The Dark Knight Returns

Rating: 10/10 (18 June 2005)

Not since Tim Burton's Batman have audiences seen this brooding dark comic figure hit the screen. Directed by Christopher Nolan (Insomnia, Memento), this new adaptation of Batman's mysterious beginnings delivers in full!
Best Batman movie ever, possibly. Best movie this year so far? Definitely.
Christian Bale is now my second favorite dark knight, and could easily be the "young" Michael Keaton. The story is not just action packed with Ninjas and incredible fight scenes, but it is rich and entertaining. As a bonus for Batman fans, the story's themes were very true and honoring to the comic series.
Plus when you have a supporting cast of Michael Cane, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Rutger Hauer(oh yea, and Katie Holmes) how can it miss?
This movie's arch nemeses was the Psychotic Scarecrow played by Cillian Murphy. (Cold Mountain, Girl with a Pearl Earring) Aside from the on screen violence, Mr. Murphy's scary performance might be too much for younger frightened viewers.
The themes of Batman Begins shifted from "Finding your path" to "Fear" until ultimately landing on "It's what I do, that defines me." Trying to land a trade-mark catchphrase like,oh, I don't know.With Great Power comes Great Responsibility? (COUGH! Spiderman!)
Bruce Wayne struggles with an identity crisis (No, duh) and is torn between the man who he was born as, and the man he was destined to become. Not really likening the "rich playboy" persona the world expects of him, and grappling with his own fears of his parent's death, Bruce decides to adopt a persona that allows him to be true to his feelings and fears and dawns a black cape and cowl to change Gotham City for the better; one punch at a time.