We have seen Batman, but do we know the man?

Rating: 10/10 (15 May 2007)

The definitive account of the origin of the dark knight is not an easy story to tell. It is not for the faint of heart. Shedding away the comic look of the previous installments, Christopher Nolan's take on Batman is not only dramatic, but sensitive. For once, we are actually acquainted with the protagonist's parents. The buildup is done in such a way that we will feel for Bruce Wayne (Bale). Set in Gotham City, a place synonymous with crime, an orphaned Bruce Wayne searches for a solution by traveling the world. He returns home a new man, about to adopt a symbol that is elemental and terrifying to the criminals. His allies for this cause are butler Alfred Pennyworth (Caine), technical expert Lucius Fox (Freeman), Sgt. James Gordon (Oldman) and Assistant District Attorney Rachel Dawes (Holmes). Bruce Wayne will don the persona of a legend called Batman. Wally Pfister's cinematography was worthy of the Academy Award nomination. Nolan may not have followed some of the conventional comic book elements, but he has made a fairly feasible account of how a man, through self-discipline and coming to terms with his fears, can make a difference. Hats off to David S. Goyer for an excellent well-scripted tale. 10/10 for bringing back 'The Batman'.