How Batman got his wings

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2005)

Batman Begins shows the correct way of making an already strong action series into a more powerful series. By brining the Batman movies back to their darker roots, such as Batman and Batman Returns, the movie returns to the original themes of darkness, fear, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, etc. Certain images visually express these themes - the new Batsuit, for instance - not a spot of gray, silver or gold anywhere. It's all black, as opposed to the designs of the previous (or as per the chronology of the films, later) Batsuits.
As far as comparison to the recent Batman movie, featuring George Clooney, Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Begins has no ridiculous clan soldiers on ice skates, no bright and shiny fluorescent paint, no childish games for elementary school students' joy. Instead, a drug trade, creepy masks, and visual expressions of fear all help to bring this movie to the eerie weirdness associated with Batman. Take, for instance, The Penguin as he rips open a raw fish and eats its insides, or bites off a man's nose. Begins is a refreshing way to pull Batman back into that original blackness associated with the Dark Knight.
As far as acting is concerned, Christian Bale is a much darker, meaner Batman than the others. His extra-deep voice effectively instills fears within his adversaries. He shows them that he is not weak and he doesn't give put up with their antics. Katie Holmes, who plays Rachel, Bruce's girlfriend, apparently grew up since the days of Dawson's Creek. Now a phaser-packing District Attorney, Holmes shows how adept an actress she can be. Years of experience has paid off for her, and she plays the part of the Gotham City D.A. with finesse. Corny jokes that superheroes are known to spew every now and then. stuff like "holy hamburgers, Batman!" are not found in this dark flick, not even if only to lighten the mood (although there is a bit of humor in a few lines, if you can find it).
Unfortunately, the single most obvious flaw in the movie could very well debunk the entire conflict in the film. Not to worry - I will leave you to find the problem for yourself so as not to reveal the story to those who haven't seen it.
Regardless of that simple flaw, which could have been cleared up by adding a few lines regarding made-up science of technology, Bayond Begins was an excellent film to be enjoyed by all 13 year olds and beyond. Watch this movie; it's a very fun time.
Ian Rosner from Long Island