The Batman story as never before

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2005)

I've always liked Batman. There's something recognisable in the character, or at least something we'd all like to recognise in ourselves- the drive and grit to keep picking yourself up and keep going, the fortitude to keep fighting for what we believe.
Last night when I saw Batman Begins, I saw those qualities in spades, both in the character of Batman, and in the direction of Mr Nolan. Bravo on both counts. After Schmacher destroyed the Batman film franchise, it must have taken a lot of guts for Christopher Nolan to take it up and keep on plugging, but he did, and WOW! Right on the money, in all ways.
The Cast is fantastic! Christian Bale has been a fave of mine since Empire of the Sun, and makes both Batman and Bruce Wayne his own- something I never thought any actor could do in such balance. I loved Michael Keaton's take too, but Bale's billionaire playboy vs. dark knight take rang truer to me than Keaton's slightly quirky, hopeless Wayne. Morgan Freeman is always a winner, Michael Caine is himself (but he's soooo good at it!), cute-as-pie Katie Holmes was maybe a little young for the role, but very creditable, Rutger Hauer, Liam Neeson (shades of the Ep.1 Jedi and padawan here methinks...)all wonderful and totally in sync with the drive of the film.
Batmobile... what can I say? I'll say what every guy in the western world is saying right now. I WANT ONE! As comic book guy would say "Best Batmobile EVER!" The gadgets were cool, and not hopelessly OTT.
I'll be here all day if I itemize everything I liked about this film, so I'll keep it brief. Wonderful movie- perhaps the best (Sin City isn't out in New Zealand yet, so I'll stay my hand on the best ever comment until then) comic-book movie.
My eight out of ten reflects this movie very highly. 10 out of 10 is for the Godfather and Taxi Driver. 9 is for LOTR, and 8 puts it up there with some genuine all-time classics. Wonderful, wonderful wonderful. I want more Bale/Nolan Batman, and I want it now!