The Bat Stands Tall!

Rating: 9/10 (4 July 2005)

for most comic book maniacs, this would be one of the best movies of all time. for really serious film-freaks like me, this would be a waste of filming time.
but fortunately, my latter say is simply not true for this film.
batman begins literally tells the story of how batman came to be - starting from his just-as-equal popular alter-ego Bruce Wayne - from the time of his parent's murder to his journey into what he would become Gotham city's most and best caped crime-fighter. director Christopher Nolan for once unlike his other batman movie predecessors seemed to take this franchise a lot more seriously.
here is a film that, in my honest film-loving opinion, deserves to be at least nominated for an academy award. (the category i'll leave it to the more experienced film critics.) i should say that the acting especially for lead actor Christian bale is very convincing, and for his age and British citizenry Mr. Nolan could not have chosen a better Bruce Wayne/batman character. i bet that if batman creator bob Kane were still alive today he would have immediately dethroned val kilmer in the best character portrayal seat.(if you honestly ask me i find val kilmer's version more of a romantic chauvinist than a gallant hero.)
the only thing that could possibly be improved is that despite its in-depth, film noir atmosphere which provides the very best hallmark of the film, director Christopher Nolan should have at least painted a lot more drama and shade to the film's villains.(scarecrow and Ra's al ghul.) they seem to be mostly in the background of things, as if they are simply a side plot to the film's main focus of the origin of the caped crusader. but, if guessing that the hero's concept of being is what is the real target of this film then i will say that this comment of mine will hold no water.
for a supposedly abused cult franchise, third to perhaps star trek and star wars, batman begins offers a lot to what else would become another cheezy, popcorn movie. the year 2005 will see this film as one of it's best marks in film history - and it just proves to show that popular actors do not necessarily a good movie make, but simply a good movie itself.