Get lost in it.

Rating: 9/10 (3 July 2005)

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
This is the best 2005 release I've seen and certainly akin to the classic superhero movies. I went to see this because of what a quality Piece of cinema I had heard it was and the movie did not disappoint. It was absolutely outstanding.
This is certainly the best Batman picture I've seen. This is not so much as a comic book story turned into a movie as it is a powerful, dark and haunting character study of the angst and pain one mortal suffered and how these feelings and events guided him toward his ultimate fate as Batman. The film itself is not only good but Oscar worthy and (though I know movies such as this are not usually nominated), I hope at least some of the performances will be remembered particularly Bale who is completely outstanding.
One of the interesting things about film is the fact that it is as much for adults as teenagers. In fact maybe more so. I remember the types of movies I liked as a teen well, and I am not absolutely sure I'd have liked this. Batman begins is such a serious and mournful movie that I could see many a kid having a tough time with it, in fact I could see many a PERSON-of any age-having some difficulty, this isn't sweetness and light at all, and it's material is sometimes very disturbing and dark. It is more dialog driven then action oriented and the power of the movie, from the beginning was so forceful I forgot to eat the movie popcorn. It is absolutely riveting.
Baylor's performance is flawless, he IS Batman. Baylor inhabits the role so absolutely and his performance is so captivating that you forget he's an actor. A perfect casting choice.
All performers were great including the wonderful supporting cast, especially Oldman, of whom I'm a major fan. The only one who was not believable to me, was Katie Holmes and that is not because she isn't talented, it is just that she looked to young to be an assistant DA and she also didn't look very surprised when she found out Batman and Bruce Wayne were the same Person. and the two had no chemistry whatsoever. Their relationship didn't quite ring true.
The photography is fantastic as well. I loved this film's interpretation of Gotham and the action scenes were luminescent and really beautiful. Also worth mentioning is the scene when Bruce Wayne is ready to face his fear of the bats and goes into the bat cave and the bats submerge him. The overall look of the movie was dark, gritty, and (here's that word again-haunting.) I enjoyed the look of the movie as much as the movie itself.
Batman Begins reminded me of several other pictures including Raidors of the lost Arc and the Kill Bill movies. But it is very much it's own picture. This is not a movie I would be shocked to find somebody didn't like, it is very dark indeed, and way more disturbing and bleak then some of the other batman movies but I myself thought it was, in it's way, a masterpiece and certainly is Worthy of admiration as well as containing some Oscar Worthy performances. My vote is 9.5 of 10.