Batman Begins

Rating: A-

Finally I get to see a movie on opening day. Went to a early afternoon show, and there was a sizeable crowd on hand. After suffering through the Dukes of Hazzard preview, it began.

I have to say I am a little biased because Batman is my favorite comic character over Superman, Spiderman, X-Men, or anyone else. I've always enjoyed his darker, more brooding side, and this movie has it in spades. For sticking true to the comic premise, this is my favorite of all the Batman movies. The franchise got way off track with the last couple of movies. Lots of Bat-bling on the Batmobile and too cheesy Bruce Waynes for my taste.

Batman Begins is obviously an origin story of the dark knight. Scenes of first terrifying experiences with bats and the deaths of Wayne's parents are told in flashback while Bruce trains high in the mountians far away from Gotham and all it's problems. Wayne eventually returns to Gotham to deal out some justice to the corrupt city and it's bad cops, judges, and crime bosses. His goal is to strike fear into the hearts of the criminals. He settles on the image of the bat because according to Wayne, he fears bats and wants to turn that fear outward. Aided by a younger and tougher Alfred (played wonderfully by Michael Caine), an unwitting police sargent named Gordon(underrated Gary Oldman), and Batman's version of Q, Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman), Bruce Wayne gets busy on the criminals of Gotham. The movie really picks up at this point, with Batman learning his new equipment, very much along the lines of Spiderman. Batman fights the big crime boss only to uncover a larger evil, dealing mostly with the Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul.

There is just enough humor included from time to time to make this movie flow nicely. I personally like the new Batmobile which is a black tank/hummer/jet/stealth fighter. It's not for everyone though. Christain Bale is what Batman should be. Suave as Bruce Wayne, pissed off as Batman. Bravo, and I can't wait to see him in the sequel, which he has signed on for.

Overall, very enjoyable and highly recommended. Batman Begins certianly will revive a franchise that was off of life support and waiting to die. Check it out and you won't be disappointed.