Interesting and Intelligent Version of the Dark Knight

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2005)

I have been a huge fan of the Batman series since I first started watching the old Adam West version on FX when I was younger. I have seen all four Warner Motion Pictures, watched the Animated Series, and also have read quite a few of the comics. I have felt that Batman's legacy and popularity has declined over the years, thanks to the horrible 'Batman and Robin'flick and the rise of 'X-Men' and 'Spider Man.' With that said, Nolan's 'Batman Begins' gives all of the Batman fans a promising sign of things to come. 'Begins' gives a realistic, dark, yet enjoyable atmosphere for both the young and older viewer. The music score is dead on, the cinematography allows the viewer to believe that Gotham City could be a metropolis in the US (unlike the overly comic book look like the past two; even Burton's surreal Gotham), and the acting, for the better majority, is pretty damn good. The fight scenes are fast paced thanks to the intelligent editing, the villains are just as real as Batman and the people of Gotham. No mutants, no freak accidents; all of the characters are real people. That's what I love about this film, the realism which usually cannot be found in a comic book film. There are a few campy moments/lines which seem to be put in the film in ode to the comic-book hero genre, but these scenes are speckles compared to the crap in the previous Batman films. I have a few questions and gripes with Bale's Batman voice (why does he talk like that?), the believability of Katie Holmes (I still see her as that girl from Dawson's Creek), and the decision by Batman to willingly let (here is the SPOILER*, but I'm not going to go into details) Ra'z Al Guhl die at the end. But these blemishes are outweighed by the many success which are produced through the carefully crafted film which is 'Batman Begins.' Oldeman, Freeman, Caine, and Neeson are arguably the best characters/actors ever found in the franchise. Bale plays the role of Bruce Wayne very well, and he actually comes close to par with Michael Keaton's Batman. By the way, Bale looks sick in the movie!(he's completely jacked...all of my friends wanted to look like him after the film). The batmobile is by far the coolest vehicle in comic book film history, and the plot twists and attention to detail are superb. Go see 'Batman Begins,' because this ISN'T your typical Batman film. Can't wait to see the Joker in the sequel! (SPOILER*).