THIS IS IT! - This is the Batman movie we've been waiting for !!!

Rating: 10/10 (28 February 2007)

"Batman Begins" Running Time 2hrs & 20min. Rated "PG-13" for Adult Situations, Some Language, Intense Violence and bizarre/disturbing imagery
My Take : **** (out of ****)
Think "The Last Samurai" crossed with "Blade Runner". This is probably the darkest, most realistic approach to a comic book movie that I've ever seen. The film score owes several nods to Vangelis' score for "Blade Runner". The score isn't there to be melodic, but rather an atmospheric narrative to the picture. The script is very sharp. Christopher Nolan's direction is right on and the acting is top notch. The cinematography is well done (especially a sequence involving a character traveling in what's suppose to be the Hymalas) and keeps you involved.
"Batman Begins" tells of the origins the popular character "Batman", as published by DC Comics. Young Bruce Wayne has a life shattering event that sends him down a path of self discovery. From childhood into adulthood, he pursues to understand the criminal mind during a quest for justice. In time, he will ultimately strike terror into the hearts of wrongdoers, and help steer his dismal Gotham City back from the brink, through adopting a dark and focused persona: That of Batman!
Christian Bale hits the mark as Bruce Wayne. Batman's just as intense (or maybe more so) in his mission as Brandon Lee was in "The Crow". Some of the cinematography reminded me of artist Alex Ross's painted Batman works.
"Batman Begin" feels like a midnight cult movie designed to cater to the fans of the harder edged DC Comic graphic novels of the late eighties. Fear not, this movie is a great introduction of the Batman lore to casual movie-goers as well! Based on the overall tone of "Batman Begins", by holding true to it's source material, I'm pleasantly surprised that Warner Brothers green-lit this picture.
As of this writing, I understand that a sequel is in the works. I look forward to that next installment, tentatively a 2008 release titled "The Dark Knight", with great anticipation . . .