Batman Begins

Batman Begins is the best Batman movie to date. Don’t get me wrong I still appreciate and love both Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman and the 1966 cult classic. However, I’d like to vent for a minute and shame Tim Burton and Warner Brothers for not releasing a special edition DVD of the ’89 film. OK, end of all rants…

Batman Begins is almost flawless in it’s execution. They borrow the best bits of Batman lore right down to a carbon copy of Commisioner Gordon (still a Lt. in this film) played by Gary Oldman. Michael Caine’s Alfred gives emotion and humor to the otherwise stale Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale. Rutger Hauer is your typical corrupt business man and executes his role with familiar poise. Morgan Freeman’s character Lucius Fox is the “Milton” of Wayne Industries. He’s been banished to the basement where he happily engages in testing prototype equipment and vehicles. You can see where that will lead. Freeman also offers a great deal of humor throughout the film.

They managed to make a film that held true to the more serious side of the Batman comics. It is the origin story again as well as a brand new telling of the up rise of crime in Gotham city. The origin differs slightly this time adding validity to Wayne’s transformation to the Batman. This time Gotham looks more like Chicago than New York and one can tell why when you learn the film was shot on location in Chicago. They somehow manage to keep the film noir and art deco feel of the city while bringing modern elements of mass transit and high-tech skyscrapers to the table.

Bale is a little dry at times but I enjoyed his performance as both Batman and Bruce Wayne and think that he is the best choice to date since Michael Keaton in the 1989 version and maybe Val Kilmer in the horrible [but not quite as crappy as Batman and Robin] Batman Forever.

The action sequences were the only part of the film that bothered me. They were cut choppy, fast and blurry–a style which I’ve come to loathe ever since I saw Gladiator. Though not as bad as Gladiator it was distracting and drew me out of the film. I really wanted to see Batman’s skill a little more. However, not all of the sequences were this bad as witnessed in the Batmobile scene. The Batmobile looks like it was taken straight out of The Dark Knight Returns comic book by Frank Miller. It is a perfect match for Bale’s coarse Batman. And wait until you see the Batcave.

Overall I’d have to give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s was truly excellent. I recommend anyone who grew up on Batman see it without a doubt–and those that didn’t–see it too.