that, I want to remind you to check out my other, new, blog at http://gruntandsweat.blogspot.com

Anyway, Christopher Nolan is the co-writer and director of both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. These are two of the greatest superhero movies of all time. Sure, Spiderman 2 has a place of honor as the movie that finally really got down to what being a hero really meant, but then number 3 sort of lessened #2's impact.

But these two Batman movies by Nolan are beyond impressive. They deal with the grittiest of superhero themes: the fact that a hero often becomes or is an outcast, the vigilante nature of superheroes, the line that superheroes cannot cross unless they want to become what they are fighting against... all of this is dealt with, particularly in The Dark Knight. This movie pulls zero punches, allowing the Joker (Heath Ledger) to inject chaos, remarkable social experiments, and maniacally clever evildoings into what may be the best movie villain ever.

Ever.

So I applaud Christopher Nolan, his co-writers and his producers who have made a new kind of superhero movie. I think this is the beginning of a new direction. After The Dark Knight I have hope that if they really do a fourth Spiderman, they will get deeper into Spidey's psyche. There's a lot to him that the movies don't get into.

If you have yet to see The Dark Knight, go see it. Now. But before you take off running, remember that you need to listen very closely to the dialogue of the final five minutes. These lines answer the main problem of Batman and most superheroes better than any other movie has ever done.

Christian Bale deserves some acclaim as well, truth be told. He has had a remarkable career arc, with his start coming in Empire of the Sun, and his ensuing movies including Newsies, The Machinist, Hard Times, Swing Kids, Rescue Dawn, The Prestige, Reign of Fire, Equilibrium, Little Women, 3:10 to Yuma and quite a few more. These are all great movies, with the notable exception of Reign of Fire, which was about thirty to forty-five minutes short of being a great movie. Seriously, that movie ended too abruptly.

Anyway, he is a marvelous talent. But now Christian Bale's been arrested in England for abuse of his mother and sister. That bothers me. I hope he hasn't let the adulation go to his head.

By the way, I saw a teaser for the new Terminator. I am excited. Christian Bale's in that too... interestingly enough.

As for writing, I would like to get 1000 new words done in The Cabin today. First, however, I need to rework the first three chapters into 2. Anyone reading this, feel free to e-mail or comment and hold me accountable.

Be back later.

carpe somnium