Batman's Back, baby.

Rating: 9/10 (23 June 2005)

I am still very fond of the original Batman (which is actually the 1989 version, I suppose, and not the original...). As such, I have repeatedly balked at comparing this incarnation of the Batman series against the Tim Burton versions. Basically, Batman Begins is dark, but dark in a different way than the previous four attempts in the series. Whereas the Tim Burton Batmans (Batmen?) were dark in that overcast, circus-like Tim Burton way and whereas the other Batman/Batmen were dark in that "I just spent ten bucks to see this movie and now I want revenge on the world" sort of way, this film is dark in a new, refreshing, and, frankly, necessary way. Batman is the Dark Night, but not just because he works at night. This is a fearsome Batman (an idea that is laid on pretty thickly, mind you) and a vengeful Bruce Wayne. Thus, the film is not just dark for its setting and characters; it is dark in its own moral ambiguity. The darkness is in tone and ideal. Just as one might expect with the genius behind Memento leading the charge, Batman Begins is a story told of a flawed character with mixed motivations who we see become a hero (as opposed to Memento). The failing of this movie is in its peripheral characters (the Katie Holmes character in particular) are less complex, more openly altruistic, and thus much less interesting. Although Morgan Freeman, Micheal Caine, and Gary Oldman are generally likable enough for this to not be an issue (and I suppose that their characters serve a very practical purpose in providing anti-matter to the darkness and creepiness of Batman and his enemies), Katie Holmes does not possess such a likableness, at least not in this film. However, despite this minor distraction, this film is very enjoyable, especially for those of us who are fans of Batman and comic book flicks in general. So go see it.