BB -grade B+

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 2005)

Batman Begins outclasses the former Batman movies with so many redeeming qualities starting with the right actor,Christian Bale who radiates and personifies Batman and Bruce to a T. We have the right Alfred,right Bat outfit and right toys and a heartening realistic back-story. We have the right villains that don't take the stage away from Batman and the right Detective Gordon. We found the right girlfriend for Bruce too. This is a Batman that's not all about being a superhero but also becoming a man that sets to do good,be a crime-fighter and uphold justice. His life is complicated but he wants to seek the right thing. The biggest influence in his life is his father,Rachel and Alfred. My skepticism for Bale is now gone because he has won me over. Bale brings the most human of all Batman and Wayne opposed to the cartooned bunch of Batman actors. He brings gravitas and intensity to this role and he is an inspired casting. What sets him apart is that he is an everyman and makes this superhero likable. I don't blame Wayne for falling in love with Rachel portrayed by Katie Holmes who is sweet,a gem,& courageous. She's a Batgirl in the courtroom and loves Gotham enough to save it. She's a solid actress and appropriately lovable with Christian Bale.
So much exceptional acting from the supporting cast which is also the asset of this film. The action in the beginning is more thrilling than the closing scenes and the odd man out for me is Liam Neeson that gets Star Wars and Kingdom of Heaven redundancy,Ken Watanabe like Last Samurai all over again. Scarecrow not a worthy foe of Batman when he's even shorter than Katie Holmes. His only scary appeal is his eyes and nothing more.