The REAL Batman Begins!!!,

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2011)

...and no wonder, it's directed by Christopher Nolan, who did the sensational "Memento" (2000) and almost-as-good "Insomnia." If you have never seen those movies you should, to understand just what this man was capable of before getting ensnared by the major American studios. Definitely not your typical big-budget Hollywood cheeseball, Nolan has an original vision and style.
What sets this film apart is the fact that it has a well-developed, well-written and believable psychological AND philosophical backstory, rather than being just another special effects and computer-animation orgy.
With the exception of the inevitable "Batman saves the day at the last moment in dramatic showdown with the evil head honcho" final 10 minutes, it had me guessing most of the way through. The weakest link as others have noted, was casting Katie Holmes, who is a cutie but has an acting range of maybe 3 rubber expressions (self-righteous, confused, scared).