Forget the other films. Batman begins from here!

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2005)

After the debacle that was Batman & Robin, the franchise is reinvented in a dark, somber way that the comics always sought, and it is done with great style. Without loads of CGI a la Spider-Man and Hulk, etc, this new incarnation of the Dark Knight is indeed dark.
Chris Nolan, while not known for massive blockbuster type movies, has taken the Batman story and knocked it out of the park with this film. From the casting to the story to the actors and the production design, this film is a home run.
Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne truly gets inside the psyche of the character and is utterly convincing in his portrayal of a man compelled to stop evildoers in Gotham City. He brings a new level of intensity to the role that has been sorely missing. The contrast of his Bruce Wayne and Batman characters is perfect and he has some truly funny moments as the carefree millionaire playboy.
The supporting cast is top-notch. Michael Caine as Alfred is an inspired choice, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox steals the scenes he is in. Gary Oldman as a young Lt. Gordon really ups the ante as the lone good cop left in a city of crooked police. Cillian Murphy is great as Dr Crane/Scarecrow and Liam Neeson is terrific after some disappointing turns in Kingdom of Heaven and Star Wars. The only real weak link was Katie Holmes - simply due to the fact she looks only about 17 years old! (Sorry Tom, but it's true)
Gadget wise - this film has it stacked. Not only are they cool, but the audience gets a briefing on how it works, so when Bats pulls one of them out you're not left rolling your eyes thinking "How the hell can he do that??"
The Batmobile was something I wasn't sure about when I first saw the pictures, but rest assured - this thing is fast, tough and lethal!
The decision to opt for less CGI and more practical effects pays off nicely since it doesn't disconnect the audience from the action the way it did in Spiderman and other superhero flicks.
The script by David Goyer is probably one of his best in recent memory. Gone are the cheesy one liners and silly plot schemes. Sure, the plot is a tad over the top, but this is a comic book film - not Hamlet!
Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard teamed up to bring a score that while totally different from Elfman's, suits the film perfectly.
The only real complaint I have with the film was the fight choreography. The camera seemed to be a tad too close to the action to really figure out what was going on when the fisticuffs flew.
All in all, a terrific restart to the franchise that was sorely needed. I walked out of the movie wishing the sequel was already made. The set up that was created at the end was nothing short of flawless.
For anyone who has never seen a Batman film, this is the one to start with. For those who have seen the other four films - forget them, and see this. As a warning to parents though - this film could be too intense for little kids who are expecting the Batman they watch in cartoons, so get a sitter and leave them at home. The PG-13 rating is well deserved. Probably the best film I have seen recently - and that includes the new Star Wars film. If you want a great story with high caliber acting and some great popcorn munching fun - catch Batman Begins. You won't regret a second of it. I will go so far as to say this is a superhero film to rank up there with the original Superman.