Christopher Nolan shows us what a Batman movie should be!!!

Rating: 9/10 (30 July 2005)

"Batman Begins" is an absolute triumph!! Christopher Nolan has done what Tim Burton and Joel Schlockmacher could not. Give us a caped crusader with a totally believable human side to him. Where the earlier films seemed to be mainly about casting gimmicks, "Batman Begins" is purely about the story. And what a terrific story.
Through flashbacks we learn how Bruce Wayne's fears centered around bats. We see his parents, and learn how they were loved by many, and we see the circumstances around their murder. We even find that it was a friendly Officer Gordon who befriended Bruce at his hour of need.
The story also goes into great detail as to how he wanted to do more than just fight crime, we wanted to literally save the city of Gotham from destruction. The detail on how he became "The Batman" was one of the elements that was sorely missed from the earlier series.
The acting on all levels is wonderful. Christian Bale is perfectly suited to play the difficult role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. It is a delicate balance that he must walk so as to not overplay or favor one over the other. When he has the cape on, you still feel a sense of the man Bruce Wayne, and the troubles he carries with him.
Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are "the names" behind this film. Both are excellent, and they make you believe that they care, and support Bruce Wayne. Gary Oldman is a treat as Officer/Sergeant Gordon. It's nice to see him in a role cast as someone who's fairly normal. He is particularly good in his scene in the Batmobile. Liam Neeson is excellent as Bruce Wayne's teacher/nemesis. Katie Holmes is attractive and very good as Wayne's childhood friend.
But this picture is a celebration of Bale and Nolan. Together they have molded a truly wonderful character, who is at all times charming, fearful, intelligent and human.
This was a real treat. I hope that there will be more of them.