Is Batman Begins The Best Batman Movie? (Spoiler Free)

Rating: 10/10 (18 June 2005)

You bet your a** it is! I just got back from a showing of the latest Batman installment, and while I have always held Tim Burton's BATMAN in very high regard, it in no way matches the brilliant story and directing shown in this newest installment.
Christopher Nolan (memento) directs from a script penned by David Goyer (Blade 2). The story shows how Bruce Wayne became BATMAN. Now previous entries in the Batman franchise were good in their own right. Tim Burton of course delivered us a great film in 1989, due in part to the performances of Michael Keaton, and of course Jack Nicholson. In the newest film, we have a new Batman, played exquisitely by Christian Bale, and of course a new villain, Scarecrow played by Cillian Murphy.
The Performances in the film were top notch to say the least, from the fear ridden and guilt consuming Bruce Wayne to the maniacal paranoia's of Cillian Murphy. What was executed flawlessly was the direction of the picture. Chris Nolan, still shows us that after 3 films he has what it takes to tell a great story with superb direction. My only complaint in the whole film was the camera work done during the fight sequences... *** Chris... Move the camera's back so we can see the beatings taking place. *** I will admit I did roll my eyes a few times at the over dramatic delivery of Batman's lines from time to time, but it was easily forgotten as the story unfolded. Each performance from Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, & Gary Oldman was terrific and well honed, and you felt for every one of these characters. Liam Neeson gave a truly enlightening performance, where was this performance during Star Wars Ep. 1 I ask... I guess he saved it for Batman Begins.
Chris Nolan succeeded on many lines with this film... Joel Schumacher should take notes, as should a lot of director's of superhero comics turned film. However, Chris cannot get all the credit. David Goyer had a truly superb script, and Warner Brothers should be on their knees kissing his feet thanking him for such a great story. I read the Batman begins script early last year and I told everyone I knew that this is the Batman movie to go see.
This entry into the franchise runs a little long, it comes in around 2 hours and 25 mins, but it goes by so quickly because you are just engrossed in the story from beginning to end. Now while I praise BB for being the best Batman movie ever, I will also extend that praise to the team behind it, including the cast. One thing that I kept flashing back to while watching BB was Christian Bale's performance. His performance reminded me of the same performance he gave as Daytime stock broker Patrick Bateman in American Pyshco. I was smiling from ear to ear every time he would get into his Patrick Bateman mode. It was truly a joy to watch.
Now I know some of you have commented on the 8.6 rating this movie has received on the IMDb.COM boards... well let me tell you, it deserves a 9.5. So do yourself a favor. Turn off your computer, get in the car, head to the cinema, and buy yourself a ticket for Batman Begins. Then go into the theater, sit back and enjoy the ride.
Batman Begins is truly the best Superhero film ever made, and should be used as a model for all future superhero movies.
Rating 9.5 out of 10 Dj