Year: 2017
Director: Chris McKay
‘Every film starts with a black screen….then some creepy music…. then a logo…..Warner Bros? Why not Brothers….’ and right from the off you know that the film isn’t afraid to prick the pomposity of the ultra gothic darkness of the Nolan caped crusader flicks. Batman was the insular macho ass of The Lego Movie and here Will Arnett has the tone of Alec Baldwin’s ‘SNL’ Trump impression although am sure its purely coincidental that both are self important deluded billionaires.
The plot, such as there is one, revolves around The Joker’s annoyance that Batman doesn’t consider him as his mortal enemy or even that they have a relationship. The script throws little barbs at weaknesses in previous Batman outings – ‘that thing with the two boats’ and the campy sixties version with a joke about shark repellent which has a lovely pay off. On the way he drools over Commissioner Barbara Gordon to the soundtrack of Cutting Crew’s ‘I Just Died In You Arms’, accidently adopts his sidekick Robin and with the ever faithful Alfred The Butler (drolly voiced by Ralph Fiennes) tries to foil The Joker’s evil scheme.
There are pop culture jokes from across the board, every Batman villain is included – including the rarely mentioned Condiment King plus other parts of the DC universe and English Robots AKA Daleks.
The scenes are packed with one liners as well as visual jokes that no doubt will only be spotted in multiple reviewing that parents will be subjected to. I don’t think they will mind thou cos this film has entertainment on so many levels that it never gets dull. There are no songs as brilliant as the first movie but everything is still awesome
Might appeal to people who enjoyed:
The Lego Movie and laughing
Paul Wad says
Me and the kids are SO looking forward to this, the wife less so. I’m a big Batman fan, trying to ever so slightly sway the boy down the DC path, but Wolverine and the Marvel movie universe are winning him over at present. But as I have a couple of thousand Batman comics/books and about 3 Marvel ones, I should win him back once he’s old enough to start investigating the bookshelves. Me and the kids recently outvoted the missus (although generally her one vote outweighs the three of ours, otherwise the house would look like Forbidden Planet) and currently have a boxframe with 20 lego Batman figures up on the wall in the living room, in my little Batman section of the wall.
Come to think about it, my wife is very understanding. I have framed Hammer Horror movie posters, Beatles and Elvis prints, a large signed England 1966 team photo and a few Batman bits and pieces all up in the living room, having moved my framed James Bond lobby cards to make way for the football picture. One of those big framed Bob Dylan prints will also shortly be joining them all (a gift from he dad). The rest of the house is just as bad, or good, depending on your point of view. Perhaps I really should stop telling her we don’t need a new kitchen. It’s the least she deserves. Crikey, I’ve even got a very large print of the wall at Barnsley FC (it’s a lot better than it sounds) up in the kitchen!
I’ve actually just put some shelves up in the spare bedroom and I’m going to let the kids do some of the lego Batman sets that have been hanging round the house for several years, waiting for Lucas and his mates to reach an age where they won’t wreck them. We got a fab 1966 Batcave that even has the Joker’s moustache showing through the make-up, like it did in the show.
The making of the Lego Batman Movie book arrived today, so we’ve been looking at all the variations of Batman’s costume that presumably pop up in the film. These movies must be so lucrative for Lego. Not only the box office and DVD sales, but the movies themselves are basically 90 minutes of adverts for the Lego Store. Makes me wish I was 6 years old again. All we could build with our Lego was houses. Whereas some of the sets nowadays are quite astonishing, if somewhat overpriced.
Absolutely can’t wait to see the film though.
bricameron says
How did you find the time to find a wife?🎩
Kaisfatdad says
The various Lego games (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc) have always been done with a great deal of humour and flair. I’m looking forward to this movie which sounds like enormous fun.
Dodger Lane says
Side issue….when did Lego start becoming so damn cool and trendy ? When I was a lad, I had Lego largely because it was cheaper than Meccano. Now, there are queues outside Lego stores, films and adults are doing Lego. What’s going on ? Mind you, I do like those Lego architecture sets.
Friar says
Meccano was always for the weird kids / trainspotters (you’d hear them talking spanners and Hornby gauges and how they were going to build a new siding at break time) when I was growing up. We were all Lego-crazy. And quite right too – it’s the perfect toy.
Friar says
(I also had a train set briefly but it was taken off me by the APs as punishment for some infraction or other and I never asked for it back. Just what is the point of a train set? “Oh look. It’s gone round again.”)
Dodger Lane says
Yep, had the same train set. Bloody thing went round and round; daft & pointless.
Bingo Little says
The story of Lego’s turnaround is actually dead interesting. The company was in a pretty bad place only 15 years ago.
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-lego-made-a-huge-turnaround-2014-2?IR=T
Twang says
Sounds brilliant. The boy and I will be going this week as it’s half term. 😳
Vince Black says
I saw this the other day on the Beeb webpage article about how Fifty Shades Darker was receiving a critical panning; I think it’s from the Daily Mirror
“If you want to watch a movie about a billionaire playboy with a penchant for darkness, inflicting violence and dressing up in masks, you’re far better off seeing The Lego Batman Movie.”
bobness says
Yep, it’s on our radar.
I just hope all the good stuff isn’t on the trailers.
It looks funny as hell.
davidks says
I took my son (7yo) on Saturday, we both loved it.
badartdog says
We saw it last week-end and sat in those vibrating seats too.
It’s ace – DFB’s review nails it.