Sorry Tim, but this is THE Batman film!

Rating: 9/10 (12 June 2011)

I'm not very keen on superhero films, I think they're a bit naff, going around in costumes and fighting some crazy camp villain, I think it's all a bit geeky and bizarre for me. But, in "Batman Begins" Christopher Nolan has taken the story, demolished it and rebuilt it to be a deliciously dark, breathtaking, "adult Batman" that is more of a gangster action film than a child's superhero film.
I wasn't expecting to be blown the way, quite like I did because like I said, I don't like superheroes. The opening basically took me in and it didn't let go from there, because we've got an epic film that I didn't want to end! The screenplay really is top-notch, creating a believable background history on a so called superhero that is more of a masked vigilante, because he doesn't have any toxic powers, he can't make his chin blow up or anything weird like that (can any superhero do that?) Bruce Wayne is actually a believable character and his vengeance is what drives this film on in a breathtaking pace.
So we get the back story plus an excellent main storyline. That's one tick in the box, and the next tick must go to the pacing and action sequences. It is the action sequences that got me on the edge of my seat. The highlight for me being the car chase through Gotham, Christopher Nolan can shoot action like Quentin Tarantino. It's pacey, it's exciting and everything you could ever want in an action film. The climax is something truly spectacular.
Here's me thinking that Batman was for kiddies! This is much more of an adult film, it's super cool and very dark. The storyline isn't a simple good vs evil, it's complicated and even I got confused! I really like how Nolan has taken the villain in the comic (here it's the scarecrow) and he finds a way to make it seem believable by creating some really evil, sadistic character that isn't that camp at all.
But what limits "Batman Begins" from being a perfect 5 star film is the performance given by the unlikable, uncharismatic Christian Bale. He is so wooden as Batman, "I'm Batman" he says with a face as miserable as sin. I truly believe he is miscast here and it's a shame because Michael Caine is really great as the butler, Cillian Murphey makes a menacing villain and Arthur Schindler (can't remember his real name... LIAM NEESON! That's the one!) is really superb as his mentor. But, Christian Bale lets the side down once again and is unfortunately meant to be the main character here. Whoops.
But forget Christian. Here we really do have a superb film. It's exciting, it's cool, it's high concept and I loved it!
*NOTE- After recently watching "Batman Begins" again, I did actually really like Christian Bale as Batman. I thought he suited the role perfectly. I don't know what I was on before!