Finally a Batman Movie Comic Fans can be proud of

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2005)

As a long time fan of Batman I have longed to see a big screen Batman that displayed the depth and power of the character I had come to enjoy while reading: Batman: Year One, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: The Killing Joke.
I longed for a Batman movie where Batman was not overshadowed by the villains he fights. When I first heard about this movie I almost screamed in pain, expecting another Joel Schuemacher insult to Batman. A movie that had more in common with the campy Adam West series of the 60's then the character I had come to enjoy in the comic books.
Walking in with no expectations I was blown away by what I saw. Here was a movie that not only reached the dark, film noir levels of Tim Burton's original Batman, but reached even farther. I could almost see flashes of Frank Miller in the script with I'm sure fans of Batman: Year One will recognize and enjoy.
I know some people don't like how the fight scenes were shot in this film, but I think they were perfect. You don't get to see all of Batman's style, but it makes the fights seem more real. Like you are there trying to follow a real fight between Batman and the thugs of Gothman's underworld. It heighten's the drama, and makes the movie seem less like just another Hollywood action film with crisp easy to see fights. If there is a sequel I implore Chris Nolan to leave the fight scenes like he did in this movie.
Batman Begins is filled with great performance from Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Liam Nieson, and Gary Oldman. But not even that all-star supporting cast can steal the light from Christian Bale. As Batman he delivers the sharp obessiveness that I had come to look for in Batman. For that is the Key in my mind to Batman, Bruce Wayne died the night his parents died, and in the pain of that night Batman was born.