Didn't blow me away, didn't really disappoint me either

Rating: Null/10 (9 July 2005)

Contains very small-spoilers. No plot-twist spoilers.
First off, the plot. The plot was an interesting and engaging story, complete with plot-twists. The anti-heroes from the League of Shadows were the most interesting of the bunch, complete with engaging scenes, fight scenes and indications to how Bruce Wayne became Batman. It showed a decision that would change Bruce Wayne's life forever - and return to haunt him.
The other 'villains' of the plot were well played and fun to see. The first scene with Falcone made us hate him, and like him. A true, charismatic mob boss, in a corrupt and dark city, ruling with an iron fist. His defeat is pleasant, complete with an ''Who/What are you?'' ''I'm Batman.'' line. Brilliant. Batman strikes quickly, the thugs wondering ''Where are you?!'' as the Dark Knight moves swiftly and strikes as fast a bat. No problems there.
We are introduced to a new character (amazing how this movie can coop with multiple villains). Corrupt, evil and brilliantly played with great, blue eyes. Once he wears his sack and poisons his victims, you get to see fabulous CGI work and the dark side of the character which is engaging and scary. Well done.
The only flaw I can think of in the plot and villain department is it's lack thereof. Considering the previous Batman movies, you would expect more focus on the villains, but I also considered the fact there are multiple villains in the movie, so I can say it's well done. I only wished there was more screen time for them, but that may have turned the focus on the villains, rather than the character development of Bruce Wayne A.K.A. The Batman.
Speaking of Batman, this is also brilliantly done, as we see how the Bat became the Bat, complete with interesting and original bits that made by go 'oh, ah'. The ironic part of it all is almost funny, yet seriously portrayed, which is fabulous. The rest is done greatly, however I would've liked more focus on his training, with comic-relief mixed in (much like Spider-Man 1), but I wasn't left with disappointing feelings about this in the end. His voice as the Batman made me go ''hmmm'' at first, but I liked it, it gave a sense of a dark and serious Batman whom thugs and villains could really fear.
Character interaction flaw: the romance between Katie Holmes character and Batman. It felt rushed, not fleshed out. Batman's and Bruce Wayne's interaction with her was filled with great dialog, yet not much. In the end, the romantic-sub plot was poorly done, as if it was thrown in at the last minute, trying to make the best out of it.
The comic-relief. Every comic book requires a bit of comic-relief in a little while, which the Spider-Man movies greatly portrayed. They were funny, obvious, yet not shoved in your face. In Batman Begins, it is there, but it didn't go further than a little inner chuckle that lasted for a second or 2. I believe a comic book adaption shouldn't fear going wrong in the comic-relief department, none of this will happen probably, and GOTHAM DOESN'T EXIST. Yes, I'm talking about the realism here, no need to shove it in our faces in the next establishment (not that it really did that in this movie, toning down would've been appropriate, though), alright? On to the biggest flaw of the entire movie: the action.
Hand-To-Hand-combat is Batman's biggest strength. No hero is as skilled and well-trained as him. In Burton's establishment, it was rough and Terminator like, but did the job. In this movie, it felt like a roller-coaster crashing and exploding. No fun at all. I barely could see what was going on. I heard the bad comments about the action. I tried to enjoy it, I tried to see what was going on but I couldn't. The fast, shaky camera work, the ''three-cuts'' per second thing, the fast-forward feeling... I didn't understand the point. Major fans of the movie told me the point: ''Batman is fast, confusing and powerful in his hand-to-hand-combat and the camera work was to show that.'' Alright. I understand. But can we enjoy it, or at least feel the impact of it, too? Let's say Saving Private Ryan. One of it's points was to show the horrors of war. The first opening sequence on the beach brilliantly, and horrifically portrayed that. What an impact. I didn't get the point of the fight scenes in this one. Heck, I would've preferred someone saying how Batman fights in the movie, rather than showing it. The ''flying'' and ''sneaky Batman'' was done greatly, dark and stylishly bat like, but if you are going to show fight scenes, let us enjoy it. I couldn't, and I believe many others couldn't either. You can have the same impact and point with different, rough but enjoyable camera angles. Violently portrayed, easily to make something out of it, all this would have been perfect for me. What is done is done I suppose, but next time, I hope the director will choose a different direction in the action, otherwise I will leave the theaters in the end again with the same feeling, wondering what the heck was going on in the fight scenes and why I couldn't enjoy them.
The rest of the action was good. A fair pack of explosions was needed (thus showed, which was nice), some bits were exciting, cool and bat like (Batman's 'flying', or should I say, hovering was really cool). The scenes with the 'Batmobile' were enjoyable, could have been better but were enjoyable none the less, bringing a smile and grin on my face. Way to go there. If only the hand-to-hand-combat was like that...
Lacking the magic and engaging feeling of Spider-Man. Well done plot and character development. Great, but flawed movie with more potential. Batman has Begun.