The best big screen Batman.

Rating: 10/10 (16 June 2005)

It is hard to judge this version of Batman compared to its previous (few) movies; that is, the absurdity of those interpretations of the Dark Knight were just about ridiculous enough to make any comparisons rather insulting to this fresh vision of the most popular comic book character of the 20th century. This isn't the nippled costume wearer who drools over Poison Ivy and offers his Bat-credit card to buy her gifts. This is... far from that.
Batman Begins takes us, as the title suggests, to the roots. A boy's world is shattered by two bullets that take his parents away forever, and he might as well have died there with them; his demons scream in his ears ever since as he grows first into a bitter and angry young man, and then into an obsessive wanderer with vague ambitious of restoring justice and protecting the innocent from those who would pray upon them - somehow.
We watch Bruce Wayne's fall and rise in his most fascinating portrayal by Christian Bale; his work is excellent, maintaining the brooding, dark moods that rage within the character and maintaining a bitter sense of humor none of those who played the same role before - perhaps with the exception of Michael Keaton - managed to even come close to.
The greatest strength of the film is not even the excellent supporting cast that seems to be having genuine fun with the whole ride; Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, they all carry the movie just far enough to justify Caped Crusader not even be _seen_ until halfway through the movie, without taking anything away from its value - and, indeed, it only lends strength to his first appearance, making the gadgets in that utility belt actually have meaning after we witness the costumeless Wayne almost fall to his death in his first attempt at rooftop jumping.
Perhaps a sore point of the movie could be considered to be the presence of Katie Holmes; she's cute and everything, but I can't help but notice the undertones of teen soap opera in every line she speaks, and truly lacks the intensity required for a supposed idealist trying to make a difference in the most corrupt city in the world; Gotham City.