Engaging, top notch action and refreshingly good for a franchise movie.

Rating: 10/10 (10 June 2005)

Oh my god, what a good movie this this. It could have been a banana skin for Warner Bros., but director Christopher Nolan has produced a fresh take on an old subject and done it extraordinarily well.
"How does one man change the world?"
It's a question that haunts Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale). The death of his parents, murdered on a Gotham street outside the Opera house has filled him with guilt and anger. Disillusioned with life and seeking the means to fight injustice, he travels the world to educate himself in the ways of the criminal. Emerging from this phase in his life, Bruce starts to become the Bat man and what an adventure it is.
This film really is great. Primarily filmed in the UK with bits in Ireland, Iceland and Chicago, this is yet another American backed film, shot in the UK with British/Irish and Welsh actors aplenty. Of course, they are mainly playing Americans and doing it very well.
Refreshingly, Gary Oldman is playing a good guy and Tom Wilkinson is playing a bad guy. Cristian Bale is perfectly cast for the Bruce Wayne/Batman role and it was a real kick to see Rutger Hauer back in the big screen in a major film. At least with Rutger, his performance didn't once make me think of Blade Runner.
This was not the case with Liam Neeson as he, in essence, reprises his role as Qi Gon from The Phantom Menace. Katie Homes puts in a decent performance and Morgan Freeman is a good as ever. Michael Caine was brilliant as the butler Alfred. His accent turns from butler British to London, East End Cockney by the end of the film. He has a few classic lines and I'm sure that when the sequel is made and believe me, there has to be one, he will star prominently.
Batman Returns will be a massive hit. Excitingly, there is also an IMAX release.
Verdict: Best film of the year 10/10.