Fear the Knight indeed

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2005)

I've loved the Batman franchise ever since Tim Burton introduced us to his stylized-comic book-art deco-prince version. And he's one of the few directors who pulled off the difficult task of making their own sequels better than the original (Bryan Singer and Sam Raimi also succeeded with their comic book adaptations). To me Michelle Pfeiffer (and not Halle -why the f**ck did I win an Oscar- Berry) will always be the only Catwoman, purrrrr!
Then gay kitsch lover Joel Schumacher came along, glued some nipples to the batsuit and damned it all to hell. I'll allow Batman Forever to be considered decent, but Batman & Robin was a downright shame.
The introduction of Memento/Insomnia helmer Christopher Nolan was a big surprise to me, but turned out to be the best decision Warner Bros ever made. His Batman Begins is exactly the breath of fresh air this series needed. And I'm sure there's air enough to last us a few sequels (or prequels, whatever)!
The story takes us back to the years when Bruce was still just a spoilt brat who saw his parents killed in a dark ally (people should really start avoiding those). His anger and fear lead him down a path of self discovery and training, which ultimately result in the birth of the Batman. A winged avenger with a hood and a cape taking on crime in the streets of Gotham City.
Nolan deserves credit for trying to introduce the Batman saga to reality. And he largely succeeds, but at the cost of his own movie. The build up of the film feels so real, that the sudden exposure to a guy in a batsuit and a freak with a bag over his head seems far-fetched. Even though you're aware of the fact that this is a comic book adaptation, the change in tone is not a swift one. Which brings us to another flaw in Nolan's direction. He's good, very good, at what he does. But when it comes to directing action sequences he's crap ... really crap. Everything's too dark and chaotic, and once again, even though you know you're watching complete and utter fiction, they seem incredible *(when Batsy clings himself to an elevated train, the crossing bars of steel don't seem to interfere with his wire)* So either Nolan brushes up his action skills for the sequel, or hires someone better to do the editing and action directing for him.
The incredible cast all seem like they're having a blast. Bale is a capable Wayne/Batman, and even all the smaller characters add quality to the film.
In closing I might add that the writers didn't quite follow the correct timeline or upheld the continuity with the previous films, but that's something I gladly overlook when the result is this strong. A nice solid 8/10.