Best Batman ever - sorry Tim Burton

Rating: 8/10 (12 June 2005)

Batman Begins is really the first movie of the franchise. The story predates Batman (the one with sappy Michael Keaton), and explains not only why Bruce Wayne, the rich orphan, became Batman, but also how he turned himself into the Dark Knight.
And what a journey - Scaling the snow-capped mountains to seek a master to hone his martial arts, uncovering the amazing gadgets in his late father's company, scaring the hell out of the rogues, meeting Commissioner Gordon for the first time...
Batman's methods to strike fear in the hearts of the baddies are finally explored in this fifth installment. Before that, all we know is that Batman is this costumed superhero with incredulous gadgets. Now we know why DC puts him on par with Superman and Wonder Woman. It's not how super or wondrous he is. It's how human yet effective Batman is that makes him such an intriguing superhero. And you have to give Christopher Nolan, the director (who directed one of my fav movie Memento) due credit. Tim Burton was close, but Nolan nailed it right on the head.
Some of the best things of Batman Begins: 1. Best Batman - Christian Bale. Better bod than Val Kilmer, better range than Michael Keaton, better everything than clown George Clooney 2. Best Commissioner Gordon - For once, he's crucial to the plot, and he deserved it. 3. Best Bat-chick - Kathy Holmes. Even Tom Cruise is falling head over heels for her. And you'll see why.
The not-so-great stuff: 1. The most uncool Batmobile to date - It is the most realistic, I gotta admit, but a vehicle that's called a Tumbler just doesn't cut it for me. 2. Not very impressive villains - like the saying goes: "it is the villains that make the hero", and while Scarecrow and Raa's were interesting characters, they failed to hook me the way The Joker, The Penguin and Catwoman did.
Nonetheless, Batman Begins lives up to the hype. The franchise is finally saved. Let the fun begins!