Batman Begins gives an original spin to a classic character

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2005)

Before I begin, I'd like to make it clear that I was never an avid reader of Batman comics due to my Marvel addiction. However I remember seeing the original movie with Adam west and Burt Ward when I was about 5 years old and flipped out. This also got me in trouble sometimes when I'm watching Rocky years later and as Burgess Meredith comes on screen I say "Oh man it's the penguin!" to be followed by laugher and confusion from my friends. Besides that I loved the 90's cartoon series and have always loved the movies Batman and Batman returns with Michael Keaton.
BATMAN BEGINS however was not what I expected. Maybe since I don't know the official "real" origin I was baffled to see him fighting in an Asian prisoner camp, climbing mountains and picking flowers giving it a very Kung Fu vibe. Then Qui Gon Gin showed up (don't say it wasn't, he had practically the same dialogue turned Sith "Harness your anger, give into your fear, use it!") and I kept thinking at this point please don't make Liam Neeson kick ass...if he has a gun or minions to do his bidding fine...but hand to hand combat, eh it looks odd. Would I sit down with the man for tea, maybe play some water polo, sure...learn karate? Not really.
That's all the bitching I have for this movie, the rest impressed the hell out of me! It just picked up that ball and ran with it. Gary Oldman as Sgt (soon to be Commissioner) Gordon and Morgan Freeman in smaller roles were very cool to see. Liam Neeson turned out to be a perfect choice for the movie once it unravels all it's secrets making the first half hour make a lot more sense.
The actor that take the spotlight however is Christian Bale, reprising his award winning role from Newsies, (just kidding) as the best Batman, possibly better than Michael Keaton who i also associated the role of Batman with. Some people make good Batman's but bad Bruce Wayne's. George Clooney -great Bruce Wayne...Batman...sucks. Val Kilmer - perfectly fine Batman, obnoxiously bad Bruce Wayne. This is all just a matter of opinion, but hey that's what these comments are for.
Also, The Scarecrow might be the best Batman villain to take well the transition from comics to the big screen since The Joker. The actor, the guy from 28 Days Later whose name escapes me at the moment, really pulled through as a twisted scientist and made the overall message of Fear throughout the movie really make it all that it could be. Batman has to overcome his fear of bats, the fear of losing his parents...the whole movie focuses on Fear, and then there's the Scarecrow, it was perfect. My only complaint is I wish they did more with the Scarecrow and hopefully there is a chance of him making a great return in the next Batman movie.
All in all it was fricken sweet to see a Batman movie that...well...wasn't Batman and Robin, well sorry, but you all know it's true.
"SOME DAYS YOU JUST CAN'T GET RID OF A BOMB!" - Adam West