A good flick. MUCH better than the last 2 Batman movies, but not quite up to the bar set by Tim Burton's films

Rating: 9/10 (24 October 2005)

I was super, super excited when this finally came out on DVD and watched it the first chance I got. I am very glad I saw it as it is much, MUCH better than the last two films. But is it really up to what fans have been waiting for? Yes it is. Although not quite as good as the two films starring Michael Keaton and directed by Tim Burton (I'll get to why in a little bit), it's still pretty good.
The acting in this movie is exquisite. Christian Bale is, to say the least, FABULOUS. We FINALLY have an actor who is up to the bar set by Michael Keaton in the first 2 batman movies. I for one am really excited about the fact that he has signed on to make a sequel to this movie. Cillian Murphy is really, really good as the Scarecrow. He's a different villain than the ones we are used to seeing - but in a good way. Gary Oldman is so cool. (I mean, it's Gary Oldman) and he is so great as Jim Gordon before Gordon became fat. The only acting flaw is that of Liam Neeson who plays bad guy Henri Ducard. Not only is this character slightly confusing, but Neeson acts just as you would expect an evil Qui-Gon Jinn (Star Wars: Phantom Menace) to act. There are even a few lines that you just want to add "use the force" to the end of.
The one REALLY, REALLY big problem I had with this movie is the horrible, HORRIBLE continuity errors. Seriously, have Christopher Nolan or David Goyer even SEEN the original Batman? If not, allow me to point out the fateful and really obnoxious flaw. (*NOTE: THIS IS WHERE THE SPOILER IS, FEEL FREE TO SKIP OVER IT IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE BATMAN BEGINS OR BATMAN) In the original Batman from 1989, we clearly see how Bruce Wayne's parents are murdered. There are 2 men who rob them. Then, one pulls a pistol and shoots both of Bruce's parents. He then turns the gun on Bruce and says, "Hey kid, you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" The man who kills Bruce's parents is Jack Napier, aka The Joker. He's about to shoot Bruce when his partner stops him and they run away. In Batman Begins, ONE man robs Bruce's parents and than shoots them. He never turns the gun on Bruce and he never says that classic line. Also, they catch the man who kills Bruce's parents, and it is the right guy, and he is tried and than shot by a female reporter. Sooooooo not what happens in Batman. (*NOTE: THE SPOILER IS NOW FINISHED SO YOU CAN CONTINUE READING :))
So there you have it. What I think of Batman Begins. See it, but don't expect it to be completely flawless. All the same, ENJOY!