Chris Nolan's gonna get a lot of work after this.

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2005)

This is the best Batman movie ever made. Christopher Nolan has managed to blend the perfect mix of action, drama, and horror. Christian Bale is the second best batman next to Michael Keaton. The performances are well done and the cast is A list. Though I preferred the Tim Burton style set direction to this one, the eyes are still treated to a dark Gotham. The chase scene is exhilarating and the toys and bat mobile unique. This one is the first to dive deep into the background of batman not only through flashbacks, but taking us through his training, and inner demons. The theme and the enemy chosen was a triumph to pull the franchise out of the deep hole Joel Schumacher put it in.
Cilian Murphy's portrayal of the scarecrow is creepy but not over the top like so many other comic book villains. The script is strong and definitely more complete than the last three, with compelling dialogue. The score was not quite as well done as Danny Elfman's original, but it is satisfying enough. Cinematography is for the most part very nice, but sometimes a shifty camera get's in the ways of the fight sequences, however giving you the sense of swift brutality delivered in every one of the bat's blows. This is the first batman to really have a twist in it, and this one still leaves the story at a cliffhanger, for instance the last scene when it is revealed that the likely next villain is the joker. There is also a great amount of detail in this movie, and it stays truer to the graphic comics. Lieutenant Gordon has yet to become a Commissioner.
All in all a movie done as well as it could be, perfect cast, perfect director, perfect theme.