The True Beginning

Rating: 9/10 (21 June 2005)

Okay, I do believe we can all agree on the fact that the last Batman movie made, Batman and Robin, was a compete joke. From the nipples in the bat costume to the pathetic excuses for 'bad guys' that movie was a disgrace to all other Batman movies. However, this is not the case with "Batman Begins." Set at the beginning of the vigilante career of Batman, this film does wonders in the explanation on why Bruce Wayne became Batman. And might I say, it did a wonderful job in filling those gaping holes which have been left vacant through every other Batman movie. More so than anything though, "Batman Begins" takes us deeper into the dark knight's psyche. This film challenged the stories ability to be a psychological thriller along with being a terrific part of the comic book to film genre. It is difficult to explain the best parts of this film without giving any major plot points away. The camera work throughout the film was amazing, the lighting heavily described in the July edition of "American Cinematographer" truly worked out well. The director and director of photography talked extensively of how they silhouetted Batman, rather than trying to illuminate him. All of the technical aspects of this movie were exceptional. Though, there is one thing that made it slightly difficult for the average person to understand this film; the beginning. Though well done, the among of flash back back story intermixed with the present made it slightly difficult to know which was the flash back and which was the present. Other than that, the movie was astoundingly beautiful, both aesthetically and within the plot.