At long last, Justice is served for a Batman film

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2006)

There is a part of me that is at odds with most movie goers. My opinion of the Batman films starting from 1989 is not just that the last two were bad, but that they were all bad. Burton and Shumacher's vision of Batman and my vision are just too different, I suppose, and while I appreciate a number of Burton's films, I was rather convinced the Batman franchise would simply never amount to true greatness (Nicholson's usual stellar performance notwithstanding).
Sometimes, being wrong is the most wonderful thing in the world.
The journey of Bruce Wayne is a great way to introduce one of the most recognizable comic icons of the last century. The contrast between this and introducing him as a fully suited Batman is a stark one, and is reminiscent of an older method of telling stories which has unfortunately declined in the last couple decades. What is truly inspired is that the bat doesn't really appear until about halfway into the film, leaving character development to take precedence.
That is not to say that Bruce Wayne unfolds perfectly before the viewer's eyes. The film manages to set up some major "bullet points" of Wayne's life story and for that it deserves credit. Yet somehow, there was just something missing. It is quite possible that Bale and Holmes never made a real connection or chemistry, upon which much of the personality growth of Wayne rests. Whatever the reason, this didn't quite work. The cast was generally excellent, with the legendary Liam Neeson stealing the show as usual. This one particular element is the only hitch.
One final criticism. Perhaps it is just an inherent flaw in Batman when it comes to film, but I just couldn't take it seriously when Bruce Wayne in the Batman costume appeared on screen. The action sequences were fine. Watching a guy in a bat mask deliver serious dialog, however, just looked silly no matter what context I tried to place it. Perhaps it is possible to make a more serious looking bat suit, but this one was too comical to suspend my disbelief.
Don't let the little flaws ruin a great film. Batman has finally been done right.