A Fresh Start and the Best Ever

Rating: 9/10 (27 September 2005)

The creative powerhouse team of Director Christopher Nolan and Screenwriter David S. Goyer bears some wonderful fruit with their achievement on the franchise restart, Batman Begins. We have been given back one of our seminal icons of American culture, pulled from the miry pit of self-parody and chiseled into a rock-solid story that lets us see the transformation of Bruce Wayne into his true identity.
The movie doesn't waste time getting started. After a short and well-crafted title sequence that does away with Burton's drawn-out opening credits, the story brings in early the people and places familiar to the Batman mythos with Nolan's instinctive sense of foreshadowing. Everything that is intriguingly set up gets wonderfully paid off, always contributing to the furthering of the story with zero fluff.
The filmmakers pull back the curtains of Bruce's past, the defining moments of his life and the hardcore acquisition of his skills with a seamless and naturalized transition into the Dark Knight, making it seem as though it were truly possible for such an endeavor.
The role is perfectly filled with Bale in the lead, going no further than he needs to put the scene over. He is supported by an expertly cast Michael Caine as the loyal Alfred Pennyworth, who proves to be an invaluable conscience to Bruce in his "formative" years. No better actor could have filled a supporting role as Gary Oldman does as Sgt. Jim Gordon looking, acting, and sounding like we'd expect Jim Gordon to in the comics. The villains have to be seen to be believed.
The musical score is superb, never imposing on the film by blending completely into the atmosphere of the film and taking. Costume design is also top-notch.
From start to finish, it is a pleasure to finally see and hear Batman's story told in full, and I look forward to seeing the next installment. 9/10.