At last a REAL Batman movie!

Rating: 10/10 (25 October 2005)

Awesomely dark and atmospheric tale of the genesis of Gotham's Dark Crusader. Well what makes this movie work?
a. The cast, all very, VERY good. But Bale (a Welshman by the way) IS perfect as the lead.
b. The script, as close to the original vision of The Dark Night that has yet hit the screen.
c. The Bat Suit, the best yet. No Nip's or wobbly ears and he actually moves his head!
d. The Bat Mobile. Not just a toy but a living breathing vehicle. No camera tricks here. The car did the lot itself! Its design actually makes practical sense for a change also.
e. Gotham, now has the feel of a real city and not just some cartoon neon 'Carry-On Batman' of the last two disasters or the Gothic fantasy twist that Burton always lends to his movies.
I'm a long time fan of the Bat but the scene that completely sold Bale as BATMAN for me was when he had Flass hanging upside down several stories up for a little Q and A:
Flass "I never knew, I swear to God!"
BATMAN (almost growling) "Swear to ME!"
This one little scene encapsulates what Batman is all about. He is on very edge of sanity at times and just a single step away from becoming the thing he fights against. There were touches of this borderline Psycho in him in Keaton's portrayal in 1989. But Bale gets it down perfectly - He IS Batman.