probably doesn't need another comment, but...

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2005)

"Batman Begins" is a satisfying trip overall. Christopher Nolan--who directed the inventive reverse-order thriller "Memento" and the tepid remake of "Insomnia" applies his distinctive visual style (lots of wide-angle shots employed, plus sprawling sets) to the comic-book hero and film-franchise icon. Granted, Batman's last two cinematic outings all but dragged the Dark Knight's name into the ground, thanks to Joel Schumacher's hollow neon approach to spectacle; Nolan--with the assistance of screenwriter David S. Goyer--brings a richness of character and an emotional maturity to the proceedings; the film itself is rather serious, but also has some nicely tucked-away comedic bits (courtesy of Gary Oldman's Commissioner Gordon). The story, as before, seems rather peripheral to the overwhelming demands of action-movie thrills, but has something to do with a mad doctor ("Red Eye"'s Cillian Murphy) poisoning Gotham City's water supply with a hallucinogenic toxin that will literally rip the population apart with fear (an overarching theme whose exploration adds to the film's richness). But nothing is as it seems (of course). With the exception of Katie Holmes, who still looks and sounds like a 16-year old fresh off the set of "Dawson's Creek," the cast turns in excellent performances. Christian Bale, one of the more exciting younger actors of the past few years, fills the Caped Crusader's shoes with grace and dignity; Michael Caine brings his affable, fatherly charm to Alfred; Cillian Murphy brings a casual malevolence to his demented doctor; and Gary Oldman does well in the unfortunately limited role of Commissioner Gordon. "Batman Begins" also exhibits a sense of visual wonder that's more assured and authentic than in previous outings; the vast Gotham is less an obvious computer-generated landscape and more of a negative Utopian dreamworld, both haunting and inviting. A job well done, breathing life into a faltering series...may the next "Batman" films continue in a similar direction.