...It's been a long wait, but it was worth it...

Rating: 10/10 (25 June 2005)

Just seen it, walked out of the cinema jazzed - just like I felt after seeing the Lord of the Rings movies. For a long time I was worried that LoTR was the pinnacle of movie making and I would never get the same buzz from a film again - Batman Begins gave me back my faith in films as an entertainment - and I will see it again.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Batman Begins is a perfect film, neither am I saying that it is better than the LoTR trilogy - they are epics and stand head and shoulders above anything I have seen. But for what seems like an age everything I've seen at the cinema since Return of the King has been a bit mediocre in comparison. I've seen some pretty good films in this time (and some rotten ones too!) But none of them has given me the same buzz... until now.
I rode the hype back in '89 when Tim Burton's Batman was released. I started reading comics for the first time in my life (at the tender age of 18) and was immediately hooked on Legends of the Dark Knight, and to this day consider The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One, two of the best books I have ever read, the fact that they are 'comics' shouldn't diminish the story, rather it is an enhancement - If you've never read a comic, or consider them childish or poor excuses for fiction (and lets face it, some of them do indeed fit this description), I implore you to pick up a copy of The Dark Knight Returns - it'll change your mind and open your eyes. So, after having a revelation and discovering (comparatively late) the delights of comics on the back of the movie hype, when I finally saw it I was sorely disappointed. It's not a bad movie, but it contains fundamental flaws in the mythos of the character and was too much like a cartoon for my taste. 'Returns' was more promising, but Tim Burton lost my respect when the 'penguin army' made an appearance. Too 1960's for my taste. I had high hopes for Joel Schumacher, Flatliners was a pretty good film, but he took all the things I hated about the Burton Batman and accentuated them - I hate 'Forever' and '& Robin' was farcical and by this time almost sacrilege to someone who had become an ardent fan of the comics.
I am grateful to WB and Tim Burton for bringing the character to my attention and giving me another passion in life, but at the same time I felt they had screwed up big time and denied the world the chance to see Batman for what he is. Whatever the reason, I have been waiting since 1989 for a big screen treatment that does the character some justice and Batman Begins is exactly what I have been waiting for. Thank you for giving me what I have been crying out for. A Batman that is a lot truer to the source material than the TV show and one that I will see again and buy when the opportunity arrives.
'Begins' takes elements of the graphic novel 'Batman: Year One' (written by Frank Miller, of Sin City fame), adds in Ras Al Ghul (one of writer Denny O'Neil's greatest creations) and classic baddie the Scarecrow, sets them in a believable Gotham City and then presents Batman for what he is - a traumatised little boy, forced to watch his parents' murder and set on a path that will consume him. A brilliant detective, a gifted combateer, a resourceful opponent, a frightening winged beast and above all a man on the edge of sanity, driven beyond comprehension by the need to avenge his parents deaths. Batman is full of pathos and walks a razor's edge that separates him from those he fights, he is scary as hell, mysterious, brilliant and totally driven - this is the Batman I crave, and it is the reason he is still around after so many years. Thank you for restoring my faith in movies and giving back a large helping of credibility to Batman.
There are some problems with the film, some of the plot lines are a little bit too fantastical for my liking (not enough realism), Ras Al Ghul is one of Batman's most deadly foes (and will return, like Lazarus ;-) ), but he isn't scary enough in the film and is supposed to be of middle eastern origin. Liam Neeson does a very good job, but was a little miss cast in my opinion. But these are pretty minor.
The pros far outweigh the cons. Gary Oldman is excellent as Jim Gordon, the bat signal (not the searchlight, the other bat signal) is straight out of Year One and is superb, the acting is generally first rate, as are the effects and also the plot which builds and builds and builds. The fight scenes are superbly done considering the material - Batman 'strikes fear into the hearts of criminals' and therefore is mysterious, sudden and devastating. Fights are glimpsed, Batman is an unstoppable, malevolent force rather than a balletic kung fu / matrix style show for the camera. The movie is well paced, setting all the right foundations and then building through set pieces to the finale, the character development is well set out and superbly performed, Christian Bale in particular does very well, especially when you see the A class talent he is acting against. Chris Nolan does a first rate job telling the tale, setting the scene and throwing more than enough thrills and spills to the audience.
To you movie goers out there. Go and see it, it's a great evening's entertainment.
To the movie makers. More of the same please.