Couldn't have been better!

Rating: 10/10 (21 June 2005)

I remember loving the original Batman with Michael Keaton back in the late 80's and it's still a very good movie, but that series truly went downhill under Schoemacher's direction, but this was such a pleasant surprise. I remember seeing the previews for this months ago and thinking well that looks a bit different, but I was really in for a surprise.
Instead of the puns, jokes, and ridiculously ludicrous dialogue/jokes between main characters during combat in the previous Batman franchise (the latter two movies especially), this movie was serious. Oh sure there's a comedic comment here and there, but when things were serious, they were serious, and that's the way it should be in any movie if you want the movie taken seriously and want people to watch it again and again. I've already been to see it twice.
Batman is much darker in this version. It follows the DC Comics, and is so much more believable. Everything is well explained in terms of the storyline and why Bruce Wayne does what, and how.
The acting is also superb on all counts. I felt Scarecrow could've been a little more realistic, but overall EXTREMELY well done and the actor did such a good job being creepy and strange like Dr. Crane should be.
So that's my two cents. I really hope a sequel is made, and I really hope they do not deviate from the type of stage they've set here with the darkness and seriousness. Christian Bale did such an awesome job! Congratulations to those of you who produced this movie if you get the opportunity to read this!