Wow: shoulder to shoulder with its sequel

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2012)

IMDb Top 250: 114
I saw Batman Begins when I was maybe 11. I don't remember all of it, but damn did I like it. A few years later I got to see The Dark Knight in theaters, and that was incredible. Now poor Batman Begins is in the shadow of its sequel, but its really a matter of taste: I don't like to use superlatives, but Batman Begins is arguably the best comic book film to date.
Christopher Nolan has created a world where the fantasy elements of Batman have been removed, and the result is a fairly realistic tale. A dark one. The Dark Knight cruised with the success of this, but Batman Begins had to prove itself. It's a very 'charged' film, always rocketing forwards.
You know the story: as a child, Bruce Wayne watched his parents gunned down in front of him, and he resolved to fight crime in Gotham. This film, through flashbacks, shows that happen, and just how Bruce Wayne became Batman. There's a line towards the end of 'It's A Wonderful Life' that Mr. Potter says. He says, "You're worth more dead than alive!" and that is what pushes George towards his actions. The same is used here. Throughout Wayne's learning, small things are said that are instantly recognizable as Batman concepts, like being fear and using deception. The only issue with the film is that it can be sloppy during this section, and things aren't completely clear. But after that, and it's all necessary, we see man become legend.
Do you know what would've ruined the whole idea? If Batman returned and fought a supervillain like Mr. Freeze. Instead, Batman tackles a far more realistic threat, mob boss Cameron Falcone. The scene where we first meet Batman at the docks, and his announcing of it, is absolutely amazing. There is also Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul, both realized in a realistic light. And in one of those cases, a very scary one.
The cast of Batman Begins is incredible. Christian Bale, a man of variety, stars as the double-edged man, a socialite and businessman by day and hero by night. Not many people can be Batman, and Christian is one of them. He shares a family-like bond with Alfred, his butler, perfect for Michael Caine. Other great support comes from Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes and Cillian Murphy, who is brilliant as Jonathon Crane. The casting is perfect.
The film wouldn't work without its amazing music, one of the greatest ever. It pumps you up like none other. When Batman walks down the hall, bats flying around, and the overture swells, goosebumps result. Matching that, the film is shot in an exciting way, and is edited and all that technical stuff with care.
It's all the little things that make this magic. Like the origin of the Bat signal, to a cameo by Zsasz and the tease of an ending, Batman Begins comes together perfectly, much better than the sum of its parts. It may seem like a brainless blockbuster, but more than most superhero films, you can take a little something away: change needs something to start it, even if its not a man in a suit, and more specifically to this film is that there are people who do good that aren't seen, and don't get credit. Not the deepest of morals, but there are some good themes present- a surprising amount.
In conclusion, Batman Begins is unfairly left behind The Dark Knight. It has a better sense of purpose, a quicker pace, and for me, a more preferable tone. Each of the Batman films have different vibes, so you should see both to find out which you like better. 9.2/10