Batman really does Begin here

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2005)

I had many thoughts before seeing this movie, the universal reviews I had read on this film had led to great expectations and some serious hype, this was being touted as the best Batman film yet, a tall order on the superb Tim Burton 1989 Batman. But I still had a good feeling about the film, with a cast line-up of Gary Oldman, Liam Neesom, Morgan Freeman, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson and of course Sir Michael Caine, plus the film is directed by Christopher Nolan (of Memento & Insomnia fame). So what more could you ask. Thankfully most of the hype is true and the brilliant ingredients and blend of experienced actors to the story make for one of the best comic book character films ever, me being a large comic fan, but never really a batman fan, I was thrilled to find the movie actually was about Batman rather then the "comic" villains the other 4 Batman films decided to orientate around (Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Two Face, Mr Freeze). This movie spends the first hour or so developing the Bruce Wayne Character to an extent where you realise he has no choice but to go on a vigilante mission on his own wearing the Black Bat suit he does and fighting crime, Christian Bale plays Bruce Wayne/Batman like he was born to do so, his brooding figure and face of torment is clear in almost every scene, this is no Clark Kent boy wonder or Peter Parker troubled web slinging teenager, this is the story of billionaire bachelor struggling with his inner demons since the death of his parents which he blames himself for and wants to seek vengeance. Thrown into the tormented Wayne's life is the love interest played by Katie Holmes, a villain (the Scarecrow) who is just a stooge for a bigger menace, and the ending is left with a brimful glee for us all as it leave's the film nicely laid up for a sequel. People may find the back story to why Bruce becomes Batman a bit dragging and at 2 hours 20 minutes even I thought the movie could have been pegged back a bit, but apart from this and a few lack lustre action scenes, the movie is top draw.