Batman at it's best.

Rating: 10/10 (28 June 2005)

So before heading off to see this movie, I was a little hesitant. I have been a Batman movie fan my whole life. Being only 17, the first two were a little violent for me, but I fell in love with the whole idea of the one man vigilante story. I grew up with Batman. I went through my awkward phases, and so did the storyline. There was a noticeable difference with the shift from Tim to Joel, and Michael to Val. There wasn't any continuity other than the key player of Batman. Gotham changed instantaneously, and it became a more airy feature and an audience pleaser, but that was all. I thoroughly enjoyed the last two in the Batman series, but I could never get over the Batman i had first viewed after borrowing one of my big sister's videotapes when i was 5. The villains kept getting funnier and funnier, and the scenes became less meaningful and more action packed, heart racing, and pointless. But then I ventured in to see Batman Begins.
I left that theater happier than ever. This movie was everything and more. It was a return to the darker, more mysterious Batman I first fell in love with. Christian Bale is the perfect man for this role, he has all the appeal. I was hesitant at the idea of a star studded cast, because some of these movies receive more hype than they are worth. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Tom Wilkinson, and Liam Neeson are all Oscar contenders and some winners. They gave well rounded performances and proved that as actors they can truly dive into their roles and not steal the show. Katie Holmes was good as Rachael Dawes, but her role wasn't as pivotal as I had hoped, but despite that, she managed to hold her own and deliver a good performance. I was so surprised by this movie. The comedy was light, but present none the less.
This Batman was unpredictable, and the unknown villain always makes for more edge of your seat viewing, and this movie did not let me down on that factor. I never took my eyes from the screen. The cinematography was so splendid and the story was so perfect. There wasn't so much focus on Batman, but it was on Bruce Wayne and how he transformed into Batman. That was the winner. This plot was so rich and perfect to the return to roots theme every prequel should take. Batman is supposed to be dark, mysterious, and more thought provoking than the, "saving the world and Gotham from certain destruction theme as two villains team up and giggle and joke the entire time" themes that were so prevalent in the last 3 Batmans. This movie was the best of the bunch, and a return to the original Batman from 1989.
Batman Begins is a great movie, and the best of the pack. It has everything the previous movie had, but delivers them in a more concise and pleasing way without focusing too much on one aspect such as action, mystery, or comedy. It is all of these and more, and I guarantee everyone will if not love, at least enjoy this movie.