This is the Batman movie for Batman fans!

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2005)

Out of the five other live action Batman movies (Batman '66, Batman '89, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, & Batman & Robin) Batman Begins is the truest to the feel of the Batman comics. It is also the darkest and most serious. The action is less than the other Batman movies, which may turn some viewers off, but this movie has a deeper and better plot than previous entries in the franchise. The slower pace gives the audience time to get to know the characters well and get comfortable with them. The main villains in the movie are perfectly chosen, since they both tie in with the two main themes of the movie, The Scarecrow deals with the theme of fear, while Ra's Al Ghul represents a different view of justice than that of the Dark Knight.
The movie also represents a different view of Batman. Unlike previous efforts, this movie delves deep into Batman's character and portrays him as a tormented mortal hero rather than as a pop icon like the previous movies. This movie also shows Bruce Wayne's attempts to hide his true self under the facade of a rich playboy, something which has not been explored in any of the previous Batman films. I also liked the way in which Nolan shot the scenes of Batman attacking thugs, he does it quick, silently and suddenly, like a monster in a horror movie rather than the typical superhero. This is also the most realistic Batman movie, lots of the stuff in the movie isn't exactly something that would happen in the real world, but the film's tone makes you believe it could.
The acting in this movie is excellent. Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow is cunning, intelligent and terrifying, and he has definitely improved his acting skills since "28 Days Later". Michael Caine's performance as the compassionate, witty and supportive Alfred is a real standout. Christian Bale is the best Batman yet, although he does look a bit funny in under the mask, and his fierce voice as Batman seems a bit forced. The sets looked excellent and Nolan's direction was also great and from watching the movie you can tell he's a big fan of Batman. Batman Begins is not perfect however, there are several minor flaws that plague this movie from being a classic. Katie Holmes' character is really underwritten and two-dimensional, and although Katie's performance is good, she ends up seeming a bit unnecessary to the plot. I would've liked the hallucination scenes to be a bit more over-the-top, but they probably were restrained to get the PG-13 rating. Another disappointment was that Cillian Murphy didn't don the whole Scarecrow costume, just the mask. It's not a major problem, but I think it would have made him more terrifying. The batmobile was also the ugliest batmobile yet, but it kind of started to grow on me.