Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
So glad I fought my reluctance to give another Batman movie a chance
Personally, I would easily choose to re-allot the hours of my lifetime spent watching previous "Batman . . ." films to sitting at red lights, standing in elevators, and waiting in line at the post office. They never, ever tell the story as it originated, instead choosing to do remakes of the television show--only not as good--with a slight edge on them. The more recent Batman cartoons have been rather good, and that only added to the mystery as to why an even decent Hollywood film couldn't tell the story half as well despite their many attempts with big budgets and great actors.Until now.This movie actually enhances the original story of Batman, filling in many of the holes--like how in the hell you get the Batcave built without letting anyone know about it or killing all the builders, and manufacture all sorts of specialty armaments with the knowledge and skills of a pampered billionaire and an English butler.Batman is about doing the wrong thing for the right reasons; and an inner struggle to resolve regret and remorse with a genuine and righteous vengence. It amazes me that a cartoon artist thought up even the basic elements of this story--and perhaps even more so that it was handed off to several other storytellers who couldn't manage even its initial syllables.This is the Batman movie you were always hoping they would make. It would probably have been a much bigger hit if it weren't preceded by such bad versions of the same story.They don't overplay Morgan Freeman, get campy with Alfred, or have people falling into vats of radioactive waste and raising armies of crime syndicate costumed flunkies overnight and in record numbers. The story--the epically dramatic, non-cartoon version--is the star here, and its excellently told without getting overshadowed by big name movie stars.Bottom Line: I'm thrilled I finally saw this film despite my hard belief I would be horribly disappointed.