"We fall so we can learn to pick ourselves up."

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2006)

First of all, I should say that after "Batman & Robin" it would be impossible to drag the franchise down any lower. Therefore, we would have to figure that even if "Batman Begins" was atrocious, it couldn't be any worse than "B&R". Well, we needn't worry: this one is very well done. Maybe not a "Citizen Kane"-style masterpiece, but definitely worth seeing. I'm not surprised at all, given that it's in the hands of "Memento" director Christopher Nolan.
As the title identifies, this movie tells the story of how wealthy Gotham City heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) became the Caped Crusader (is it unacceptable to use that name, considering the dark nature of this movie?). Specifically, we get to see how various and sundry incidents forced him to face his fears directly, no matter how unpleasant the situation could be. And there are plenty of unpleasant situations to experience in a Chinese prison. Ah, but a Tibetan training camp can teach a person the most unimaginable skills. And that's just what they do with Bruce.
Back in Gotham City, Bruce moves back into Wayne Manor, where butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) has lived alone for seven years. In that time, gangster Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) has risen to prominence, bought out all the politicians, and completely turned the city into his playground. Only reporter Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) has the courage to investigate him. Now that Bruce Wayne is donning a bat costume, there may actually be law enforcement. But wait until you find out what the crime syndicate is actually planning.
Far from the idiocy in the previous Batman movie, the plot here is very cleverly constructed. The aforementioned cast members all do very well in their roles. Also starring are Liam Neeson as Henri Ducard, who helps Bruce pick himself back up; Gary Oldman as honest cop Jim Gordon, assisting Batman; Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane, who has a lot in store; Ken Watanabe as Ra's Al Ghul, who trains Bruce; Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, providing Bruce with all the devices necessary; plus Rutger Hauer and Linus Roache.
All in all, a very well done movie. True, some of the action sequences are a little silly, but never stupid. And certainly, this movie has some of the best advice that I've ever heard in an action movie.