What a waste of potential

Rating: 6/10 (5 June 2005)

I just saw this at a preview screening at Universal Citywalk. Even the awe of my first Imax movie experience couldn't save it. Christian Bale was excellent as Bruce Wayne, bringing the tortured self-searching to the character that it requires, but when donned in the bat suit, his attempts at the necessary menace were nothing if not pitiful. The chemistry between Bale and Holmes was, well, non-existent. It made me long for Spiderman and Mary Jane. Speaking of which (the comparison is inevitable), Christopher Nolan could have learned a thing or two from Spiderman 2's graceful, invigorating action and fight scenes, given that those in "Batman Begins" are bombastic, bludgeoning, and generally incoherent. The few inevitable one-liners (weaved into dialog that ranges from the over-serious to the shamelessly moralistic) solicited more groans than laughs. The biggest saving graces were Cillian Murphy, who's perfect as Dr. Crane/Scarecrow (the Scarecrow effects were great too), and the always excellent Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, and Michael Caine. Pity they couldn't have found their way into a better movie. I can say this, however: it wasn't as bad as "Batman and Robin."