Finally, something to talk about this summer

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2005)

So I think we all have watched our fair-share of comic book movies in our day. Its not a surprise that some have succeeded and that some have failed. What we have here is a great example of just how good this type of film can be. I just walked out of the 12:01 showing of Batman Begins and I was blown away.
What we have here is Christopher Nolan taking the Batman series and resurrecting it. Nolan has done a fantastic job in the past with both "Memento" and "Insomnia" and he's equally successful here. This is no little accomplishment; anyone who has seen the last few Batman films would agree that it is not difficult to make a bad film. Also to be taken into consideration, Nolan is telling the tale of how it began. Where others have had their Batman waiting to take flight, Nolan was forced to create his own.
Onto the film. The beginning of the film focuses on creating Nolan's Batman. This part is heavy on the dialogue and light on the action. This works wonders because far too often we see directors avoiding the foundation that Nolan embraces here. We meet characters, villains, and our hero at this time. Without getting into too much detail, Bruce Wayne is away from Gotham for a portion of time to find himself. Once he succeeds, he returns to explore the city for what it has become.
I'm trying my hardest to avoid detailing the plot, because it was too entertaining watching it develop before my eyes to reveal its fun. What I will tell you is this. The film is dark, very dark. This may be hard to believe, but it is much darker than Burton's Batman, and thats saying something. Bale plays the role well, as does the rest of the cast. Pay particular attention to Cillian Murphy who outshines the rest. His portrayal of Dr. Crane was on target, to say the very least.
Overall, Batman Begins is a huge success. The film allows for a plot to develop and does not rely on special effects. When CGI is used, its used to perfection (the railway running through Gotham is gorgeous). I would recommend the film to anyone for it requires little knowledge of the Batman series, and is overall a great film. The summer may actually be worth sweating through this year.