Batman Begins
2005  PG-13  ACTION  2h 20min
CAST— Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, Morgan Freeman
MUSIC— Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard   DIRECTOR— Christopher Nolan  BASED ON— Characters appearing in DC Comics

     Batman Begins, the story of the Batman legend from the very beginning, is one of the most gripping and powerful superhero movies ever made. The film recounts the story of Bruce Wayne, from the death of his parents through to the origin of his wonderful toys and his first encounters with powerful enemies. After the creation of his alter ego, Wayne soon learns of a terrible secret that puts the lives of all of Gotham City’s citizens in jeopardy. He soon faces two deadly enemies in his fight for justice: The Scarecrow and the evil Ra’s Al Gul. Presenting Batman like never before, this film is so dark and atmospheric that it puts Tim Burton’s two Batman films to shame. Not to say that Burton’s movies aren’t good, but this is Batman for a new generation, and it’s a Batman film that just screams out with great performances, action, and effects (not to mention some genuinely creepy moments). The two villains, seemingly odd choices for this type of huge action movie, turn out to be perfect choices in this amazingly tense film. Get ready to be blown away with this terrific entry into the ever-growing superhero film library, because it’s certainly one of the best ever filmed. One final note: For those out there who think that this film is a prequel to Batman (1989), be warned that it is not. This is an entirely new series, a new beginning for Batman, and it offers us great promises for the future.
OUR RATING— *** ½
FOLLOWED BY— The Dark Knight (2008) The Dark Knight Rises (2012)