While making Batman inhabit a believable world and a respectable psychological landscape is a remarkable feat in itself, Nolan's crowning achievement was to make us forget the earlier franchise that started badly and plummeted downwards from there.

I have not watched all of the Batman movies, so I can't really compare this triumph to the other films. I will say this: I was only able to stomach about 15 minutes of Batman Forever (the Schwarzenegger one) so... I guess it's safe to say that this one kicked the other's hind quarters... pretty hard if I may add. The film is dark, edgy and well acted. The plot is good (not groundbreaking, but it really holds your attention). You will never be bored... or annoyed, like in Batman Forever. The best performances come from the effortless class of Michael Caine as Alfred, Cillian Murphy as the cold Dr. Crane and Liam Neeson as the main villain, Henri Ducard.… Expand

Awful! Inane dialogue, terrible acting, predictable action. Just a total, ridiculous, atrocious mess. It has none of the charm of the Tim Burton Batman films, brainless writing, and it goes on and on and on seemingly forever. I can't believe anyone enjoyed this. These critics have lost their minds, as far as I can tell.

Despite being just a little confusing in some instances, "Batman Begins," is a much better Batman movie than the older ones, and is only topped by its superior sequel "The Dark Knight" (both are also way better than Nolan's Inception, which unfortunately turned out to be complete garbage).

Batman Begins is a great film, but not fantastic. The acting is very good, the musical score is good and the villains in Ras Al Ghul and Scarecrow are both well thought out and portrayed well throughout the film. The main problem with the film is that it starts very slowly, but it does ultimately build up to something quite exciting and tense. But something else is missing from the film, which could have made it truly the classic film it should be, and I can't quite put my finger what that is.… Expand

I neither loved nor hated this movie -- it was just -eh-. It was well made, and true to the original text (for what that's worth), but it just didn't exite me. It needed more "sparkle", more humor, better pacing, something. If you're a big Batman fan, go see it. If you just want to see an entertaining action movie, save your money.

Batman Begins was just the tip of the ice berg for Christopher Nolan. A prelude, if you will. But what a HELL-OF-A prelude! Christian Bale is a very enticing Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gary Oldman a very interesting Commissioner Gordon, and an intriguingly novice first villain brought to us by Liam Neeson. And of course the always reliable Cain and Freeman are terrific in their roles. But the ultimate star prize goes to Cillian Murphy for stealing every single scene he's in. What a great film!… Expand

Simply the picture what the batfans always were dreaming about. Nolan takes the more "realistic" superhero, and gives us much more than an action movie: a great movie no matters the genre.

I am surprised at how much some people are admiring this film. They call it the best Batman movie ever. But just because it is dark and gritty doesn't mean it is the best. The film can sure use a better villain. Moreover, this movie is not fun. I believe Burton's Batman was more fun and more imaginative.

Batman Begins is okay, not great. I agree with David Denby when he says thay the're no adequate villain. Also, all the "bad guys from somewhere in asia" as I call them, why do they want to destroy Gotham City at the other side of the world?

This film disappointed me. The dialogue throughout was surprisingly stilted. Bale didn't stand out as Bruce Wayne; despite the hype, he didn't leave any more of an impression than Keaton or Kilmer did in the role. The movie's biggest problem was that the plot never truly took off. I never felt completely engaged, and I noticed a few people in the theater yawning. Nonetheless, the movie will appeal strongly to fans of Batman. Goyer and Nolan take the source material seriously, whereas Burton and Schumacher basically forced their respective visions on the character. Also, the involvement of Ra's Al Ghul in Batman's origin is a clever touch, and a real improvement to the character's comicbook origins. The villians Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul are portrayed intelligently, and are a refreshing change from the cartoonish, distracting villians that dominate the other Batman movies.… Expand

Amazing, absolutely spectacular. This is the best superhero/comic book movie ever made. It will only be outdone by The Dark Knight.

Finally. This is the Batman film I've been waiting for. It's emotionally gripping, visually striking, and a fantastic achievement in film. Batman Begins is one of the best films of the year.

Best Batman movie ever. Best comic book movie ever. Best action movie ever. Best movie ever. And the critic for the New Yorker who asked what Batman had to do with Eastern martial arts obviously has no clue.

Explosive!!! Exciting for the whole family! The backstory gives insight to a mere man becoming something more and gives batman new apreciation for fans young and old! Movie is flawless and not a single cheesy character with cheesy lines. Brilliantly Orchestrated and edge of your seat adventure a must see!

I have been racking my brain trying to come up with a better done superhero movie. I honestly can't. This is what happens when you take a typical popcorn movie with thrills and explosions, and then add a real story and superb actors to it. Perfection.

After being left for dead following the disastrous "Batman and Robin", the "Batman" franchise is back better than ever with "Batman Begins". The film's creator figured rightly that the only way to revive the franchise was to start all over again by retelling the legend of Batman's origins. Christian Bale is the first convincing Bruce Wayne/Batman for me. In "Begins", Bruce spends seven years traveling the world studying criminals and hanging out with criminals in prisons in search of revenge for the death of his wealthy parents at the hands of a homeless mugger. Along the way he meets Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) and is taken in by a mysterious group of vigilantes known as the League of Shadows. Wayne eventually comes to reject the League's apocalyptic and immoral methods of cleansing the world of corruption and criminality. After rejecting the League's apocalyptic methods, Bruce creates the "Batman" crime fighting character. In the end, Bruce must successfully confront the League's plan to destroy Gotham in order for his "Batman" character to succeed in his mission to save his home city from corruption and crime. Bruce pretends to be a billionaire playboy in public as a front for not drawing any attention to who he really is after hours. This is incredibly disappointing to Bruce's love interest, idealistic junior DA Rachel Dawes (Who I think is played quite well by the much hated Katie Holmes). Michael Cayne is a suitable Alfred and seems to be popular with fans in the role. The best supporting character is Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), the Wayne Enterprises scientific genius who has the knowledge and possession of everything Bruce needs to become Batman. I really love it when Bruce sees "The Tumbler", a.k.a. the future Batmobile, an experimental military vehicle, and Fox seriously says to him "Oh, you wouldn't be interested in that". The writers of the film obviously did that line for laughs and it works every time for me. Near the end when Alfred says to Bruce that it might be time to do some more work on the foundations of Wayne manner, particularly in the area of the Bat Cave, I'm left wanting to see what happens afterward. I hope we see at least a couple more "Batman" films with Bale et al.… Expand

Solid movie, honestly probably the best superhero movie to date next to spiderman. The darkness of the movie is perfect, it brings back the feeling of tim burtons dark movies of BATMAN!!! Great job Nolan, Christian Bale was a perfect batman.

I got extremely depressed when I got out of this movie because I realized I have to wait at least two years for the sequel!

This movie is impressive! I didn't believe there was much if anything left in the batman franchise after the last installment, but I am proven wrong! After leaving the theatre all I could say was "that movie was pretty f'ing sweet!"

A bold, stunning, wonderful movie. Fantastic!

Best movie of its ilk since the original Matrix. I haven't left a blockbuster film with this feeling in a LONG, long time. The crowd in my theater kept false-starting in their attempts to give this sucker a massive round of applause. Puts the Keaton original to shame. A must-see.

This Movie shows who Batman really is.....and how he should not just use all his gadgets but he uses fighting too.....which also makes it more believable ,that is why is THE BEST OF ALL THE BATMAN MOVIES!!!

FANTASTIC!! Especially in IMAX. Best movie I've seen in years!!

A brilliant film that I vote as the best film of 2005, hands down, for it's cast, the acting, the script and emphasis on character and story rather than just the glossiness of special effects that we see all too often these days. Bale is to my mind the best Batman produced on screen so far, with a fantastic mix of charm, ferocity and martial skill.

Almost unwatchable.Christian Bale is an awful Batman almost as been as George Clooney.Morgan Freeman has no business being in a Batman or comic book movie.Katie Holmes is unbearable to watch and annoying to listen to and she should go back to making tv drama shows like back in the day.I hate the new Batmobile,get the old batmobile back.The bad guy in the movie was awful I don't know who he was supposed to be.The fighting scenes was terrible because the camera was jumpy its like a 5 year old shot the scenes.Michael Keaton was the best Batman although he wasn't perfect.I think its really difficult to find an actor to play Batman.… Expand

I'm a longtime batman fan. Batman would never wander the world engaged in murky activities to learn the criminal mind. Batman would not go to Ras Ah Gul for training. Batman would not cause hundreds of thousands of dollars escaping from the police. Yeah, I think the plot was kind of untrue to the mythos of batman. I think that the camera angles and the close ups of a lot of the action scenes made the scenes almost impossible to follow or know what was happening. I enjoyed the relationship between Batman and his supporting cast. A lot of money was definitely spent on this movie but I think that all the destruction and mayhem was too much for a batman movie. Batman is a detective and crime fighter whose job is to protect gotham not destroy it. The casting was good I just think that the next movie should tone down the destruction a couple of notches and focus more on batman and his fight against crime using his mind as his most important weapon.… Expand

Rendered unwatchable by the a.d.d. editing style. I don't think there is one shot in this film that lasts more than two seconds. It's impossible to figure out what the hell is going on in one incoherent action scene after another. Where's the Chris Nolan who gave us perfectly paced, thinking man's pictures like "Memento" and "Insomnia"? Was he kidnapped during the editing process?… Expand

The lighting and mood of this film made me feel the Dark Knight's greatest weapon: fear. I loved how they picked one theme and rolled with it, without fear.. Bale did an amazing job playing, no, BEING the Dark Knight! Best Film I've seen this year!

I love this movie! Top of the pops!

First off, this isn't an incredibly "fun" film -- but it is a fantastic Batman film. Characterizations are spot-on, and the dramatic levels were well chosen and built upon. The beginning jumps a bit, because it has a lot of ground to cover, but it comes in handy to have that grounding. There are little flashbulb, flamboyant, cheerful characters to counteract Batman's grim demeanor -- and if critics want to cling to it being too somber and serious an affair, while missing out on what *IS* there, it's their loss. This lays a nice foundation. We can now effectually believe in the Batman having international terrorist enemies, as well as the single escaped lunatic as a villain. Well done.… Expand

If you are trying to reboot a franchise, use this as an example. Get some one who isn't flashy as lead, a grade-A badass for your villain and nice old brit for your second protagonist. Oh, and also get a good director and screen writer

Batman Begins cruises past the cheesiness and brings emotion and a darkness to the epic Batman story. But the movie does feature a weak performance from Katie Holmes and it can lag a bit, but it is packed full of action it is way too entertaining to hate. I give this movie 77%.

One of the most fantastic parts of Batman Begins is how complex the film is. Nolan is not primarily concerned on making a entertaining comic book pic, but rather on making a intriguing art-house character drama. The number of deep, and thought provoking themes brought up in the movie is something to be hold, considering how the campy Adam West version introduced many people to the character

This was the Batman movie we always wanted but never knew we were missing out on. Gone are the hokey over-the-top performances and characters. And they're replaced by so much more! Christian Bale IS Batman and Christopher Nolan IS the director we should have had all along. The movie is so much more than "comic book" material. It's more real, more human, more intellingent. The audience actually CLAPPED when it was over ... and I have to say I joined in!… Expand

The ballast of the film was predominantly founded on intelligent characterizations: Bale delivers a brooding complexity that does justice to the role; although I don't know is name, the sinister psych underling operating under the auspices of Liam Neeson's character had some excellent moments - which was lost on the audience later in the film; Katie Holmes proved more believable as Cruise's lover than as Bale's significant love interest - possibly due to being cast in a largely one-dimensional role; overall, the film proved compelling and believable....oh yeah, and Michael Caine's role as the bulter was noteworthy both for its credibility and balance to the film as a whole.… Expand

The best Batman film ever? Definately. Why? Because it's exactly what the original comics needed to honour them, it's exactly the film we true Batman fans have been waiting for...forever.

Christian Bale easily takes the prize as the best actor yet to portray the Dark Knight. This film was darker, edgier and grittier than very comic romps previously, and it does justice (pun intended) to the original concept of Batman as a dark, brooding character. There's no campy "BIFF!", "ZOK!" or "BAM!" here. The fight scenes are dizzying and chaotic; director Nolan puts us in the thug's perspective of eerie noises and phantom shapes that appear and disappear before the furious blows that take the bad guys down. Bale is very believeable as a haunted young man who is stoking his internal fury against the injustice of the world, and the unusual thing about 'Begins' is that the story focuses entirely on him instead of the Caped Crusader having to share equal screen time with a flamboyant villain or villians. Indeed, the true bad guy of 'Begins' seems to twist and shift until the movie's climax approaches. The final threat to Gotham City is contrived in a debatable manner, but for most audiences who aren't interested in technical nitpicking or rigid adherance to canon the ending doesn't quite fall flat. I'd like to sum up this review by quoting the Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons: "Best. Batman. EVER."… Expand

A more beliveable story of the caped crusader and more true to the original story of the batman. i like the way that bruce played the rich spoilt playboy and the truth behind the bat equipment and cave was entertaining aswell. also i found that the film didnt focus on the bad guy being some deformed meglomaniac bent on world domination. you get to see very little of the scarecrow and that i found perfect because he wasnt the real villian in this movie any way.… Expand

After seeing the this I have restored hope of Batman films. I also thought, theres no better Batman/Bruce Wayne than Michael Keaton. Clooney and Kilmer SUCKED! Bale does a good job, I can't wait the sequel, where we see Joker.

Why all of the glowing reviews? The characters are all paper thin. The plot is horrible. There are huge holes in the story (i.e. the gas makes people cower in fear until it is released in the city ... then all sudden it turns people into raving killers). The first batman was well crafted. This one is not.

After bearing the burden of a franchise that had spun completely out of creative control, I finally rented the DVD. What an idiot I was... Why did I not see this in the theaters? Caine and Freeman firmly cement their personas, delivering spot-on performances, Gary Oldman proves that he can quite simply out-character act anybody in the industry, and Bale, in a stunning turn -around physically from The Machinst, IS Bruce Wayne (P.S.: watch The Machinist. Bale reportedly ate an apple and a single can of tuna (while working out incessantly) to capture the physicality of the role. He then promptly assured producers that he could play the part in Batman Begins, and then proceeded to bulk out in SIX WEEKS . Neeson turns in an admirable peformance, and Holmes seems out of her element, but overall, this is the definative origin story which renders the previous Burton/Bruckheimer movies quaint, more or (VERY) less watchable, but utterly irrelevant. The 60's T.V. show was the coloring book, the previous franchise was the high school book report, and we now have the fully developed master's thesis of how a billionaire with a grudge and a horrible childhood trauma could resort to, and be facilitated in, swooping about Gotham, scaring the s*** out of criminals and audiences alike. I usually balk at the set-up for the inevitable next movie, but I actually cheered when Oldman's Gordon turned over the playing card... Kudos!!!… Expand

Didn't really know what to expect from the previews, but I was happy with the movie. I thought the action sequences were great and the effects were good as well. There was alot of back story before the action kicked in and I can't wait for the next movie because I expect that there will be even more action since the backstory has been taken care of already.

Fantastic! By far the best Batman movie, even one of the best comic book movies! Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan are exceptional at their jobs. They both better be in the sequel or Warner Bros. shouldn't even bother.

I actually don't like fantasy movies, but for some reason I really enyojed this movie. The actors were fantastic! Christian Bale was great, then Morgan Freeman... There was a little bit of everything: action, romance, thriller,... An excellent story!! I also loved the batmobile - black tank. I loved it!

funny and highly entertaining- blows the last 2 batman movies out of the water. my only question is why katie holmes' cop character refuses to wear a bra.

One of the better batman movies.

Best Batman movie to date. Christopher Nolan ressurects the dark knight after joel schumacher's cartoonish batman & robin.

Crap. If you are older than about 18, avoid this movie. I went to this movie based on many good reviews I heard. I can only come to the conclusion that Americans are getting stupider by the year. This movie was no better than any other crappy super hero movie ever made (and why do we continue to make such crap anyway).

Forget the other Batman movies. Tim Burton

This movie was almost perfect, I loved it. Absolutely riveting. The best combination of actiona and emotion I've seen in a long time. I almost believed that someone could become something like this, that's how good it was. I had to shake my head when I got out of the theater to clear the idea that some guy wasn't flying around a city somewhere dressed like a bat.

Fantastic... would've been a ten if the liam neeson role was better cast. My favourite film of th year so far!!

I have seen War of the Worlds and Star Wars II - War gets an 8, SW II a 7 but Batman is a solid 10. This is the best of the Batman movies - dark and serious and telling a great story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. There is no camp in this movie and this is a very good thing. You wish this had been the first Batman movie instead of having to sit through the dreaded sequels (the first was not bad). Do not expect Batman to appear in the first half of the movie - he doesn't - but the story and dialogue are so good you are engrossed. Bale is the best Batman yet - more believable than Keaton, Kilmer, or Clooney. Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman are great. Katie Holmes is a bit underwhelming as the love interest. A few quibbles - the batmobile is a disappointment (the Hummer-Tank hybrid is not the slick, sleek vehicle you associate with superhero transportation.) Also, Nolan could have calmed the camera a bit in the fighting scenes - it was so kinetic your eyes hurt watching it. But so far, this is the true summer blockbuster of choice.… Expand

Wow. So much more than I expected. I rarely go to movies these days, but back in 1989, I remember that I liked Tim Burton's original Batman very much, so I agreed to go to IMAX with my wife to see this reinterpretation she said was getting good word-of-mouth. I was not sure what to expect. I liked the Batman franchise less and less with each successive film in 1990s, until I thought it was irreparably damaged by Joel Schumacher the last film. Happily, Batman Begins restores the gritty Dark Knight to a being that is more than just comic book silliness and special effects, but a psychological study of the lure of vengeance and its consequences. Bale is suberb as a human, and pyschologically distressed, Batman. Oldham, Michael Caine (as the faithful butler), and Ryan Phillipee, in a surprising turn, are great in a supporting cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes (so-so), and Liam Neeson (not terribly inspired). Together, they produce enough tension and energy to make the arc of the movie feel edge of your seat engaging and intellectually satisfying. Much of this is due to Bale's overall presence and intensity. Waiting eagerly for the next chapter.… Expand

This movie made me want to see the next Batman (if their is one); something the previous did not make me want to do.

Nice film, a very dark one. definitely suits as an intro for batman. though it was kinda funny when bruce wayne has to change his voice tone when he's batman.

The public knows better than the critics on this one. If you have read the comics, this is a pretty spot-on interpretation. If you want a movie that balances character and action, with a reasonable plot, then this scores again. If you want cinema that seeks to insert a little greek tragedy into your life, this is sufficiently angst ridden as well. If you want superior acting and likeable stars with real human emotions, er..... On balance, well directed, entertaining and thoughtful teenage melodrama, which is what comic books excel at. Up there with Spider-man and X-Men as a decent comic book adaptation.… Expand

This, finally, is a comic book movie made by somebody who has actually bothered to read some of the comic books. The last three Batmas movies, and the last two Superman movies, and the Daredevil movie, et al - have all been made by people who have last read comics when Adam West was trolling around in tights. Batman has not been "campy" since the late '60's. I don't know which was better - BEGINS or Jack Nicholson's "Batman" (1989). Just a great comic book movie.… Expand

This movie was the best movie ever bruce is soo hot and the action never stops!! I laughed (not really), I cried (really), the wholmovie touched me!! :)

The best Batman film I've seen.

Finally the Real Batman has stepped up!! Dark and Dreary as the frist....It took them after 3 and 4 which tanked horrably to get this one RIGHT!! Micheal Keaton is 2nd to Bale on preformance all the other batmans who where you and what were you thinking of ruining the greatest comic book movies that could have been.... Bale your the real deal...Thank you for saving BATMAN!!

One of the best comic book hero flicks ever made, and certainly the best Batman film to date. Chris Nolan did what noone from the previous films bothered to, and that is to put the focus of the story on Batman. They absolutely NAILED the character in this release. This was a brilliant combination of psychological drama (ala Memento) combined with popcorn cinema; the visceral with the visual (recall two seperate instances of Bruce dropping into the batcave, and his elders asking him, "why do we fall?"). It goes without saying that casting for this movie was absolutely brilliant - Christian Bale is perfect in his dual role. One element that doesn't get nearly enough attention is the musical score: it adds perfect tone to Batman Begins, tangible weight to dramatic moments... far more effective than Elfman's atypical schtick. All things said, I'm counting the days 'til it's released on DVD, and looking forward to seeing the next flim!… Expand

Batman Begins is the beginning. It is the origin. And it is astonishing. Not just a good superhero movie, but a great film.

The best Batman movie of all time. Absolutely fantastic film-making, acting, everything. AMAZING.

This retelling of the story of Batman is worth watching over and over again because it does everything right. Batman was meant to play the role of Dark Knight in a city that, thanks to the unending stream of corruption, is even darker than he is. Big thanks to the filmmakers for showing Batman the way he was meant to be seen and for using Ra al Ghoul and Scarecrow, two of my favorite Batman villains. Please make a sequel and do not mess it up.… Expand

Cristopher Nolan created probably the best movie based on a comic franchine.He created a realistic version of Batman explaining just about everything about his character. Even the villains look and fell realistic.One of the best movies of the year and surely the best action adventure movie of the year. A great achievement.This is where Batman movie franchine truly begins.

Best Batman film ever! I still don't get why some people criticize the new batsuit. It's as though they like the one with the rubber nipples better.

Unexpectedly impressive - I had anticipated the usual throwaway nonsense like the previous iterations - not this accomplished, crafted, polished masterpiece. DAMN!

I watched this movie back then in 2005 when it came out and haven't watched it again in these 5 years, but hell, I loved it, it was dramatic, thrilling, had a big sense of reality and a comic book feeling setting. I hated The Dark Knight as it doesn't focus on anything and casual moviegoers will have trouble understanding it, but this movie is pure greatness.

It's not going to get any better than this, not for a while, as far as comic book characters being actualized in film go. If you have two brain cells to rub together you'll enjoy this film. Not everyone is so blessed. Even though this movie goes to Batmans "origins", I don't think it is accurate to label it a prequel in the truest use of the word. This movie is all its own.

How can anyone give this film a 0 rating... do they not know how to be entertained ?? By FAR the best Batman film to date.... superb.

After seeing the other Batman movies, I expected another high tech, shallow, but enjoyable movie. I was surprised to see that the emphasis on story and character development made this the best Batman, by far, and an excellent overall movie (which just can't be said about the other Batman flicks). See it!

Very good! I still believe that Micheal Keaton is the best Batman.The first Batman will always be the best. It had a better balance of reality and fiction than Batman Begins. There are certain movements that Keaton would make in the movie that made Batman very distinguished. Although, I must Christian Bale is cuter. But unfortunately the other Batman movies, (with the exception of the Original & Batman Forever) weren't as good as Batman Begins.… Expand

I just loved this movie.

Watch This, I'm serious youll regret it if you dont.

The best batman movie to date.

Loved It No more kiddy stuff.

Batman Begins at last penetrates to the dark and troubled depths of the Batman legend, creating a superhero who, if not plausible, is at least persuasive as a man driven to dress like a bat and become a vigilante. The movie doesn't simply supply Batman's beginnings in the tradition of a comic book origin story, but explores the tortured path that led Bruce Wayne from a parentless childhood to a friendless adult existence. The movie is not realistic, because how could it be, but it acts as if it is. Opening in a prison camp in an unnamed nation, "Batman Begins" shows Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) enduring brutal treatment as a prisoner, as part of his research into the nature of evil. He is rescued by the mysterious Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), who appoints himself Wayne's mentor, teaches him sword-fighting and mind control, and tries to enlist him in his amoral League of Shadows ("We burned London to the ground"). When Wayne refuses to kill someone as a membership requirement, Ducard becomes his enemy; the reclusive millionaire returns to Gotham City determined to fight evil, without realizing quite how much trouble he is in. The story of why he identifies with bats (childhood trauma) and hates evildoers (he saw his parents killed by a mugger) has been referred to many times in the various incarnations of the Batman legend, including four previous films. This time, it is given weight and depth. Wayne discovers in Gotham that the family Wayne Corp. is run by a venal corporate monster (Rutger Hauer), but that in its depths labors the almost forgotten scientific genius Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), who understands Wayne wants to fight crime and offers him the weaponry. Lucius happens to have on hand a prototype Batmobile, which unlike the streamlined models in the earlier movies, is a big, unlovely juggernaut that looks like a Humvee's wet dream. He also devises a bat-cape with surprising properties. These preparations, Gotham crime details and the counsel of the faithful servant Alfred (Michael Caine) delay the actual appearance of Batman until the second act of the movie. We don't mind. Unlike the earlier films, which delighted in extravagant special-effects action, "Batman Begins" is shrouded in shadow; instead of high-detail, sharp-edged special effects, we get obscure developments in fog and smoke, reinforced by a superb sound-effects design. And Wayne himself is a slow learner, clumsy at times, taking foolish chances, inventing Batman as he goes along. This is at last the Batman movie I've been waiting for. The character resonates more deeply with me than the other comic superheroes, perhaps because when I discovered him as a child, he seemed darker and more grown-up than the cheerful Superman. He has secrets. As Alfred muses: "Strange injuries and a nonexistent social life. These things beg the question, what does Bruce Wayne do with his time?" What he does is create a high profile as a millionaire playboy who gets drunk and causes scenes. This disappoints Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), his friend since childhood, who is now an assistant D.A. She and Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), apparently Gotham City's only honest cop, are faced with a local crime syndicate led by Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). But Falcone's gang is child's play, compared to the deep scheme being hatched by the corrupt psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy), who, in the tradition of Victorian alienists, likes to declare his enemies insane and lock them up. Crane's secret identity as the Scarecrow fits into a scheme to lace the Gotham water supply with a psychedelic drug. Then a superweapon will be used to vaporize the water, citizens will inhale the drug, and it will drive them crazy, for reasons which the Scarecrow and his confederates explain with more detail than clarity. Meanwhile, flashbacks establish the character's deepest traumas, including his special relationship with bats and his guilt because he thinks he is responsible for his parents' mugging. I admire, among other things, the way the movie doesn't have the gloss of the earlier films. The Batman costume is an early design. The Bat Cave is an actual cave beneath Wayne Manor. The Batmobile enters and leaves it by leaping across a chasm and through a waterfall. The Bat Signal is crude and out of focus. The movie was shot on location in Chicago, making good use of the murky depths of lower Wacker Drive and the Board of Trade building (now the Wayne Corp.). Special effects add a spectacular monorail down La Salle Street, which derails in the best scene along those lines since "The Fugitive." Bale is just right for this emerging version of Batman. It's strange to see him muscular and toned, after his cadaverous appearance in "The Machinist," but he suggests an inward quality that suits the character. Rachel is at first fooled by his facade of playboy irresponsibility, but Lt. Gordon figures out fairly quickly what Batman is doing, and why. Instead of one villain as the headliner, "Batman Begins" has a whole population, including Falcone, the Scarecrow, the Asian League of Shadows leader Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe) and a surprise bonus pick. The movie has been directed by Christopher Nolan, still only 35, whose "Memento" (2000) took Sundance by storm and was followed by "Insomnia" (2002), a police procedural with Al Pacino. What Warner Bros. saw in those pictures that inspired them to think of Nolan is hard to say, but the studio guessed correctly, and after an eight-year hiatus, the Batman franchise has finally found its way. I said this is the Batman movie I've been waiting for; more correctly, this is the movie I did not realize I was waiting for, because I didn't realize that more emphasis on story and character and less emphasis on high-tech action was just what was needed. The movie works dramatically in addition to being an entertainment. There's something to it.… Expand

Appropriately dark with excellent acting and interesting premise. The best Batman since Michael Keaton.

This is by far the greatest batman film ever shot. ...looking forward to the sequal.

Excluding the terrible "Batman & Robin" the Batman franchise has been pretty good in my opinion even "Forever" though it had a colorful comic book style that I really don't need to see in my Batman movies. I am a huge Batman fan and I was on pins and needles when I heard about "Batman Begins" due to the fact that if it were to flop that would mark the end of the series. Contrary to what many may say the movie is great, any hard-core true batman fan would have to enjoy this movie, yea it was long but I enjoyed every minute of it. This movie did what other Batman films (yes even the Micheal Keaton films) it made Bruce Wayne the centerpiece and not just "pit-stops" to break up the action. My opinion is you can't be a fan of Batman's story if you're not a fan's of Bruce's.… Expand

This is by far the best Batman movie EVER made, topping Tim Burton and putting the two 90s attempts to shame (well, more shame then they already had).

Not just what I wanted in a Batman movie- but what I NEEDED in a Batman movie.

Wait till they get a load of this!

One of, if not the best comic book movie of all time! even non comic fans should enjoy!!

I read a lot of critics calling it humorless. Well, when was Batman meant to be the class clown...I appreciate the fact that Chris Nolan approached this film as a serious film with a story to tell...Not to satisfy the viewers with snappy one liners..The first true great movie I saw this summer..Seriously I don't remember the last time I had so much fun watching a movie at the theater...Now Im willing to shell another 15 bucks to watch it IMAX...… Expand

A fun ride from start to finish, that just doesn't get boring. However it just doesn't hold a candle to the Tim Burton vehicle of '89, which remains, obviously, the best batman film, and the reigning king of all superhero films.

Best movie I've seen all year. Bale plays Batman/Bruce Wayne to near perfection. The rest of the cast is great as well. I was really amazed how the story unfolded, everything from the gadgets, the villains, the chase, and especially how there was more depth and focus on Batman/Bruce Wayne. That was a factor in the other films that i felt was lacking. The only aspect of the film that bothered me a bit.. Just a bit.. Were the fight scenes. I wish director Chris Nolan would've pulled the camera back a bit more and maybe let a few shots play out a bit longer for the audience. I'm glad that at least the final fight between Batman and ***** was a lot less confusing and more enjoyable. That's the only thing keepin me from givin this movie a 10. Hopefully the sequel will have eveything that worked great for this movie and better fight scenes.… Expand

I went in with high expectations based on clips and other assorted hype and came away with those expectations exceeded by this film. Nolan and Goyer were exactly the team needed to revive the Dark Knight. The only real weak spot was side-of-the-mouth talking Katie Holmes, who still seems too much a little girl to pull off the tough D.A. role. Bale was superb in the dual role, finally giving us TWO distinct characters. This movie can stand alone but we can only hope and pray that Nolan signs on to do another...if not more.… Expand

Rousing.

This is the only movie in the Batman series that is in the same league as the first. Not only is the story presented the way I always wanted to see the Dark Knight saga presented, the entire cast is outstanding, even if the action scenes indicate that the director needs more seasoning.

If you can see it on IMAX by all means DO...it's phenominal!

By far the best batman since the first. Christian was great. The movie felt a little short or some of the story parts seemed to be rushed but still very well done.

Dark and wonderful!

Although my expectations were modest, I loved the film. The film manages to create a believable word in which fantastic events nonetheless felel natural - without the camp and mock seriousness that plagued the earlier films and undercut their potential. Restores hope for the franchise.

Puts all other comic book films and most other action and drama movies to shame with it's gripping story, suberb characters, and great acting from the A-list cast. Action scenes were very well done, except I would've preferred to have a wider shot in the last few fights, I think the close camera technique worked well in the first few fights though. Bale plays 3 different roles basically, and played them all very well. His Batman is interesting because he is constantly learning and perfecting his voice. Basically this is a great movie but won't be what many people expect, so it may not make the money it should or gain the praise it should. Most of the negative reviews just stated that they prefer campy Batman over realistic Batman, which says nothing about the quality of the movie. So it's sad that these people bring the metascore down so much.… Expand

Cant wait for the sequel!

A classic good versus evil tale with enough twists to keep it interesting AND the good guys win. The tone and visceral look of Gotham was spot-on. This is the best Batman to date. The fist thing out of my mouth at the end of the movie was "When's the sequel?" This crew could remake the entire series and I'd go watch them all on the big screen!