It's old news that Katie Holmes was kicked to the curb as the love interest in the next Batman flick, but the newer news is that Isla Fisher is in...whoever that is. Now don't get me wrong, I'm overjoyed that Katie won't be returning; she was about as believable as a district attorney as Keanu Reeves was as a doctor in Something's Gotta Give and she and Bale had as much chemistry as Bill Pullman and Ellen DeGeneres in Mr. Wrong.
But the news got me thinking...why do we need a new love interest in the next Batman movie, anyway? In almost every comic book movie I can think of, every romantic plotline where the love interest ain't also a hero or a villain has easily been the most excruciating part of the flick. And I'm not some seven year old punk who thinks that girls are icky and covers his eyes at the "mushy" parts in movies. Well...except when I'm watching Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone in Casino, but can you blame me? I dig a grown up love story like Garden State, Eternal Sunshine, When Harry Met Sally, yadda yadda.
It all goes back to the first superhero flick I saw as a wee boy, which was Superman. Man, oh man, did I love that movie...except for one part. Li'l Drew was a happy camper until all of a sudden in the middle of the film, Supes was holding hands with Lois Lane whilst flying in the clouds while Maureen McGovern's "Can You Read My Mind" played in the background! It took all the willpower a young lad could muster not to regurgitate his Fruity Pebbles, lemme tell ya.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
I see your point, though I thought the "romance" in the SPidey flicks was well done.
And you are that Drew? I remember going to your site for many scripts back in the day, I need to revisit.
You wouldn't happen to have a WotW script/transcript yet?
2 - andy marsh
All that being said...I did enjoy the movie...I've also checked out some pics of Ms. Fisher...I'm looking forward to the next one!
3 - Bryan McKay
Best Batman ever, but yes, Katie Holmes seriously detracted from the quality of the film. Not so much that I don't like love interests, but Holmes is just not a particularly talented actress. The character had potential to be far more interesting than she was. Instead it felt like she fell into the stereotyped "idealistic young activist" type category that seems to be very common for "strong" female characters in these films. At least she didn't end up in a dangerous situation where Batman had to come and save her...oh, oh right, she did. I expected something a little less cliche from Nolan, but it is a comic book film, and a damn fine one, so really I suppose I can't complain about cliches and one-dimensional characters. He did a wonderful job giving some added depth to the Batman/Bruce Wayne character that was missing from the previous films though. Definitely several rungs above the Schumacher films and even the Burton ones, as far as the characterization goes, at least.
4 - Tan The Man
Katie Holmes is, from what I've read, is still signed for a sequel. The producers probably won't give her any billing. She might have like a cameo or something...
Also, I didn't think she was that bad in the film.
5 - Bryan McKay
Well, I'm not a huge Katie Holmes fan to begin with and I also happen to be a huge fan of the comic book, so seeing her show up in what was otherwise a really amazing comic book adaptation was a little disconcerting for me. Sort of the same reaction I have to seeing big celebrities in the new Star Wars films. For some reason Samuel L. Jackson doesn't jive with the Star Wars universe for me... I guess I didn't have the same reaction to big names in the earlier Batman films (Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito...) because they all did such a good job that they fell perfecltly into character. Did start to go downhill with Jim Carrey though...poor casting decision on the producers part.
6 - Rodney Welch
She's a real beauty and she did a great job. It was an underwritten role, but that's hardly her fault.
7 - LiamGallagher
To be fair, Katie Holmes was perfectly adequate in Batman Begins. All this hate has stemmed from annoying Crazy-Cruise relationship.
8 - Bryan McKay
Actually, I just don't think she's all that great of an actress. I could care less who she dates.
9 - Tan The Man
And I bet, that most people who complained about Holmes in Batman Begins has at least seen The Gift to see Holmes topless.
10 - Bryan McKay
I don't even know what The Gift is...
I thought she was pretty decent in Wonder Boys, but even then she was just merely adequate compared to everyone else in the film.
11 - Rodney Welch
Again, she had a merely adequate role.
12 - Bryan McKay
I think people are way too forgiving of actors/actresses these days - especially the pretty ones. Look back to any classic film, or to any actor working on stage (especially in classical theatre), and you'll see far better acting than you will from any young starlet working in Hollywood now. Katie Holmes doesn't have enough talent or charisma to pull off a really meaty role which may be why she's cast in such underwritten parts.
13 - Tan The Man
Good point. But maybe another reason for these inadequate roles is that she is being miscast. Some producers might pick her because of her namesake, and don't really know if she IS right for the part. She is talented. "Pieces Of April" was a good movie, and she was good in it. One of the main downfalls of movies today is that producers and casting agents MISCAST. It happens in almost every film.
14 - Bryan McKay
You're absolutely correct. I wouldn't be entirely opposed to giving Holmes a chance if she were in a film that was more specifically suited to her talents. I suppose I shouldn't write her off yet completely, either, as she's still relatively young. Producers do miscast horribly these days, though. A pretty face that will green light a film and bring in $$$ is much more important than an actor who really fits the part and can handle the necessary range.
15 - Tan The Man
The best example of that is Kate Hudson. I haven't seen her talents since Almost Famous, although I did like The Four Feathers a lot.
16 - Tan The Man
But mind you... SHE IS HOT, er SUPER CUTE! And I don't blame producers for casting her in crap. She's the one who chooses the money over the scripts.
17 - Joanie
Guess I'm the only one wondering why there even needs to be another movie. Oh well, this is why I'm not a studio exec.
Loved the title of the post, Drew, and your observations never disappoint on the humor scale.
18 - McTavernbuckle
^There needs to be another one because Batman Begins is one of the best movies of the year. Critics adored it and it is gonna gross about 200 million domestic. Cheers.
19 - Cerulean
Katie Holmes is a fine actress. There's a movie that I think is called "Abandon" that she starred in. There's a lot of bad writing in Hollywood right now.
20 - moleboy
Katie Holmes was pointless the romance in the Spiderman movies isn't.
It comes down to the characters.
Batman doesn't, generally, have a romantic interest (ok, he's got this weird thing with catwoman). Its simply not a defining part of him.
However, this has always been an active item with Spiderman. MaryJane, then Gwen Stacy, then Mary Jane (with a few inbetween). Hell, Gwen Stacy's death is as important in Peter Parker's life as Uncle Ben's.
Please note I said 'Peter Parker', not Spiderman.
The Spidey books are as much about Parker as they are about the guy in the costume.
Batman, though, is all about Batman, not Bruce Wayne. Bruce, really, died with his parents.
Expanding this a bit, Superman needs Lois Lane, but Captain America doesn't need a romantic interest.
anyhow, like I said, its all about who the characters are.