Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
Batman, and comic book movies, get an overhaul...
After the Batman franchise started to become as fermented and corrupt as Gotham itself, devolving into silliness and big men in small tights (think Arnold Schwarzenneger's Mr. Freeze), and with comic book movies in general becoming ever more formulaic and predictable in the quest of the almighty mass market buck, it was refreshing to see Hollywood and Warner Bros. wipe away the old franchise and start anew, handing it to an auteur director, Christopher Nolan; an intense mid-level star known more for his serious work (the excellent Christian Bale) than for his comedy (Keaton) or his looks (Clooney, Kilmer); and to give them a budget, script and the acting muscle (Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Tom Wilkinson) to pull it off.This is a quieter, more thoughtful, darker Batman, but not a kindler, gentler one. By seeing more of the back story, there are layers in complexity to the brooding and the cartoon becomes less, well, cartoonish and feels far more real. I want to particularly laud the script, which involves an intricate and deep plot that weaves delightful circles and surprises that I won't give away here. Unlike in 'Spiderman' -- which at the time was probably the best of the genre despite its formula-driven story -- this is thankfully no 'coming of age' tale of another awkward teenboy, this is about the chiseling of a young man full of anger and guilt into a benevolent creature of the night. Which is far more believable and definitely more satisfying.***Other notes. Sadly, despite all of the praise I heap upon the movie, I still didn't get as lost in it as I would have when I was younger. This is not the movie's fault. I mourn for my lost youth, that magical time when you could instantly believe everything that you saw on the screen and not get caught up in analyzing how the movie makers made it happen. I guess that's a sign I'm leaving the 18-34 demographic and entering the 35-49?And I also wanted to say a kind word about Katie Holmes. She may be a nutcase for marrying Tom Cruise, but I thought she came off well here, and provided a necessary feminine heart and counterpoint to the darkness of the movie (not that there's much romance to speak of). She comes across as sweet, sharp and brave -- exactly the kind of woman that Batman would want to protect.Enjoy!