best comic-book movie EVER.

Rating: 10/10 (16 June 2005)

better than Spider-Man 2. better than Superman. better than even the lauded Incredibles. this is probably the most faithful adaptation of source materials of any film (Sin City was not an adaptation, it was a change in media. and i still have not forgiven Peter Jackson for cutting the Scouring of the Shire). much like the amazing Batman: The Animated Series, this movie is not a literal translation of the comics, but an amalgamation of the themes therein to tell a new story. the movie (thankfully) eliminates the previous films from continuity, creating an amazing new universe. Gotham looks and feels real. you cold believe that it exists (unlike Burton's Gothic nightmare or Schumacher's neon hellhole). the characters are lent an air of realism and gravity by fine actors taking their roles seriously. Wilkinson, Murphy, Bale, Freeman, Caine, and Neeson all turn in stellar performances. the movie forgoes the primary mistake of the previous films and focouses on Batman instead of the villains. and speaking of villains, there's a slew of them (fans should keep an eye out for Tim Booth's Victor Zsasz). Carmine Falcone, Ra's Al Ghoul, Henri Ducard, and the Scarecrow are all great. fantastic film and an amazing rendition of the dark knight. my only gripe was the casting of Flass, who turned from a square-jawed blond buzz-cut Green Beret to Bud from Memento, but i can live with that. and the villain reference at the end had me applauding.