Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
Batman Begins anew
I'd heard good things about the movie before I went to see it, so I was enthusiastic about seeing the movie. I was willing to give Christian Bale the benefit of the doubt because I hadn't seen him do very much of anything. Bale had his work cut out for him-Michael Keaton, IMHO, was the best live-action Batman to hit the big screen, and Bale had to at least equal Keaton's intensity in order to earn my respect.The good news is, Bale makes the cut. The great news is, this is by far the best live-action Batman movie in existence! This was a big bang, folks-a total regeneration. It invites you to throw out every previous impression of Batman that you've seen live-action and embrace a "new Batman order". Christian Bale brings the character of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne to the next level, a level consistent with the characterizations aptly portrayed in the better Batman cartoons that are on television. And I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't acknowledge that stellar supporting cast-gadgetman Morgan Freeman and the affable Michael Caine as Alfred. Someone had to have some serious connections in Tinseltown to make that happen! And who is this newcomer, Cillian Murphy? I was frightened...he was fantastic! And Liam Neeson, big Irish brute that he is, playing the self-righteous, but no less dangerous, villian. I was in awe!If I were to change anything about the movie, I would have ditched Katie Holmes as a love interest. Frankly, for a movie that scored the way this one does, it required a babe of the Kim Basinger caliber, and Holmes does not make the cut. She's got age and naturally occurring collagen on Ms. Basinger, and little else.Overall, I rate this movie 5 stars, and give it the highest possible recommendation. I am suitably gratified.