Batman for everyone!!

Rating: 10/10 (6 July 2005)

*Spoilers*
Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) were visually stunning but you could feel it's cartoonish vibe. While the characters (the good and the villains) were perfect in every aspect, the experience was all about fantasy. The action sequences in both movies were great but not as spectacular as in 2005's Batman. I know, the f/x were not that advanced but still. 1995's Batman was a great sequel to end the franchise. It had two quality villains, a spectacular scenario, great f/x but you could say that it was all about cash. The movie had potential. Batman & Robin...well, what can I say? it's not even better than Batman's worst comic. This is the best "Batman" movie of te saga, period.
BATMAN BEGINS delivers for everyone! It explains every single doubt for every Batman fan. The plot is as good as you can get in an action film by inserting the obligatory dramatic elements, a love story, and the basic subplot that deals with Bruce's internal demons. The way Christopher Nolans connects all the events is simply amazing. The man demonstrated with "Memento" that he could create a clever, fast-paced, visually stunning thriller-action movie. He did the same and I say better work with this movie. The plot is dark but effective, it doesn't deal with the expected cartoonish villains or something like that, it deals with believable villains (in the standards of comics) that could anytime beat easily The Joker or The Riddler. There were some "scary" moments in the movie. Not only visually but mentally. I mean, Dr. Crane's technique to create panic by wearing the mask and spreading some kind of poison is an impressive technique to create tension and fear. The same goes for the panic that Gotham City started feeling after the massive poison spread. Batman has scenes FOR EVERYONE.
ACTING. The acting in the movie is easily the best in the series. Christian Bale (of American Psycho fame) portrays Batman in a solid, violent, and cool way. Batman was never this impotent! Excellent dramatic performance. The best Batman no doubt about it. Michael Caine delivers a great, dramatic, and tender performance as Alfred. Also, congratulations to Morgan Freeman (as always), Gary Oldman (as always), and Liam Neeson for great, convincing performances. Cyllian Murphy and Katie Holmes deliver expectations. The rest of the cast including Ken Watanabe and Tom Wilkinson are solid.
DIRECTING. Christopher Nolan did a great job. He created the spectacular Batman movie everyone was waiting for since Tim Burton's Batman Returns. The innovative camera angles, the scenes to break (in the climatic train scene at the end, Nolan makes a take of a fully illuminated Gotham City with tense music) or increase tension (pair to pair scenes with explosions), the fight scenes, etc. are high quality, the best you can ask for in an action movie. Mr. Nolan deserves respect, a lot of it because he overpassed expectations in a way that only a few can.
F/X, SOUNDTRACK, ART DIRECTION, CINEMATOGRAPHY. The movie is brilliant to look at. It has an impressive shinning yet dark cinematography beautifully done. The soundtrack is perfect for the movie and the art direction is excellent, with great details. The F/X are just great, Batman is a movie that proves that CGI abuse is not the best to impress people.
As a hard core Horror movie lover, I can say I'm satisfied with this movie. The same should go for fans of comics, action, and films in general. BATMAN BEGINS is an impressive movie recommended for anyone that wants to have a great time with a movie that mixes drama and action in a perfect way.