Not a just a great Batman movie. It is both a great movie, and the BEST Batman movie.

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2005)

You know, I was really tempted to just rate this movie a 9. Do I REALLY want to give a Batman movie a 10? But that's the thing. I really can't see how this movie could have entertained me more. And I really can't shake the feeling that even if I had never read any Batman comic books, or never seen Batman in previous film and TV versions, this movie still would have affected me the same and sold me for life on this character.
This film operates at the level of Greek mythology. And like any great myth, it's simple enough for a child to understand and appreciate while simultaneously containing enough to intellectually stimulate adults too.
This movie certainly has enough to please everyone. And while it excels in all areas, it is not a movie that is simply about its meticulously planned set pieces, costumes, fight scenes, or action sequences.
It has a uniformly excellent supporting cast, easily boasting one of the best ensembles outside of a Robert Altman or Paul Thomas Anderson movie.
It has a director that has yet to make a bad film.
But most importantly, it has an entire crew that makes it immediately clear with every frame that they get it.
This is how a Batman movie is supposed to look, to feel, and to sound. This is who Batman is, and how he got there. They nailed it.
Any last lingering doubt is washed away by the scene with Batman, a little more confident but still a little unsure, taking down a group of criminals.
The scene is staged like most horror movies, only this time you know what is lurking behind the shadows, waiting to strike. And you're cheering for him. And it is FUN.
All this praise is not to say it is flawless. The nitpickers and naysayers will find cracks that they feel are big enough to sink the ship. Maybe they didn't believe Katie Holmes as an assistant D.A. Maybe they felt the PG-13 rating hurt the grittiness and sense of danger. Does it matter? Let them rob themselves of one of the most satisfying cinema experiences to come along in years. The rest of us will have a blast basking in the darkness, waiting for the bat symbol to once again pierce through the night sky.