"So that my enemy may know my dread..."

Rating: 10/10 (7 July 2005)

Yes. This is yet another positive comment from another impressed moviegoer that joins the wave of excellent reviews this movie is yielding. The world of cinema is now, quite regularly, reaching into the splashed colors of the comic world, pumping it with dramatic breadth, and producing terrific films. "Batman Begins," which is an obvious relaunch of the earlier Burton-works, stands out from the pack.
While suspending disbelief is quite a thrill when watching more-than-human representatives of the human race throw up a fist against injustice, believing that such a story can exist is so much more satisfying. "Batman Begins" reaches a level of plausibility that most heroes are stopped beneath, due to their larger than life superpowers or unbelievable origins. Though there are sequences contained within the film that are, of course, impossibilities in the real world, the movie's build-up and motivations have us "care" for this crusading foot-soldier of the streets.
Let me make one thing clear: Christian BALE WILL OBTAIN THE TITLE OF "SUPERSTAR" AT SOME POINT IN HIS - WHAT PROMISES TO BE - AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.
"Batman" and "Batman Returns" were entertaining films. I am not saying they weren't. After having seen the latest franchise's entry, I see now what the first few chapters failed to accomplish. Tim Burton's Batman was a caricature. Michael Keaton, whose acting I am not insulting in any way, shape, or form, played the Dark Knight as a cardboard cutout of a man that COULD be. Christian Bale instills an amount of realness that establishes the Bruce Wayne/Batman personality as a genuine human being who is searching for a sense of self, while laying waste to the corruption his homeland has become riddled with. In doing so, he extracts that much more sympathy from us.
(( I must say, after watching "The Machinist" the other night, I find it hard to believe I am seeing the same person. For those who are unaware, Mr. Bale shed 60-something pounds of his weight to play the creepy Trevor Reznik, yet another character who is lost in himself. It is a movie I recommend for those who enjoy fairly-straightforward psychological horrors. ))
The scenery: stunning. Christopher Nolan utilizes a palette of dark, brooding colors to colorfully recreate the skyline and the underbelly of the less-fortunate region of Gotham City. The special effects are as to be expected: terrific. The cast: stellar. (( Disregarding the drama involving her and fellow scientologist/beau Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes is fine in her playing of District Attorney Rachel Dawes. ))
David Goyer & Christopher have written a spectacular script, that encapsulates every aspect of Bruce Wayne's passion and his interactions with the many players of Gotham City. The entire cast delivers every line with fervor and emotion. The more noteworthy of all the actors' line exchanges would have to be the Bale-Caine connection which actually makes up a large part of the film's "heart." And, finally, the film's conclusion = a totally kinetic finale, that entails one of the most diabolical plots, in all superhero films, to bring down a city.
Christian Bale, my friends, will be a FORCE.
Learn the name before the rest of the world catches on.
This is THE Batman to believe in.
Hopefully, Wayne Enterprises will expand its conglomerate into equally-compelling sequels brought to us by the wonderfully-dark mind of Christopher Nolan