Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 05, 2005 | | Summary | Batman Flies Again....and it Doesn't Suck | Content
 | This movie is the revival of the dead franchise, solid acting, crisp writing, and fresh visuals make this movie a must see. I am a big fan of Tim Burton's original Batman and I think this one is every bit as good as that one. Christian Bale is the best of all the Batmans to date. Michael Keaton held his own and did a good job, Val Kilmer just brooded through the movie and looked like he was constipated, and George Clooney, holy hell that smirking jack-ass performance killed the series for a time. Thank god there is no Robin, the character is more of a headache than anything else, and we finally get the villianous Scarecrow(portrayed excellently by Cillian Murphy) which has been tossed around for some years now. The whole cast is great, with the exception of Katie Holmes and her sitcom quality acting, I'm glad to hear she won't be back for the sequel. This movie has the best developed Bruce Wayne and still has great action sequences. This movie like other great comic book adaptations(Spiderman 2 and X-Men 2) transcends the genre and is truly a great story and a great movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 03, 2005 | | Summary | Believe the Hype | Content
| Between 1989 to 1997 four Batman movies were released with three different actors (Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney) portraying the caped crusader. We were also treated to a slew of over the top villains including the Joker (Jack Nicholson), the Penguin (Danny DeVito), Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger). But, after 1997's "Batman and Robin", it seemed as if Bruce Wayne hung up his cowl and left Gotham behind. That was until this year's "Batman Begins" was released.
As the movie begins, we find Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) in a prison far away from his family's home. This is where he catches the eye of Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), who takes Bruce under his wing and brings him into the fold of Ra's Al Guhl (Ken Watanabe). During the time of Bruce's training, we also learn a great deal about his past including the murders of his parents, his fears and his relationship with Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes). However, when Ra's Al Guhl's true plot for Gotham is revealed, Bruce Wayne decides to return to save his beloved city.
In the meantime, Gotham has fallen into the clutches of some sinister evildoers. Crime boss Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) has the city under his thumb. Add to the mix Dr. Jonathan Crane a.k.a. Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) whose seemingly normal patients (mostly thugs of Falcone's) are quickly diagnosed as insane. However, there is more than meets the eye about the good doctor and it eventually becomes clear that he is only a small part of a bigger sinister plot. Can Batman save the day?
While some people may have been hesitant about Christian Bale portraying Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman, he seems to be a good choice to fill the shoes of the caped crusader. Not only does he make the character come across as somewhat realistic but also flawed.
Co-stars Michael Caine (Alfred), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) and Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon) are excellent as Batman's allies. The same holds true for Tom Wilkinson and Cillian Murphy (who originally auditioned for the title role) as one of Batman's nemesis. When these actors appear in a movie, you expect a good performance and each one delivers with "Batman Begins". This is especially true of Michael Caine's performance that shows more of the bond that Alfred has with Bruce Wayne.
The plot of the movie is also plausible. It takes you away from the comic book feel of the previous Batman movies and seems almost realistic. This time around, with much of the movie filmed in Chicago, the city of Gotham even looks lighter with more of a metropolitan feel. A few nice touches to the movie are the explanations of why Bruce Wayne decided to call himself Batman, how he found the Batcave and where his weapons and the Batmobile (a lot different in this movie than in previous films) come from. It's also good to see that Batman isn't secondary to the villains in this movie.
"Batman Begins" was good but there were some parts that were lacking. It didn't seem that Bruce's relationship with Rachel added much to the plot of the movie. This probably could have been dropped altogether or maybe some extra time might have been added for a little more chemistry between the two characters. It would have been nice to have known a little more about Henri Ducard, who's more than he appears to be, and Earle, the character portrayed by Rutger Hauer.
Plans are already underway for another Batman movie with most of the cast set to reprise their roles. The end of "Batman Begins" should give you a clue who the villain will be in the next film. While this isn't the greatest movie to ever come out of Hollywood, if you're looking to escape into the theater and be entertained for a couple of hours, then you won't be disappointed!
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| Rating | | | Date | August 03, 2005 | | Summary | Well-Told Story of Darker Hero with Impressive Cast -- and Actions Are Also Good | Content
| Christopher Nolan's version of DC Comic's Batman takes itself very seriously -- it's far from Adam West's TV version in the 60s. There is no "Robin" and no "Batgirl" for that matter. It is about how Bruce Wayne becomes the Caped Crusader, and the film has enough actions to be called a summer season blockbuster (which it is) though the tone is slightly darker than any other previously filmed versions.
But David S. Goyer/Christoher Nolan gave a decent script for the film, in which we see Bruce as young boy of emormously rich family has to confront his ultimate fear when his parents got killed -- but if you don't like this rather serious 'looking into abyss' part, just forget it. It is another story about one discontent youth looking for the meaning of life, which turns out being a superhero. And you know that part before watching the film.
After wondering in Asia, being trained by a mentor Liam Neeson (again, like in "Episode I"), grown-up Bruce (played by Christian Bale with no British accent) comes back to Gotham City, the city of crimes and injustice.
[BATMAN IS THE HERO] Of course he is, but in the previous films Batman (or Bruce Wayne) was a curiously umimpressive figure, for the villains like Joker or Riddler stole every scene. In 'Batman Begins,' Nolan is very careful in making Batman the center of the film. It is his film, and Batman is always there, in the middle of good action scenes (including that of souped-up Batmobile).
Two interesting things. One is that the film repeatedly refers to 'falling' (many actions involve vertical movement one way or another), a clever metaphor used by Nolan. The other is the cast, among whom you see only two Americans -- Morgan Freeman and Katie Holms. Londoner Nolan's choice is quite unique -- Jim Gordon is played by another Londoner Gary Oldman; Alfred is by Michael Caine (again, born in London), Falcone by Tom Wilkinson (English), Ducard by Neeson (Irish), Dr. Crane (aka Screcrow) by Cillian Murphy (Irish), Earle by Rutger Hauer (Dutch), Ra's Al Ghul by Ken Watanabe (Japanese). Even the homeless guy is Rade Serbedzija (Croatia). Where is Amreican actors?
The film might be a bit too serious at times, but that is exactly what this new version is trying to do. But the seriousness does not weigh down the whole film, which has effective actions that do not rely on CGI techniques. In this sense, and with all name actors, 'Batman Begins' is like Christopher Reeve's 'Superman' -- it takes itself seriously, and very entertaining as well. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 02, 2005 | | Summary | The best Batman ,in decades !!!! HOLY RUSTED METAL... | Content
| This is the best batman movie ever, its how it should be. I thought this one was a classic, added to the first 2 films. (Chirstian Bale) did great! (Michael Caine) did a great Alfred as well as the last one. (Katie Holmes) did a nice job as Bruce Waynes close friend and love interest. There was something about her that reminded me of (Kim Basinger) from the first movie. The villains were awsome, (Cillian Murphy) he did a termentious job as Scarrcrow, he was my favorite. He played the guy like a normal person but with a twisted way that you knew he was crazy. Thats how the bad guys should be, not cheesey like in the last batman movie, with (George Cloony)and (Arnold Schwarzenegger)as Mr. Freeze give me a break. Batgirl played by (Alica Sliverstone) was one hot chick, but her acting was terrible and she was way too stiff when fighting, and she did not have much of a big part in that last film. Posion Ivy was great, she was the only one who did a great job, while everyone else went down with the Titanic because of the ice burg (Schwarzenegger) built with his stupid gient freezing gun made from a teleiscope and with dimonds he stole from an over sized jewler. (Uma Thurman) known as the plant lady. She was the only survivor left, that did not hit Arnold's Ice burg. The last movie was a horror, I don't know why (Tim Burton) did not direct the last 2 films? I don't get it why (Joel Schumacher), had to finish the last 2 batman movies ??? Thank God (Jim carrey) as the Riddler was there to rescuse the 3rd movie. If it was not for him, it could have been much worse. (Tommy Lee Jones) as Two-Face did not do that bad,I give him some created for taking on a crazy role. For the last movie , I could see (Jack Nicholson) lauhing his ass off, so hard cuz that last one was a real big time joke. (Micheal Keaton) would have said , what the hell are they doing, if I would have stayed with the contract things probibly would have been better. The other villians in Batman Returns (Danny DeVito)as the Penguin and (Michelle Pfeiffer) as Catwoman oh ya baby! Were a bad ass kicking team. I liked the new car, in Batman Begins but I wish they could have made it alittle fancier,like in the first movie, but don't worry, this one is going to maybe lead to a sequal??? I hope. I know they are going to do the whole series over, which is good, they better stay with the same tone and Gothic style as the original movie. I did also here they are going to do the all the villians over from scratch. I wish the other cast member would return to do over there parts, everyone except (Arnold Schwarzeneger). (Chris O'Donnell) did a great Robin, for his first apearance in Batman Forever, but for his second time around in the last one, oh boy, did they turn him into a real spoiled brat and like a smart ass know it all. Let me say one thing, he was obesseded over poison Ivy like she was a real hot stuff and thought he was really in love with her but mostly likely wanted to kill him duh. As like most high schoolers today. Little did he listen to batman as a best freind or a big brother to seek help like most teenagers today in some relationships over girl/boy stuff and stupid things not like oh I know about trust someone. I know the true meaning of love and all that lecturing crap. How to become the bad boy on campus. They made that movie so bad, it does not go well with the last 3 movies. Batman Begins is 100 times better, most of all it true to the Comic book story the way they should have made it a long time ago. The comic book verison is darker and more fast pace and enjoyable and go to show you his true Origins, how he came to to be who is he as a famous icon of all time. This movie is not some screen play or writen up story. I gave this one 5 stars because its how batman has Returned, not only that but how he will remain a LEGEND Forever!!! Go see this, trust me, its a whole new Gotham, with a new all star cast with a new set of wings !!!! Then you will be walking out of the theartre saying HOLLY RUSTED MEDAL BATMAN!!! OR WAIT TILL THEY GET ALOAD OF HIM... |
| Rating | | | Date | August 02, 2005 | | Summary | Good show | Content
| I am not a superhero movie or comic junkie, nor am I even a big fan. I will see the movie if recommended, and this movie came highly recommended. And I was not disappointed. Other Batmans have been way off the mark (remember Arnold as the Ice Man?) but this one was very good. Excellent story with believable villains, very good acting, not too many fight scenes, lots of cool technology. There are some aspects that could be better (such as the weird plan to destroy Gotham - why not just nuke it?), but overall it was a fine movie and worth your time if you like dark action movies. |
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