Great fun...but still far behind Burton

Rating: 8/10 (16 June 2005)

Expectations were high for Nolan's resuscitation of a franchise killed off by neon nipples and camp overdrive; in the end, the final result, while certainly enjoyable, lacks both the edge and the artistry that one would hope for.
One can't fault Nolan's good intentions, but the action sequences are repetitive and dreadfully choreographed, the music is deafening, and while his attempts to ground the story in reality are certainly laudable, it means that the whole thing ends up looking rather dull- certainly when compared to the gleeful Gothic beauty of Burton's Gotham city.
Still, Batman Begins is ahead of most summer blockbusters in terms of intelligence, and Nolan's audacious decision to keep the pointy ears under wraps for the first hour certainly pays off. But the whole thing's almost too ambitious- there are far too many villains, the plot's way too far-fetched, and Holmes' taser-wielding love interest just looks lost: only Freeman, Caine and Wilkinson create anything resembling a character- Bale's Batman is pretty good too, him being one of the few able to bring out the darkness in Bruce Wayne. But these are talented actors, and they'll generally do well in the most thankless of parts.
In the end, the main problem is that the film feels uncomfortable with itself: it's not really sure what it is, and never settles down. Is it a mindless piece of superhero popcorn fodder, replete with corny lines and silly master-plans? Or is it a dark psychological drama, as its first hour hints at? What is it?