Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 4.0
Christian Bale's come a long way since Treasure Island.
I didn't think the kid could pull off the newest version of the Dark Knight, but he does at least as good a job as Michael Keaton and actually comes off more dark - although contrived in places.The story follows the origin of Batman but does not stick with the Tim Burton storyline. For one, Batman's parents are not killed by Jack Napier - the criminal who becomes the Joker. Commissioner Gordon also has his relationship bridged to Batman in this film but again, it doesn't follow the original 1990 film version.The SCARECROW is not the scarecrow you might have remembered. They water down this particular villain so much that he looks little more than a drop in a bucket. In truth, he is merely the "pawn" of a much greater evil.Once again, we see Liam Neeson portraying the mentor type(See also Star Wars Episode One, Gangs of New York, and Kingdom of Heaven), as he teaches a young Bruce Wayne all about the ways of fighting technique and skill. It is notable that young Bruce already possesses some knowledge of the martial arts. No explanation is given in how he came to know some very remarkable moves.BEFORE YOU BELIEVE THE HYPE ABOUT THIS BEING THE BEST INSTALLMENT in the Batman series, watch it first. Even with the great acting ensemble (Morgan Freeman, Bale, Gary Oldman, Holmes, Nolan), the original Batman still has a slight edge in my opinion due to the Nicholson performance and deeper sense of darkness surrounding Michael Keaton's portrayal of the Batman character. That's not the say the style of the original is better. This current Batman film has some of the best shots I've ever seen in the series.Hans Zimmer provides a typical Hans Zimmer score, which is, as usual, captivating.This is right there with the original in terms of depth and acting. The storyline is a bit more believable but folks, this is based on a comic book. If you're looking for reality, try the Independent Film Channel.As close to excellent as they get, without actually arriving there.