Batman Begins

[Lylabean]

Although this about to be on DVD/video it's playing at the new Grand 14. We went and saw it this past weekend as we hadn't seen it before. BTW The Grand 14 is pretty nice! :)

I like this telling of Batman's origin. It was nice to watch the evolution of the Dark Knight on the big screen. While some parts are over the top (and what movie doesn't have these moments) it was really enjoyable to see. I didn't have high expectations as having been disappointed with recent Batman movies but this one was done well.

[tempatv]

i liked it alot. i had high expectations and the movie met em. i will definetely get the dvd.

[geezerjoe]

I had low to moderate expectations and I really enjoyed the movie. I have very small problems with the movie but all in all it was really good, fun good not literature good but it's a comic book movie so I assume you understand that ;)

[wusmmik]

Batman Begins-Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman dir.Christopher Nolan

Sorry, MHers. I was let down by the Batman prequel. Don't get wrong now, the premise is great but it just vacillates from things that work to things that simply don't work. I'm a big Batman fan, and on the outset I guess my expectations were too lofty.

I enjoyed Chris Nolan's skillful direction in places. But, just like in his remake of "Insomnia"-the plot development and character development are out of balance. The setup is great, but the 40 minutes necessary to tell Bruce Wayne's backstory is way too much exposition. We understand his tragic flaw vividly and his time with Liam Neeson's character is great but could have used some trimming. The dark cinematography and set design lend a great deal of atmosphere to all of the scenes in Gotham. While it has a noirish look, they wisely shoot much of it to resemble comic book framing. The action is places is relentless and those moments are worth savoring.

Now, once he returns to Gotham and begins piecing together the Dark Knight Batman, Nolan's pacing works great esp. in the heavily edited action that follows his first appearance. But the great middle gives way to an extended set piece ending that, like the exposition, is far too long and involved. By the time we reach the culmination of this..it's been so busy that it's anticlimatic.

Acting was good. I enjoyed Christian Bale as the new Batman. I thought that he played everything well, always tough and hiding his vulnerability in the same manner as Keaton's original Batman. Cillian Murphy was extremely creepy and his subplot is chilling..and his skillful underplay hints at a much larger conspiracy. Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine do alright in their roles, while Morgan Freeman is just Morgan Freeman again..and that too is fine with me. Liam Neeson, a consummate actor [see Kinsey] is great in places but a bit of a letdown as is Tom Wilkinson woefully cast with a terrible accent.

Overall, the movie has a lot riding on it..and they keep it in the middle of the road. Some plot ideas and pieces of dialogue are brilliant...while others are not. If you are a Batman fan, you'll have to see this one to at least believe it..if you are a neophyte to Batman this one may actually be the best place to start..if you are not a fan of Batman..maybe you should join me in watching the stream of Hitchcock movies on TCM.

[reality]

I just watched it this weekend, and I thought it was the best of all the Batman movies. I give it 5 stars! :smt038

[EmmaRae]

Well, I have seen most of the Batman movies and I must say that I enjoy them....but it bothers me what such young children are seeing on these today. As parents we need to monitor more what they watch.
That is how children pick up such bad habits and language.

But I must say that noone was as good as Bruce Wayne.

[starstones]

Having never seen the movies, but am a fan of superhero stuff like that, I enjoyed it immensely. Morgan Freeman cracked me up, and I thought Christen Bale and Katie Holmes were surprisingly good.