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OK. I was completely discouraged by just about every other movie I’ve seen this year so far, most notably Star Wars (click for that blog entry). Did I really expect Batman Begins to redeem the movie year for me? Not really. But you know what? Sometimes we get those little pleasant surprises that smack us in the face and remind us of what it was like to go to the summer movies when we were a kid. That’s exactly what the latest installment of the Batman franchise did for me. I call it the latest installment, but it really is a reimaging of the Batman universe, in much the same way Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who are being re-imaged. This is not Michael Keaton’s Batman.

Let me pause for the obligatory spoiler warning and front page space saver. Click through to see what else I have to say.

This movie was excellent. The flaws I see were two minor plot points.

The acting was awesome. Everyone did a fine job, especially Christian Bale and Liam Neeson. It’s good to see that Mr. Bale didn’t make me look foolish when I commented on him being the most talented unknown in Hollywood. He has sort of had a similar career to Viggo Mortensen’s early career up to this point. Like Mr. Mortensen, he has had roles that were diverse and had you saying “I recognize that name, but I can’t quite place it”. Well, I think everyone who’s not living under a moss patch knows the name now. Kudos also go to Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman and Cillian Murphy.

The effects were also good, especially when someone was under the influence of Scarecrow’s drug. The effects on his mask were truly frightening, in a primeval, archetypal sort of way. The end scene with the train moving through Gotham was also very well done.

I can’t say anything bad about the sets either. The city of Gotham was…..Well, the city of Gotham. It was an urban metropolis that had been turned in to society’s trash heap. It wasn’t a nightmarish fantasy land or a make believe world of the clownish as it was in the previous films. This was a real city. It was city you could believe existed.

I also have to say that the moral character of Bruce Wayne, once it matured was admirable. Overcoming his fear and overcoming his lust for revenge were two of the most important happenings in his growth into what is truly a hero.

I do have a complaint about the costume. Something about the makeup used on the part of Christian Bale’s face that was exposed made it look fake somehow. Otherwise the costume was excellent. I really like how they took it “old school”.

All in all, I would give Batman Begins three thumbs up, if I was one of Tom Cruise’s alien friends. Since I’m not, I’ll have to give it the only two thumbs I’ve got.