Two-Faced Feelings

Rating: 2/10 (15 June 2005)

I just got back from Batman Begins. I'm very confused.
Not from the story, characters, ending, or anything technical. I am confused by my own emotions. I feel like a symbolic Two-Face.
On one side, I want to give this thing 10 out of 10. It was awesome.
But on the other side, I would wipe myself with it. Allow me to get down to business.
GOOD: 1: The cinematography is AWESOME 2: Good CGI, can barely tell (if at all) 3: Dark. Very good, with the exception of Adam West, campy Batmans don't do it 4: Very deep, serious.
5: Provides background as to why Batman can kick so much ass.
6: Scarecrow done MUCH better than I expected.
7: They made Batman SCARY and INTIMIDATING, which has always fallen short.
8: Christian Bale did a great job at the intimidation with Batman.
BONUS: Alfred grabbed a golf club when he ran into the house to help. I found that hilarious and awesome.
BONUS 2: The very end. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I won't say anymore.
BAD: 1: The fight scenes SUCK. They all cut way too fast, and too much to know what's going on.
2: Hypocrisy. Bruce Wayne doesn't want to kill a murderer...but has nothing against killing about 50 guys two seconds later who fight injustice.
3: While it was darker, it still wasn't a "Dark Knight". They should have made Batman a killer, much like he was when he first came around (in the first appearance of Batman he threw a baddie into a vat of toxic waste) 4: The new Batmobile is completely stupid. It's kinda cool...but logically WAY too much for any man (even a bat man) to need. The pivotal Batmobile is from Tim Burton's BATMAN.
5: Still no explanation how the Wayne family is friggin' rich. A business, yeah...but still no reasoning why they're so rich.
6: Scarecrow was HEAVILY under-developed. Barely in the movie enough. Not to mention Scarecrow's "defeat" at the end of the movie is the funniest thing I've ever seen in a Batman movie.
7: I didn't feel any connection between Bruce and Rachel. They were childhood friends...and that's where the connection stops for me. Did I mention the fight scenes were bad? 8: When I first heard Christian's voice as Batman, I laughed. Not a good sign. He seemed to be trying too hard to try to become a different person when in the suit. He also did not look like a Bruce Wayne to me. I know there's much more than looking the part (George Clooney comes to mind), but it's a factor. He seemed too emotionless, detached. Christian is a good actor and I saw it...but it seems he fell short. Michael Keaton still holds the reigned for the most intense and perfect Bruce Wayne AND Batman.
BONUS: The ending seemed a bit pushy (even if I did orgasm at it). But it was confusing for my friend. He was questioning if it was to show that it was a prequel to the Batman '89 movie. I explained that they were starting over. But still, I can see how people could be confused. Personally I'd leave the first two Batman movies in the timeline and redo Forever and Batman and Robin.
Even looking back, I don't' know what to say. One thing, it's an awesome and excellent movie. Another, it's mediocre at best.
I'll give it 6 out of 10. You might love it...you might not.