Batman begins - Batman Begins Reviews

The best Batman ever to be made! Better than Forever, Returns, and the original Batman. But, the one thing that I didn't like about this movie was the story. It was totally different. one thing was that Bruce Wayne made the costume, Morgan Freeman gives it to him. His first villain was The Joker, not Scarecrow, don't get me wrong I loved Scarecrow in this movie, but If they were re-making Batman, it should have been Joker. Awesome movie it truely is! Chris Bale did a good job as Batman. It's a must see movie of the summer. You may think that the story is not really that good, but the story of Batman Begins works. Spectacular entertainment, loved the visuals. Out of 5 stars, it's a 4.5.

They got it right!!!! - Batman Begins Reviews

They said there were going to keep it true to the dark night series and they did! Thank GOD NO Tim burton crap or how can I say it Joel shomocker gay joke special nipple and ass crap! the story is perfect with its charactor development and understanding on who how and why he becomes batman and How he is able to do the things he does! Instead of oh here I am out the blue I'm batman with no true reason why his change (In the other films)! Which is why after seeing this to me personally, there were no other batman films! They don't exist in my mind! The script is as close to prefect as it can get! full of feeling, light heartedness and of course drama and vengence! And yes most important to this movie it is dark! The way it was suppose to be in the comics and now in the movies. Dark with the ray of light at the end of the tunnel! The acting is very will crafted for the film batman/wayne by christen bale is the best and I have to admit perfect chocie for the role he showed the emotion need to bring the charactor to life and is surrounded by an excellent supporting case that makes you wonder why they couldn't get it right the first oh 4times around! christopher nolan is turning out to be a master of his craft his vision of the film, his movement and transitions are near flawless! This is a movie I will diffently see a few more times. IT is worth your time and your money to see puts spiderman to shame!!! Yes I said it! to shame!

Batman begins best one ever... - Batman Begins Reviews

I just returned from the theater watching Batman Begins. I was very impressed and have to say that this Batman is the best one hands down. It seems that it wanted to get away from the old dark movies and the past silly light hearted ones. It tries to capture how the creator wanted Batman to be. The movies starts with how Bruce Wayne becomes batman. It goes more in detail than the first Batman movie with Michael Keaton. With more explaination it made it more believable. When you see Gotham its not too dark or too light. It seems that this city could really exists. The story line took some liberties but not too much that might upset hardcore Batman fans. Now when it comes to the new gadgets and costume. The new batman costumes is not too far from the other movies with some variations. But it still is Batman. The best new thing is the vehicle. The new Batmobile stands out from all the rest. There is no way you will ever think of the Batmobile the same ever again after seeing this vehicle. The weapons, its thrusters, the look, etc. everything about it kicks a**. Don't want to spoil anything about this movie for you but if you are remotely intersted in Batman you will enjoy this movie. The only thing I thought could have been better was the back and forth the movie went from past to present as Bruce was remembering the past. It was only a little slow intelling the origins of Batman but once he started becoming the Dark Knight there wasn't any slow moments. Oh and trust me there will be a sequel and you will know who the villian will be. Enjoy because I definately did and will see it again if given the chance.

Batman begins - Batman Begins Reviews

Batman Begins has elevated the dark knight's existance to new heights thanks to a clever cast, stunning visuals, and a spellbounding story. In a way it was almost like a therapy session for the audience when it delved into the ramifications of fear. We are all afraid of something and fear can manifests itself in different ways. Fear can be healthy and harmful. It can help us avoid doing things that could cause a lot of pain and suffering as well as just the opposite. How we learn to manage our fear is up to us as indivuals. The character of Bruce Wayne had to learn to face his fears and instead of succumbing to them and the anger that fed them he put that energy to better use, by protecting his home, Gotham City. Making Alfred more of a father figure and less of a butler was also a clever move. Allowing the Rachel character to be a strong woman with strong convictions was also a success. The villains were also appropriate. The character of scarecrow, though not as flamboyant as the joker, made perfect sense. He manufactured fear as a way to get to people's psyche only because he couldn't challenge them face on. Ras Al'Guhl was a clever adversary as well, because all along he was using Bruce's fears to bend him to his will. By far, this is definitely the best Batman movie to date. If the film makers continue to maintain this winning formula for success, I look forward to the sequels sure to come in the future.

Loved it - Batman Begins Reviews

Finally! Batman is back and better than ever. This installment is a complete re-boot of the film franchise and has absolutely nothing to do with the previous Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney movies.

The best batman yet!!! - Batman Begins Reviews

Batman Begins is total and complete fun!! this summer's best movie, it tells the story of the dark knight better than ever. Christian Bale does an excellent job in his portrayal as Batman and Bruse Wayne. not only is his acting wonderful, he fits the profile of Batman/Bruce Wayne perfectly: correct weight, body type, hair color, EVERYTHING. even if you're not a fan of the superhero genra, SEE IT ANYWAY!! Batman Begins is 100% fun and excitement

Tension!!! brilliance!!! - Batman Begins Reviews

Apart from this movie being pure genius.... examine, if you will what the director/ producer/ casting director [even!] has done: They've taken actors who have played creepy characters & turned them good!! darkly good, mind you, but indeed the good guys... I couldn't help but think to myself, OMG, I'm watching Christian ['American Psycho'] Bale *not* hack anybody up with a chainsaw, and Linus 'Smiling Man/Pissed Alien'] Roache from the Forgotten. The whole time he's interacting with young Bruce, I'm quietly panicking-- run Bruce run! he's gonna take you away on his spaceship! haha! yes, yes, some of viewers may not have ever seen either film, but for me [and maybe a few others] the creep factor was very strong, lending to some nice tension! Even Gary Oldman, who has always played tormented souls & bad guys... then again as good cop Gordon, he still is a little tormented.... Then on the flipside they did something else... Liam Neeson is always the good guy, now he's dark & twisted, convinced that destruction will save... wow... maybe carefully engineered, maybe inadvertent, but VERY COOL! Even the scarecrow idea was cool ~ using one's own mind [with a little help of course] as an antagonist to destroy others... Brilliant. AWESOME EVERYTHING! GO see it NOW!! Even the bats were cool! Some things I didn't like: - Christian's whispery voice... rrrrrr [he must have cringed at the premier] I was a-twitchin! - Why Katie Holmes??? and I thought she was petering out gracefully... now we're gonna keep seeing more & more of her mediocrity w/ this new Scientology/Tom 'interest' ughhh... nice hair tho, whatever! - Token Morgan Freeman/Black bs~ shove the brilliant black man in the basement & have him vindicated at the end, lovely... duh....

Batman begins a whole new batman era - Batman Begins Reviews

Some people got mad because this story didnt follow the other Batman movies....IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSE TO!!! This movie was great! It completely broke free of the stupid lame-ass pastel colered Gotham we saw in the last two and it made the Dark Knight and Gotham exactly as it started out back in the 40's: dark! I cannot wait for the other two that Christian Bale signed on to do. Awesome movie, go see it but do NOT think it will mesh with the other stories, it was intentionally made not to!

The blockbuster of the 21st century hands down - Batman Begins Reviews

What should you expect? How about Heart-pounding adrenaline-rushing excitement for 2 hours and 14 minutes. Forget the pathetic attempts to bring this character to life before today. This movie has substance. It brings the heart and soul of the story, and characters into existence in a way you have NEVER seen before! It's both original, and creative, and genuine. No cheap jokes, no rushed scenes, no attempts to use star power to mask the lack of content. The way this film has been put together is magnificent. The special effects are flawless...add to that what the writers, director, actors and actresses, and everyone else have done, and what do you get? A movie that will draw you in, and keep you at the edge of your seat wanting more after it's over. It's a crime not to see this movie.

Picture perfect...batman is a realistic happening - Batman Begins Reviews

Just got back from the midnight show...I went in with so-so expectations (I wasn't too impressed with the trailers)...I left absolutely enthralled and raving about its entirety. The characters were all brought on an even playing field - no supernatural beings...all normal people (some more gifted than others)...the movie was cast perfect - Gary Oldman was the straight cop, Morgan Freeman was the keen scientist, Michael Caine was superb as Alfred, Katie was a strong and intelligent woman and Christian Bale was by FAR the BEST Batman on screen. The biggest intrigue in the movie was the history and foundation of the Wayne family and legacy. You felt a connection with the boy Bruce and his mom and dad...by far one of the best movies of the year - not just a superhero movie...but a very intelligently written, acted and directed movie. I was impressed with Christopher Nolan's big directing leap (I was not a fan of Memento and I thought Insomnia was okay)...but he hit gold with this one...and with the teaser they left at the end of the movie for the next villan, I only hope everyone signed on for the sequel!!! Check it out!!!

Katie holmes sucked - Batman Begins Reviews

otherwise great movie with a great cast...unfortunately, katie holmes sucked in her acting. did not show any maturity to her old tv roles. no sparks between her character and bruce. it was so disappointing--she was no nicole kidman (no pun intended)

D - for dumb humor - Wedding Crashers Reviews

I am simply let down everytime I get talked into going to an american made comedy. Who's rating these comedy movies... post pubescent boys and girls? I guess if you think bare breasted women, stupid cliches' and just plain dumb writing is funny... more power to you. I'll stick to the foreign comedies, until Hollywood can produce something more funny than this type of garbage.

D - for dumb humor - Wedding Crashers Reviews

I am simply let down everytime I get talked into going to an american made comedy. Who's rating these comedy movies... post pubescent boys and girls? I guess if you think bare breasted women, stupid cliches' and just plain dumb writing is funny... more power to you. I'll stick to the foreign comedies, until Hollywood can produce something more funny than this type of garbage.

D - for dumb humor - Wedding Crashers Reviews

I am simply let down everytime I get talked into going to an american made comedy. Who's rating these comedy movies... post pubescent boys and girls? I guess if you think bare breasted women, stupid cliches' and just plain dumb writing is funny... more power to you. I'll stick to the foreign comedies, until Hollywood can produce something more funny than this type of garbage.

?batman begins? a blockbuster better by far - Batman Begins Reviews

Whoever heard of a summer blockbuster that didn't show the iconic hero in full action until an hour into the film? This is not your usual stock-in-trade popcorn flick you've come to expect from the kiddie-pleasing Batman enterprise. This new installment is a film that has at its core a desire to fully explore the philosophical ramifications of injustice and fear and sure-handedly takes us along for the emotional ride. This is film that is not afraid to focus on the narrative meat of social and psychological issues while still providing the action-adventure thrills summer audiences have come to expect in hero vs. villain comic book based showdowns. I whole-heartedly applaud director Christopher Nolan for his commitment to character development and plot progression, even at the expense of the traditional bang-bang-shoot-em-up spectacular opening sequence. This movie is not a series of action shots, but rather one long crescendo, a single through-line that continues from opening scene right on to the credits. Christian Bale?s superbly acted Batman is so utterly defined and motivated and shown from so truthful a place that we believe totally in his need to act exactly as he does. There is such a realism and attention to detail in his portrayal of Bruce Wayne, a character who actually invents his alter-ego Batman by trial and error, hit and miss, with lots of misses along the way. There is no gloss here; this is almost super-realism. Add to the mix the outstanding supporting cast of Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, and the inimitable Michael Caine, all of whom are brilliant dramatically, and even add wonderfully timed and heart-felt comedic moments throughout. The depth of talent here is almost endless. Yes, this ?Batman? most certainly belongs alongside Mr. Nolan?s other outstanding works: ?Memento?, ?Insomnia?, and ?Following?. In truth, it should be considered very well placed within their ranks, sharing their search for a fuller humanity with a more open heart. Really, this is an indie film. It?s just disguised as a caped-crusading Hollywood blockbuster.

Tim burton, step aside... - Batman Begins Reviews

This is the best Batman movie - period. Nolan and Goyer have gotten it right. Tim Burton's original release is decent, but it doesn't compare to this film, in which not only true motivation is show, but a the characters are as realistic as possible. Batman here is a man, one who is striving to make a difference against impossible odds, and as an audience, we can feel his strugle. Phenomenal acting by some of the best of their game in not only Bale, but greats such as Caine, Freeman, Neeson and Oldman. There are no silly winks at the camera as everyone takes the story seriously, giving the character of Batman the respect he deserves.

This is it!!!! - Batman Begins Reviews

I'm afraid to go to asleep. Afraid to wake up and find out that what I just saw was all a dream. I'm afraid that when I wake up, I'll see George Clooney and Ah-Nold laughing at me and using catch phrases such as "diabolical" and "fiendish." But then I come to my senses and realize -- none of this was a dream. What I experienced was real! THIS WAS GREATEST BATMAN MOVIE EVER! They finally got it right. All it took was focusing the script on one thing...Bruce Wayne. For most of 90's audiences were subjected to a live-action cartoon that payed more attention to "the suit" than the man behind it. Not this time, Christopher Nolan's Batman is a psychological study into the mind of an insane man who wants nothing more than justice. Batman Begins is about the driving forces in Bruce Wayne's life and why he chooses to live in such a suicidal manner. The movie opens in a prison in some forgotten part of Asia. Wayne has allowed himself to be imprisoned so that he can understand the criminal mind. But he doesn't find any answers. When he's rescued by a man named Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) and introduced to the vigilante organization known as the "League of Shadows," he discovers himself. And it's disturbing. This is Batman at his learning phase -- perfecting the psychology of fear. The mythos of the Batman is made even more frightening by his opponent, the Scarecrow -- a madman who uses toxins to cause hallucinations (you'll love how this enhances Batman's fear factor). By the time it was all said and done, the audience was cheering because this was the Batman movie they had we have been waiting for. As a kid, Batman was always the character I identified with, so this movie has a lot more meaning to me. As an adult, you expect more. You expect a character that has real problems and issues. That's what this movie provides. It dares to answer the question of "What if someone actually did this?" And the answer felt real. That's what makes this movie so spectacular -- it's grounded with a sense of reality even though it's inplausible. Now a few notes about this movie: Number 1 -- This is not a kiddy-flick. This is not Spider-Man. Batman Begins is DARK! Visually, mentally and emotionally DARK! Number 2 -- It's violent. Not over the top with blood and gore. No, it's built around the intensity of a man's fist breaking ribs. Number 3 -- Why are you still reading this! Get your butt to the theater now! Batman Begins has officially set the standard for every comic book based movie to come. Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you!

Batman put on your seat belts for this one - Batman Begins Reviews

The transfer of Comic books to the screen is difficult. The actor who plays the Dark Knight is the most realistic person that I've seen of the Batman Movie or TV series that brings to life the crisis that moves with dark images/events throughout the film. You can truly sense the duality of his Billionaire personality and need to bring justice to a deteriorating Gotham city. Liam Neeson is brilliant as the Head of the Legion of Shadows. Gary Oldham plays a good cop in a city of payoffs and corruption as a young Lt./Sgt Gordon. Morgan Freeman is outstanding in his subtle brilliance as Mr. Fox who understands humbly how all the gadgets Mr. Wayne was developing work and mentors the young Bruce Wayne. Michael Caine was good but seem to struggle at times with the Alfred character. The beginning of the movie had too many close up shots of action/battle scenes that should have had a wider shot. The dialogue, at times, maybe it was the theater, was hard to hear. The District attorney looked like she just got out of high school and was hard to believe she had gone to law school and was at such a high position already. This movie, was a fill in the blanks with your imagination movie. Some of the dark moments are very graphic in nightmarish images and young children I would not recommend this movie to. I enjoyed the movie and hope the next one will be better.

George lucas, take this: batman begins superb - Batman Begins Reviews

The super-hero is back. Needless to say i went to the theatre in a skeptical mood, ready to expect the worst (quite unfairly and i apologize) because I was so disappointed by the Star Wars (III) George Lucas had the nerve to feed us like some brainless pupets in a stupid show. Finally somebody who respects people's intelligence. The start was a little slow, but I guess necessarily so. i don't think I could have enjoyed the climactic end so much, hadn't i gone through the initiation process from the beginning. The training is interesting and Bruce's transition from an aimless young man to a super-hero is nicely and logically depicted. Christian Bale knows how to be discreet and powerfully expressive at the same time. Then Bruce goes back home and he becomes Batman. This movie brought something back: excitement. Watching him in a cave surrounded by flying bats is a moment I'll never forget. My skin was all goosebumps. And the images of Gotham. The really frightening villains. I'm very curious to see where it goes from here and I'm very much looking forward to it. Photography is breathtaking all the way through and the acting, with a few minor slips, worthy of all praise. ok, so here's bruce wayne, disillusioned and eager for revenge. they coudn't have picked a better actor. i've seen Christian Bale in many movies and he's never disappointed me. His modest and serious manner in which he approaches his roles has earned him a name which now is gonna be known worldwide. Michael Caine is Michael Caine. Great as ever. Liam Neeson seems to be the perfect mentor. But here, he's not only the mentor. He turns out to be a bad guy which is very refreshing to see. I sighed: finally! Liam Neeson has more potential than to be playing future heroes' mentor all his life. I'm glad Gary Oldman is back. I was just wondering about him a while ago. here he's the ordinary man with a good heart that is caught between the desire to do good and the lucid thought that he stands no chance. The villains are compelling. The doctor is terrifying with his apparent good looks and his monstruous nature. The old man (I can't remember the actor's name right now, but i've seen him in many movies-all good acting on his part) is perfect as a big boss, all power and hunger for power, but in the end gets eaten by bigger sharks. Now: Katie Holmes. She's sweet and tough as a DA at the same time. But, she got all the wrong lines. It seems like her lines were always meant to be film defining, scene defining, character defining, society defining. Tiring, right? and what's that thing in the end with: underneath, you're the same person but deep inside you're somebody else (or something like that). what's that: underneath and deep inside? How deep inside is underneath? so...., in the end, how many persons are inside or/ and underneath Bruce wayne? It's something beyond me. But you know what: I so much appreciate the fact that the chick FINALLY realizes who the hero is in real life and he discloses his identity. No more: I see half you face, your voice is familiar, the height is like somebody's i know, but who are you: Batman, Superman, Spiderman and....Daredevil? or, i'm a superhero, u see me every day at work or socially , but I won't tell you I am him and I expect you to be so blind as to not recongnize me. well, I think this was also necessary for the movie to go on and explain Batman's bad luck with women. wow, i've definitely written a looooot this time and all serious. only this and I'm done: the best action movie this year.

Implausable, and genuine. a true thrill ride! - Batman Begins Reviews

To my astonishment, in the begining of the movie i thought i was still watching a trailer! This movie Grips on to you from the production studio ads at the beginging, to the last breathtaking sweep down from a building at the end! I've never seen a Batman Movie prior to this one but that's ok cuz this is the start of all of them. It's so increibly credible that it's hard to beleive that any Special Fx's in the movie. Trully a must see! If u liked National Treasures implausable cliched story line, than be prepared for a RIDE that's genuine and original in every millisecond! Do not blink! Honestly this movie doesn'tstop from start to Finish but it really really really good!!!

Finally, someone gets batman right! - Batman Begins Reviews

Batman. A true representation of him has been as illusive on the silver screen as the the darknight detective was the criminals and crime lords of Gotham. Previous movies lacked the subtle power, humanity or vigilant nature of the Batman character that is the lore of comic book fame for decades. I grew up a DC comic buff, and Batman was the one "Marvel-esque" character that fit that unique space between reality and myth- a character that had not special powers, but reached beyond his humanity to become something more than a man. A legend. And this is the way this movie begins, with the history and ideology clearly explained. Instead of rushing into battle against one mindless idiodic foe after another, this Batman is a true character with a real story to tell. And if you are steeped in Batman lore, then what can I say? Welcome Home! Christopher Nolan directs a near perfect rendition of Gotham's caped crusader, faulting only with a slight misgiving on the villian portrayals that take rise in the last 1/3 of the movie. But that is small err when you look at the complete treatment that this Batman gets. Batman himself is played by Christian Bale, who is the perfect balance of human and revenge. Not nearly as cold and empty as previous attempts, he outlasts even Michael Keaton as the best Batman & Bruce Wayne yet put to film. Batman was, at the core, a person conflicted by the desire to avenge his parents death to the a vast criminal plague in the city of Gotham and his own personal desire to see justice and not vengence have its reign in bringing evil to halt. The past attempts at his character have made him to cold or too untormented and emotionally lackluster. Bale balances the two souls of Batman and Bruce Wayne with his own sense of balance, and it works perfectly. Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Katie Holmes make the perfect supporting cast for the Batman. The criminals were also presented with much more humanity than previous super-psycho larks that had neither realism or escapism for the moviegoer. The crime lord boss, the psychotic psychiatrist and the ninja master all have actually human-like qualities here, and one actually feels compelled to geniunely believe and dislike them. The only thing that weighed slightly less than the rest was the league of shadow characters, who really become slightly over-the-top with a "destroy the city for the good of mankind mantra". It's not a big deal, but it betrays the true Batman story and isn't what you look for when cannon is going to screen. The action itself is excellent. Effects don't overload the scenes, but tension holds the mystery of Batman in concise sway. You feel like this is a Batman battle, with fear and surprise lurking around every corner. Sure there are great martial arts scenes once the Darknight detective has opened up the battle, but the nuances of his arrival and dismantling of the enemy is enjoyable and genuine. Thankfully, we aren't treated to a smattering of useless romance in this film. It is a comic book hero film, about the birthing of a legend, not a romance novel. This is where far too many action movies go awry- inserting the obligatory love interest to keep the ladies watching the film. While miss Holmes does well as the love interest for sure, they don't play to that, and the protagonist isn't twisted and forced to deciding between his dedication to his role as Batman and his hope of relationship with the lady. Now that the Batman Begins has played the important role of defining the character, later movies would do well to build on the theme, and then romance is a reasonable outgrowth of the plot. The movie will be too dark and violent for children under 13, but there is not an huge amount of scare tactics on this film. The few scenes of drug induced psychosis, where people appear demonized to the viewers will be too frightful for children under 13, but save those scenes you have a violent, but viewable movie for ages 10 and up. If you have never seen a Batman movie, this is the one! If you are you true Batman fan and have been waiting for someone to finally get it right, then welcome home my friend, because here: Batman Begins!

The batman epic - Batman Begins Reviews

Batman takes you through the journey that's never been told. From training of becoming a Ninja to conquering the only fear and becoming a symbol of fear for the crooks. I'm glad this one wasn't done until now. There is one element that wouldn't have worked back when the first ones came out. The aim to aww the audience works only now with the new quality of effects. It could now have been done then. This is merely a reason why I say I'm glad its done now. This movie is complete. The strongest aspect of any movie is a story. Sure if you casting right, you've done 80% of your work, but without the story only so much can be achieved. Start with batman (Bale), a dedicated actor like De Niro. In what sense? The same senses that it takes allot to risk so much for a movie. Most A-list actors don't risk as much. You'll know what I'm talking about if you've seen The Machinist. You won't recognize Bale in that movie. The man is 190lbs. He drops to 120-125 for the role. He is nothing but skin and bones. He didn't sleep, barely ate, just to make a fantastic movie. Only one other actor did that. It was De Niro... As I was watching this movie, I was amazed seeing all these great actors in one movie. Its got Michael Caine as Alfred. I tell you, he is good. Morgan freeman is in it, and this man has a strong screen presense. He plays role of wise old men to the greatest. Liam Neeson cann't be denied. I've recently been watching all of his movies. He plays a mentor better to the greatest. He plays an honest man to the greatest. Rob Roy, Kingdom of Heaven, even the Schindler's List. No wonder why every director are honored to have him play even the smallest of roles. Then we have Gary Oldman. I love this man. He knows he is talented. He has too many movies that put his performance above many. One of the greatest was the cracked up cop in The Professional. Tom Wilkinson brings the evil of a small timer mobster to life, natural. He has shown what he can do in every movie he has been in. Ken Watanabe was The Last Samurai in 2003. He too plays the role of a master. Why would all these people want to join this movie. First of all, the script is amazing. This movie is exciting, but not in a action packed sort of way. Please do not compare this to any of the old batman movies. All the batman fans know that. This movie has a plot... The story is one of the best stories this year so far. I'm including all the independent films as well. The story gets better and better as the film goes on. Once you think you've got it, there is a spin of a surprise waiting. It?s suspenseful. It?s amazing, and the action scenes are to the supreme. In this movie, batman has no limits. He does whatever. This movie's greatest asset is its director, Christopher Nolan best known for Memento. He writes and directs. He is such a smart director like Doug Limon (The Bourne Identity). Another reason why all the great actors want to work with him. Sum them all up, the cast, the story, the director, and batman. You've got the first epic Batman. Its an epic movie that works for all people, not just the fans. I know the fans are happy. I'm sure anybody who watches this movie will not be disappointed.

Best superhero movie ever (spoilers labeled) - Batman Begins Reviews

Not only is this easily the best Batman movie ever made, it is the best movie period in the comic book genre. When I leave a movie, the first thing I try to think about is things I might change. In Star Wars Episode 3 for instance, I would take out the god-awful "No, I love YOU," dialogue between Anakin and Padme. Here though, I could not think of an area of the movie I would change. (SPOILER) Liam Neeson, Liam Neeson, Liam Neeson. Man, I had no idea he was going to be the bad guy based on the previews. Not only is his entry into the "bad guy" realm surprising, his performance was on par with anything he's done before. While I would still put Schindler's list at the top of my resume if I was him, Batman Begins cements him among the most talented actors out there today. If you think Jack Nicholson was good, wait until you Neeson. (end of SPOILER) One question I had going in was "Katie Holmes? Are you kidding me?" but Holmes put those questions to rest. Yes, the star of movies like "First Daughter" does such a fantastic job, I actually made it through the movie without thinking about Tom Cruise jumping on couches and having to swallow the little bit of vomit that tries to come up everytime I do. I would like to continue talking about the actors because they are all so superb, but the filmographies of Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman, as well as the documented talents of Christian Bale speak for themselves. So let's move onto directing. What makes this Batman movie so much different from the others? Well, everyone knows that this movie is darker, but the thing I found I enjoyed the most is that Nolan puts you in the shoes of the bad guys. When the bad guys are scared like hell of Batman, you know EXACTLY why, b/c you feel like if you were there, you'd be scared $h!tless, too. I can't continue writing b/c it's 3:20am, and I have to get sleep, but just think... after watching the midnight showing, I came back and did something I rarely do... write a review, b/c EVERYONE should go see this movie. For those fans who wanted to strangle a furry animal when Robin said, "Holy rusted-metal Batman... the ground it's all holy and rusted," in Batman Forever, do not fear, Joel Schumacher is nowhere to be found. Your favorite superhero is in good hands. The word is out and spreading quickly... Batman Begins is phenomenal

Not cheesy...?not too dark...?perfect - Batman Begins Reviews

IT WAS SOOOO GOOD!! Man I am happy that this movie was all I expected it to be. Not cheesy, but not too dark, but most of all realistic. Gotham City was more realistic, it didn?t look like a snow globe city + the bat mobile didn?t look like someone maximized a hot wheels car. The acting was to die for, the strongest cast since CRASH, the perfect Batman/Bruce Wayne was indeed portrayed by Christian Bale, the best batman, a couple notches above Keaton + the Scarecrow o my god was one scary villain, but not too scary for little ones to watch. In my opinion (and I have a feeling a lot of people will agree with me) the movie was PERFECT, action fans will love it, kids will enjoy it, girls will swoon, and fans of the comic book will have goose bumps running a mile a minute!!! pCe out, enjoy the movie I sure did

Warning: spoiler & explanations - Batman Begins Reviews

I am a Marvel Comics fan and after watching Batman Begins I was astonished. The only Batman comic books that I read were Knightfall (Arkham Asylum inmates escapes), Contagion (catastrophe hit Gotham) and Hush (childhood friend of Bruce during his younger years and a one on one encounter with Ra?s Al Ghul). Interestingly, the movie depicts the three storyline in one coherent plot twist. I am pretty sure everybody knows the origin of Batman as this tale has been retold a million times already, but what is fascinating with the movie is how Christopher Nolan showcased a moody and dark setting into something classy and elegant in every sense. Character development was virtually the strong sense emphasized blending in symphony with the action sequence. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne was brilliant but still needs improvement. After watching Equilibrium, I know that he can be the next Batman. To be perfectly honest, Bale lacks the charisma needed to be an eccentric billionaire playboy but provided the persona of a struggling character that tries to define who he is. Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth was dry and yet retains the classic butler a Wayne Manor can have. The first Alfred was something I missed in the movie since he delve into the background and yet provide a powerful performance. In this case Caine can out deliver what Bale does and make him standout more. Liam Neeson as Rene Ducard/Ra?s Al Ghul was a phenomenal actor that can fit in any role he chooses. He is the perfect mentor in any apprentice. I am sure lots of people would remember him as Qui-Gon Jinn in Episode I and also in Kingdom of Heaven. The character defining point of view can articulate what is not black/white, right/wrong but an ideal that go either way in ones perspective. In the comic books, the cult group is actually the League of Assassins compared to the League of Shadows in the movie. It reminds you of Knights Templar or the Illuminati. Plus he never dies because he uses the Lazarus Pit to renegenerate. Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Crane a.k.a the Scarecrow was hardly a factor in the movie as he represents a minor role in the scheme of events. The head of Arkham Asylum was actually founded by Jeremy Arkham and from the looks of things Crane actually looks like the director or in charge of the facility. Gary Oldman as James Gordon, in the comic book he has become a Commissioner but here he used to be a Lt (and then Sgt.?) It surprises me that not many people know him and when I told them that guy played Dracula and there jaws drop. Oldman was a class act example of what acting should be by becoming the character itself rather than their persona takes place. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, the movie actually provided on how he became CEO of Wayne Enterprises. In the comic book, Fox doesn?t know that Bruce is Batman but logic dictates he should know making Alfred responsibility split into people. Plus who would have provided those special gadgets without his help. The only person I wasn?t satisfied was Katie Holmes. Hollywood tends to put a damsel in distress or a love relationship with your leading man. No offense on her acting career but she simply didn?t fit the role. Hope that Warner finds another love interest for Bruce Wayne or else why would he be called a playboy if he goes out with one girl. Other bits: Victor Zsasz was actually in the movie and appeared in the one of the trial that Crane testifies. Barbara Gordon, daughter of James Gordon was in the dining room eating her meal. (I think she is still in diapers) The others like Joe Chill were simply added extras in this movie. I was disappointed to see Ken Watanabe have a short role thinking before hand he is Ra?s that plays prominant role. Overall, the movie was wonderfully crafted but makes you wonder on a modernized Batman story that may appeal to a mature audience rather than children. As Batman Begins, it also signifies a sequel with the Joker once again (as long as its not Jack Nicholson its fine with me)

You people still dont get it! correct origin story - Batman Begins Reviews

I've read a lot of user reviews, and some of you still don't get it! People are putting the movie down because they believe that the Joker is the one who murdered Batman's parents. This is because they think that the Batman 89 movie was the origin story. WRONG!!!! Batman Begins tells the CORRECT story of how Batman's parents were murdered. The way that was depicted in the original Batman comics. The Batman 89 movie explained both Joker and Batman's parents murder totally disregarding the comic books. And yet more, because of this, people think that this movie doesn't "fit" with the other Batman movies in terms of its continuity. The fact is that this movie is NOT related to the other movies. It is a "restart". In an interview, Christian Bale said that they are "respectfully ignoring" the previous movies because they never explained the REAL Batman story the way it was supposed to be told. I liked Batman 89, but Keaton was never the definitive image of Batman for me. It has taken this movie to finally be the definitve one. Christian Bale is probably the only actor EVER worthy of portraying Bruce Wayne/Batman, and this movie is so far elegantly done, that it is in a class so much higher than any superhero flick that has ever been made. People fail to see the dramatic and intriguing story. This is also a more "adult" movie, which works fine because if you go back and read the comics, Batman was never really a happy sort of comic book. I wish people would make more informed opinions before they bash a movie that has now raised the bar for both filmmaking and for the old "superhero" stereotypical movies.

I collect x-men books but begins is best hero flic - Batman Begins Reviews

Batman Begins has the best ACTING of any superhero flick since Christopher Reeve embodied the Man Of Steel in '78. And Begins has the best overall experience for a comic book adaptation since last year's Spider-Man 2. The bar has been raised yet again! The first Batman movie in 1989 was never the real Batman origin story. It explained to audiences that Joker was the killer of Batman's parents. And Michael Keaton wasn't exactly tall or buff, which sort of diminishes the image of Bruce Wayne/Batman is, right? So although I liked the movie, it was never really the definitive Batman movie for me. When it comes to comic book adapations, I only ask Hollywood for 3 things: 1) Don't cast a "big name" to play the lead role, 2) Get the origin story right (meaning don't rearrange the true ages of the ensemble characters from their comic book source, which is why the X-Men movie failed me as a fan of the books... Iceman is not supposed to be a teenager, Rogue is supposed to be a tall gorgeous model type with a Southern accent, they missed out on Beast as a founding member, and Magneto is much more youthful and much more buffed in the comics and 3) tone down the use of cheesy one-liners, these comic book heroes are no joke (they deal with real global-scale villains in the books). Batman Begins shows us that we CAN take a superhero a little more seriously than we thought. It shows us that Batman is not just a one-dimensional character. Superman and Spider-Man movies both showed us this, but Christian Bale as Batman has totally CONVINCED us that Bruce Wayne is truly truly mentally suffering from his parents' tragedy, and that Batman is his true face, his true mental attitude, filled with vengeance and anger that he uses against criminals to maintain a level of justice and safety to the people of his beloved city of Gotham. Bale's performance even beats Reeve's (and I have for a long time held Reeve's performance as the best of all comic book flicks). Spider-Man 2 was a phenomenal movie as it was able to balance a family-friendly (with the exception of the Doc Ock tentacle scene) movie with special effects and a fair share of humor and decent acting. But it's still sort of has a more "kid appeal" to it, rather than say something more adult and more mature. And that's where Batman Begins succeeds. Even though it still has its share of light-hearted moments and well-delivered humour, the focus of the seriousness at hand is never forgotten. The movie is completely logical and thorough in explaining how Bruce Wayne "disappears" off the face of the planet for 7 years, lost in his journey to find some sort of peace from his suffering, and how trains his mind and his body (especially that) in order to take himself seriously and prepare to become this costumed vigilante. The suit and gadgets are explained in an eye-opening manner, and the music and direction of the film keeps you interested. The acting is by far the best, not just because the cast is already should need no introduction, but because they have been given really GOOD lines to iterate. You will find little cheesy one-liners in this movie. And you will also find less -cheesy villains. This Batman is REAL, and so are his enemies. The actor who played "Scarecrow" is convincingly terrifying, and without any spoilers the special effects are COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE! I don't think people expect much from this movie. I think people expect teh "same old story" as the other Batman movies or comic book movies in general. Prepare to have all your expectations buried, and prepare to be truly entertained and amazed. The special effects are not grand or overdone (*cough* Revenge of the Sith *cough*), but they will be images you will remember for a long time. The story isn't a bore either, its quite suspenseful, and there is so much this movie tries to get across in terms of subjects of revenge and justice, and personal gratification. It's a smart movie, and it entertains, and it touches emotionally. This Batman is dark, he is visibly cold and intimidating, and yet we empathize and sympathize with him. We follow him on his journey and watch him endure his mental and physical trials. And we relate to him the best, because he is human. And to top it off, the ending is best! Do not miss this movie. I know it carries the baggage of the last two "goofy" Batman movies, but this is a completely new Batman, the real one, the true Batman that has been waiting to be explored. The story and direction could not have been any better! The acting is the FINEST of any superhero movie. It should deserve some Oscar nods. Yes, it's that impressive. The music and visuals are unforgettable. I haven't seen a movie made this way in a long time.

Batman begins - Batman Begins Reviews

Starring: Christen Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson. What's it about?: Batman Begins explains, the origins of the Dark Knight, and how Batman came to be. The Good: There are so many positive things to say about this movie. First off all the performances are amazing. Christen Bale is definately the best actor to potray Batman. Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, and Katie Holmes also play their roles perfectly. Secondly, the story was evry well written. We see an excellent explanation, and portryal of how Batman came to be, and the perosnal struggle, and dilemna he went through. Thirdly, the scenery is amazing, and it creates a beautiful and convinngly dark world for the story to take place. Lastly, the movie was wonderfully executed. Every action sequnce was amazingy well done, the story was beleivable, the effects were top notch, and the acting was superb. The Bad: There are only a few bad things I must say about this movie. The major thing being its length. It's too long. Period. It's never broing, its just too long. And after a while i got a little antzy and restless in my seat. But besides that this movie is pretty much flawless. Batman Begins is a fun movie to watch. The movie is very well made, and deserves to be watched on the big screen.

It's not "another" batman movie. it's the real one - Batman Begins Reviews

And by REAL, I don't just mean it's more set in a REAL world, but it will EDUCATE all of you people who thought the Batman '89 movie was the real story. Batman/Bruce Wayne's parents murder is explained here just as Bob Kane (creator) intended. I was never a huge Batman fan, until I learned the previous Batman movies never got the real Batman story right. Batman Begins gets about 80% (I would say) from numerous, critically-acclaimed Batman graphic novels including Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, The Long Halloween, and The Dark Knight Returns. This will be the closest to the written pages we will see, and director Christopher Nolan of such psychological thrillers as Insomnia and Memento has earned his spot from a mere "indie" director, and into the big blockbuster class. Without spoiling anything, Nolan successfully delivers us a Batman that is explained, that is logical (but not at all boring), that toys with our own assumptions of what we see onscreen, while entertaining us in a more dramatic way that no other "comic book/superhero" movie has done before. Spider-Man 2 was a phenomenal film that seemed to raise the bar that Superman the movie (1978) and the original Batman (1989) had set. X-Men and its characters are so far off and miscast from the comic books, that it's hard to even call it by name. Spider-Man movies were great but they still felt like they were placed in a "comic book" world. There were cheesy lines and quips that simply "had" to be there in the film. And the use of modern nu-metal rock and/or hip hop songs of the MTV kind often take away from the integrity of the comic books themselves. It is worthy to note that Batman Begins doesn't suffer from the same fate as all these formulaic superhero movies we have seen recently. The entire film is set to an orchestral score from a collaboration of two of Hollywood's finest composers: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Batman Begins is more righteously and deserving of being described as an "epic", "deeply dramatic" as opposed to melodramatic, and an "intelligent and complex" form of storytelling. This movie makes you think, and has so much substance. You're not just paying for special effects and cliche dialogue like the other movies. Batman Begins uses its high-caliber and Oscar-nominated cast with dialogue delivery that is convincing and not "forced". These actors are living their lines, and not just "reciting" them. Even Katie Holmes, who on paper seems like the odd cast choice, successfully convinces in her portrayal of Assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes and Bruce's childhood friend. Christian Bale is able to play 3 sides of himself: Bruce Wayne the vengeful son, Bruce Wayne the billionaire playboy, and Batman. His experience in "American Psycho" has lent to his portrayal of Bruce Wayne, and we cannot help but believe this young man's lifelong obsession for revenge. Bale deserves more recognition than most actors who appear in tabloids and headlines have(sadly, whom of which don't have half of Bale's acting talent). The best "new" device is that when Batman is taking out the criminals, we see it from their point of view, which follows the theme that recurs throughout the film, which is "fear", and if people are hearing rumours that the movie lacks CGI effects, then they have the wrong idea. Nolan uses only the amount of computer-generated imagery AS NECESSARY. The Scarecrow effects is probably the most disturbing and frightening than ANY OTHER superhero film to date. IT almost plays like a suspense/horror film at times. The visuals are simply superb. Everything else you see is real. The film was shot in several locations all over the world and does NOT RELY SOLELY on computers to create backgrounds. There is a sense of realism back to a decade ago when films were made the old-fashioned way, and where there was actually "something" in front of the camera lens. The best thing is that Batman is human, which is why it is not hard to empathize and to truly engage in this film. If you pass up this movie thinking it is just "another Batman" film, then you will sorely regret it. The intention of the movie was to "restart" the Batman franchise. And Nolan and Bale and the all-star cast has done exactly that. I walked out of the theater speechless...because it was so overwhelmingly good. Batman BEGINS....now.

Dark and edgy batman begins trumps the rest - Batman Begins Reviews

I'm a huge Batman fan and most of the previous installments left me with a sour taste in my mouth for the movie franchise of my comic book hero. I did like Val Kilmer as Batman but he seemed too depressed and not vengeful enough. Whoever thought to cast Christian Bale as Batman struck gold with this brilliant decision. Bale brings an intensity to the character that was lacking in most of the performances of past Batman movies. The murder of ones parents would make anybody lust for vengenace and Bale brings this violent rage and need for justice across perfectly in his perfomance. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine do a good job with what they were given and the poise and presence that each brings to the screen helps to lift this film to a higher level. The only problem I had with this film was Katie Holmes. Katie was o.k. in some scenes but most of the time she looked lost and out of place. Overall this movie is well acted, moody, and the visuals help to set the dark tone of the film. I recommend this film to everyone because in a season of horrible films, this is one of the good movies out there. To those movie fans that like edgy films like Sin City, you're going to love this film. Now run to your nearest theater and see this movie.

Negative reviews actually point out positives! - Batman Begins Reviews

I have found that many reviews bring up "negative" points about the film, but I actually find all of them to actually be positive compliments for Batman Begins. Let's break it down: User Reviews' "negative" comments on Story: "They don't show that the Joker killed Bruce's parents"..."Why do they show Batman receiving training from a bunch of ninjas? Makes no sense."..."The plot is ridiculous, this (villain character) I've never heard of him, and he's too "human"" Actual Positive side: In the original Batman story created by Bob Kane in 1939, Bruce's parents were not gunned down by the Joker, but by a simple street thug. The film gets this right, and actually displays it in a much more dramatic and emotional scene than any of the previous films. Even the Joker's "origin" in Batman 1989 was incorrect. The ninja training on the other side of the world is influenced from several of highly-acclaimed Batman graphic novels including Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One" which came out and was very popular in the late 80s/early 90s. It tells of the "missing years" where Bruce went off to learn his fighting skills and more in different parts of the world. The film touches on that here. A compliment to director Nolan and writer Goyer, and basically an uneducated opinion by some users. For the first portion of the film, we actually get to go inside Bruce's attitude, mentality, and thirst for revenge, while learning to struggle with a balance to find justice and righteousness. The (villain character) is actually one of Batman's more intriguing ones. While all the other "crazy and insane" classic villains are more popular, this character is probably the most deadly and most serious. He is Batman's ultimate nemesis, yes even above the Joker. And he is portrayed in Batman Begins almost exactly as he should be in the original comics. I won't spoil it for you, you must watch the film. People have never heard of this villain, so they assume it fails to entertain, but do they really know who the Joker is? Yes people see that he plays deadly practical jokes, but fail to realize that Batman deals with insane psychotics who are placed in an asylum. they are not the typical thugs and corrupt villains that people like Spider-Man or Superman put in jail or hand over to the cops. People forget that over half of Batman's enemies come from a place called "Arkham Asylum". These are far beyond normal criminals. Their sense of reality is lost, and Batman has no choice but to save Gotham from them. User Reviews' "negative" comments on Acting: "They could have picked a better actor to play Bruce"..."the other actors were useless". Actual Positive side: It seems these reveiwers have never actually sat through or had the patience of watching a film that portrayed great emotion, dead-on, and a great sense of flowing dialogue. Most if not all of the actors wear their roles like a comfortable pair of jeans. Even Katie Holmes surprised me by staying fairly within a believable bounds of her role as a young but tough-nosed D.A. Caine stole the Alfred mantle. Freeman slyly delivers. Cillian Murphy as Dr. Crane/Scarecrow is convincingly creepy, evil and as disturbed as his patients. I don't think I would've settled with another actor. Neeson embodies his role, and Batman fans couldn't agree more. Christian Bale, a brilliant actor who has up until now flown under the radar, has completely wiped all previous Batmen form the slate. Even when he is not speaking, you can read the emotion and turmoil all over his face, and in his eyes. No one has looked more believably cold under that bat cowl. And Bale has earned an Oscar nod for portraying a multi-dimensional persona of Bruce Wayne as a mental wreck, as a cover-up billionaire playboy, and as demon-possessed Batman. You have never seen Batman like this! And it's not at all silly. You now begin to take Batman more seriously than a guy in tights a cape and a mask. User Reviews' "negative" comments on Directing: "The action scenes were to choppy/blurry..."..."It was too dark".."The movie drags on in the beginning"..."Most people wont sit through the first act..they want to see Batman" Actual Positive side: Those comments only resonate the fact that most people have lost their sense of high quality. IDolan has decided to go back to basics. Back to a time when a budget had to be pushed in order to bring a more memorable quality to the film. Sets, stagehands, carpenters, technicians and actual locations (Chicago, London, Iceland (I believe)) are among what was used for the filming. And Christopher Nolan actually designed the new Batmobile aka the Tumbler himself. That's right, he spent time his garage actually engineering this machine for the film. It really physically jumps in most of those scenes, and it has a 0-60 in under 7 seconds I read somewhere. You see things on the screen for a reason. Explosions were done by pyro-technicians, and not by some geek in front of his Mac or PC. There is a sense of "filmmaking" still here, and it delivers in a pure sense. The fight scenes were meant to "drop" the audience in the middle of the fight, and not just watch it. Even though some people may find it hard to swallow, it does not by any means take away from the flow of the scenes. The cast is such of a high caliber, so why would you give them forgettable and under-delivered lines such as "Anakin, you're breaking my heart! (Star Wars Ep III)"?!?!? This film is clearly not the "family-friendly" or "kid-friendly" nature of Spider-Man or X-Men. Hasn't anyone learned that Batman definitely isn't for kids? I guess not. People have been so easily persuaded to not take Batman seriously, that they don't realize just how serious his world is. But kids can learn and see drama in action. The movie has various overtones of moral decisions and encouragement for self-belief and seeking help from those who care and for whom you care about. The movies delivers on all of the above, and we still haven't gotten to the Visuals! User Reviews' "negative" comments on Visuals: "Some scenes may be too frightening for small children"..."Batman doesn't "fly""..."Too little special effects" Actual Positive side: Although kids under 7 may find some "Scarecrow" images frightening, it is not all that terrible. At least, the visuals are not unnecessary. The theme of the movie seems to be about fear and overcoming it. If your children are listening to it, they can comprehend it. While other movies transition in and out of actual actors to computer generated ones, Batman Begins actually uses stuntmen, and puts Batman on wirework, and who really runs into things, bumps into things, etc. People are actually moving...it's a strange to say it's like a breathe of fresh air. For those of us 8 and above, the "Scarecrow" visuals are simply amazing. You wonder how many ways you can give a memorable terrifying effect, and they seem to hit the right one. And the "fear toxin" visuals give the film a level of serious creepiness appropriate to Batman's world. If it isn't this creepy and terrifying, then you couldn't understand or take it as seriously or as believable. In addition to those visuals, the Botham sets and Chicago and Iceland locations are simply breathetaking. Gotham has remnants of "Balde Runner", a film Chrisopher Nolan regards so highly. Gotham is wet, dark, crowded, and is filled with actual people. As far as costumes, Batman's is by far the best -fitting, and best-looking than any of the previous. And Batman's gadgets are explained, so you begin to understand their use for Batman. Overall: So actually, overall, the negative comments are actually positives. Batman Begins has raised the bar for comic/superhero films, and I say this because it minimizes the corny/cliche/cheesy one-liners (to extras actors), and still manages to place some humorous dialogue without taking away from the seriousness and drama at hand. The film can easily be lost into the "action/drama" section rather than the "fantasy/superhero/scifi" one. It is more "classic" than even Batman 1989. In fact, if you watched Batman Begins, and then watched Batman 1989, you'll be so convinced that Batman 1989 was more like a cartoon movie. The story is remarkable, and if you disregard any connection to the previous Batman films, then you prepare yourself in the best way. The word is that this is a "restart". That WB has chosen to start telling the real Batman mythos from scratch. I'm glad I haven't yet bought any of the previously released Batman DVDs. The definitive Batman Begins will come later this fall! Treat yourself to movie with a quality and class and pure exhiliration that you haven't seen a long time. Batman Begins!!! (In IMAX, too!)

Wrong reason to give a negative review. read on. - Batman Begins Reviews

The popular consensus, even by non-Batman fans is that this movie is great. So I don't need to add anything else. The movie is brilliant and speaks for itself. What bothers me is that people give negative comments for this film because they think it is connected to the previous 4 Batman films. I know it's not their fault, but this is a RESTART. If you thought the Joker was the original murderer of Bruce Wayne's parents, then you were led to believe a lie. That's what director Tim Burton in the original Batman decided as "his interpretation". The truth, is that Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered by a regular guy with a gun...and Batman Begins gets its original comic source material right. I feel sorry for people who have been learning their Batman facts from the previous 4 films (or even the 60s tv show). It's the fault of WB and the previous directors. Batman Begins is the closest to the source material and to creator Bob Kane's original story. The film was based/influenced on/from several critically-acclaimed Batman graphic novels such as Frank Miller's (Sin City) "Batman: Year One" and "The Long Halloween". You must "forget" the other 4 films as they were merely a foolish playground for the directors and they never gave us the "true-to-the-comic-book" version of Batman. It's not a happy world Batman lives in, it's not Spider-Man's bright lit New York City. Gotham is grim, and teeming with dissolution. Batman is a tortured soul and only lives to fight...and the movie sets that out straight in here. Enjoy the movie for what it is finally telling you...and not for "it doesn't go with Batman 1989". This is a RESTART. WB will now show us the true Batman from here on.

Nevermind the bullsh*t, here is batman... - Batman Begins Reviews

As a filmmaker and someone who read and collected comics as a child, I am often quite skeptical when I sit down in the theater to watch the latest attempt by Hollywood to bring a comic book to the screen. Sam Raimi, normally a great director, bored me to death with the Spider-Man movies. Bryan Singer, also usually a decent director, used the X-Men movies to make some kind of statement about alienation when he should have just stuck to the story. And Daredevil...Ugggh! My favorite comic book hero of all, played by a beer-bellied non-actor. Elektra, played by a skinny, anorexic waif. Worst of all, Bullseye, played by a dude who looks about as threatening as a dead fly. I refused to even watch it. Did I mention the disasters known as "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin"? For these movies, Joel Shumacher should have been executed. Nipples and roller-skates aside, the worst sin committed by these wastes of celluloid was taking the franchise back to the campy 1960's television series. In 1986, Batman was redefined by the great comic book writer Frank Miller. The psychosis of a man dressed in a bat suit was fully explored. The adult nature of the character Batman was revealed. From that point on, the Adam West incarnation should have been permanently put to rest. Tim Burton made admirable gestures and someday I look forward to seeing the four-hour director's cut of "Batman Returns," the best of the franchise to this point. To this point... Last night I sat down to watch "Batman Begins," having heard the rave reviews and looking forward to ANYTHING different from the last two Batman movies. Holy great f*ckin' movie, Batman! This movie succeeds on so many levels, at this point in Hollywood's weekly parade of mediocrity, this movie might very well be of Oscar caliber. The script is magnificent (And I am an egomaniacal screenwriter who does not like to admit there are any other good writers in Hollywood...) The direction is brilliant. So good, in fact, that I never had time to notice that Katie Holmes, despite being a beautiful young woman, is a terrible actress. The script stuffs her mouth with complex comic book dialogue that she delivers quickly and then gets out of the way so that the action may continue. It works. Christian Bale manages to make both sides of Bruce Wayne's personality interesting, which only Michael Keaton BARELY accomplished (That's no slam on Mr. Keaton, whose interpretation of Batman beats the hell out of the two guys that followed.) The great performance of this movie, however, belongs to Liam Neeson. He had me convinced that being a murderous vigilante is the only way to make the world better. The last character to sway my opinion so thoroughly was Travis Bickle ("Taxi Driver")! There are a few problems I personally have with the film, but they are problems that only reflect what I would have done differently as a filmmaker. I will not dwell on them here because I would prefer to strongly encourage everyone to go out and see this movie. It is far superior to the Star Wars movie and so far the previews for "War of the Worlds" haven't impressed me in any way. I believe THIS is the summer movie that will remind those of us old enough to remember what it was like back in the early 80s when every summer there were one or two films that knocked our collective socks off. This is the definition of a summer blockbuster. It's thoughtful and entertaining. According to the late great Stanley Kubrick, one can't ask for much more from a film.

Disapointing - Batman Begins Reviews

First of all I reserved these tickets for about ten people and was exited to see this new movie. But it was so boring, slow and long. And the action, what action? there wasnt any except like in a chase scene and at the end on a train, but thats it and the movie is about two and a half hours long. The effects were really good too, well since there wasnt much action there wasnt much effects to fill out. Second I didnt get it, the story kept going from one persons view to another. And the villains, theres like three but they dont even do anything, and the most popular villain in the movie is the scarecrow and he is only a henchman. The acting was pretty good Christian Bale and Katie Holmes werent bad. But what really ticked me off was that the characters kept talking and talking and no action was done. It just carried on too much you dont know how much until you see the movie. Oh and another thing when Bruce/Christian wears the Batman suit his voice changes it sounds kind of like Clint Eastwoods voice which made it even cheesier. So much hype but it just failed to deliver. "Man" such a dissapointment wait for War of the Worlds of Fantastic Four.

Batman reinvented as a truly dark knight!! - Batman Begins Reviews

Okay...When I went to see this movie, I was already familiar with all the new age cartoons depicting Batman as a dark, Ninja-like character. This story has been around for a few decades, which takes the original Batman, as being an ordinary man with a great analytical mind,known as the "World's Greatest Detective", and turns him into a cross between Charles Bronson in "Death Wish" and James Bond, complete with all the gadgets that "Q" can dream up. The movie does a great job in developing each and every aspect of Batman, from his fragile psyche to his futuristic equipment, which allows him to appear supernatural...which is supposed to be "State of the Art" circa 1950; but goes too far, in that this equipment wouldn't even exist today. And while this plays well in the movies and to a generation that has no idea what Batman would do without a grappling hook gun and a Batmobile that is 4 parts tank and one part Transformer, it left me just a little short, in that the story does not stay true to itself, and develops no other character, other than a "good cop" named Gordon...(True fans know what is in his future) played by Gary Oldman. We are left thinking that Batman is a vigilante who won't kill anyone...directly. Bale is good as Bruce Wayne..and passable as Batman...But there was something missing when he donned the mask. Some will say that he is the best to play the role..and I would put him right behind Michael Keaton...Bale lacked tortured soul look in his eyes that was necessary, given the story line. He did mean and angry well enough, but lacked any real soul. Katie Holmes is awful, in a role that is just absolute fluff. She adds nothing to the movie, other than something cutesy to look at amid the darkness of the movie. I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, but the rest of the story has been done many times before, and even done recently... All in all...good movie...for the new ADD generation...but not Batman.

The dark knight returns - Batman Begins Reviews

For the first twenty minutes of the film, I was fairly certain that, once again, my favorite DC comics' character would be slaughtered by Hollywood. Christopher Nolan, director of "Memento," and master of the flashback, somehow seems to falter here - maybe he'd temporarily forgotten how to direct. Having looked forward to this film for almost five months now, my expectations were admittedly high; but the back story seemed rushed and over-dramatic, with much of the films' worst dialogue appearing in rapid secession. But not all is lost. Once past the tedious beginning, the movie picks up to an almost-perfect pace, replete with intense action, snazzy gadgets, and a surprisingly satisfying Batmobile. This is all, however, with the help of a great supporting cast. From Bruce's training with mentor and perfectly cast Liam Neeson, to an excellent first encounter with a pathologically distorted Scarecrow (played to a tee by Cillian Murphy from 28 Days Later), everyone does a perfect job in keeping things moving. Christian Bale, as well, turns in a very believable and intense performance as Batman, further proving his versatility. Hopefully we'll see him stick around for the inevitable sequels. Katie Holmes, the films' striking weak point, who plays a newly fabricated love interest to the best of her fabricated acting ability, is the only exception. Overly-gaunt and under-expressive, she seems to wander through the film speaking only in cliche. Combined with her complete lack of chemistry with Bale, she would have been better left out of the film altogether. The only other notable disappointment was the soundtrack. Boasting little more than the typical "emotional" string swells and synthy action beats, I found myself longing for the days of Danny Elfman's disturbed exuberance and character. There was no real comparison here. Regardless of the other problems, the plot was solid. The lighting, direction, editing, and cinematography are all top-notch; and with some of the most innovative scenes out of any Batman picture, I found myself completely engrossed in the majority of the film. Sticking points or no, I enjoyed it much more than I didn't. What really works is, despite the dramatic, grandios nature of the story, Nolan somehow manages to keep it very "real" feeling. I'll definitely be watching this film again. All in all, it appears that once again the Batman franchise is off to a splendid start - just make sure nobody tells Shumacher.