Now THAT'S how it should be done!!!!

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2005)

I just returned from the midnight pre-screening of Batman Begins (2005) at my local theater, and the adrenaline is *still* coursing through my veins!! What a rush!!
To start, let me say that about three weeks ago, I rented Batman (1989), and let me tell ya, that film is fatally flawedI'm not even sure it qualifies as a film. To me, it was like watching a comic book in real time, and while I can see the appeal of this for some of the fans of the comic books, this will not suffice when making a film.
Now, that being said, Batman Begins (2005) is as close as you can get to a perfect film acquiring its source material from a comic book, and *this* coming from a huge fan of both the Spider-Man and X-Men movies. Granted, I love those movies and their some of my all- time favorites, but they're not even on the same playing field as this!
Not knowing anything of the comic series other that it exists, this is *exactly* what I desired to see when I first saw Batman (1989). And unlike that film, this movie does not intend to put on a show, but succeeds in making you *feel* the story. Bruce Wayne is incredibly well- written, and it's especially insightful to see flashbacks of when he was a boy.
The wry, sardonic humor is well-suited for the film, lucratively enhancing its dark atmosphere. The crowded theater housing 250 movie-loving citizens laughed simultaneously throughout the entire course of the film. The director expertly articulates his tightly-wound vision, compelling a film full of depth and personality to the big screen. Christian Bale was eloquent in manifesting a dark, wounded BatmanI don't believe anyone else could've done better. Through the course of the film, I truly believed in Batmanthat he was real and existedthat's how impressive his performance is. It was great to see Liam Neeson in another role, and he does well with the scant material he's given. Morgan Freeman and Katie Holmes fill out exceptional supporting roles, both portraying their respective characters so well, you really get a sense of who they are.
Even though most of us have seen four Batman movies, this film stands alone because despite that, you truly feel as if you're experiencing everything for the first time, as if the material's new and fresh, and this is primarily because it is so perfectly presented in this manner. From his first encounter with bats and how they've become a sort of demon he must continually exercise, his father's contributions to Gotham City, his family history and associations, the source of the one-of-a-kind weaponryeverything is just so thoroughly intriguing and enlightening in a way that you can't quite put your finger on. We learn not only why he is who he is, but how. By the end, I left feeling oddly inspired and almost on a high of sortsit was strange and yet refreshing in a way that I've never felt before.
VERDICT: Thoroughly engrossing and executed with precision and stylea milestone amongst all predecessors. HIGHLY recommended to all, whether you read the comics or not, whether you saw the originals or not, and even whether you like Batman or not. Set aside any and all notions you have, and do yourself a favor and go see this oneI PROMISE you won't be disappointed. This is NOT just a movieit's an experience.
9.5 out of 10.0
~AleXa~