Batman Begins DVD

Advantages: Very dark and moody. Totally Batman... spot on!!
Disadvantages: Slow in parts.

...the complete screw up with Batman and Robin and the fundamental failure of the George Clooney as Batman at the box office, some serious rethinking had to be done. Not only did the fans of the Caped Crusader turn there backs on the film but also kept away in there droves making the film itself one of the biggest disasters since Raise the Titanic or Ishtar. Warner Brothers were somewhat understandably concerned, but also very reluctant to go ahead ...
...with the success of the Batman Animated series and talk of a new Superman film in the works this was to bring about a decision from Warner's that a new Batman film was to be green lit for production. This was in 2003, just 6 years after the 1997 release of Batman and Robin. The cinema had become a different place as well, as DC's competitors Marvel already had showed DC how superheroes can successfully be transferred from paper to screen with Spider ... Read review

Advantages: Much better than the last set of Batman films
Disadvantages: Poor navigation on 2nd disc

...After the last run of Batman films, which went from initially being good to absolute dire, I approached this latest incarnation with much hesitation. Too say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Gone are the comical characters and unbelievable plots, and replacing them is some very deep characters and a brilliant plot. The whole film feels more real, although still with that little bit of fantasy which makes the film exciting. What ...
...This is the most tactile Batman I have seen, as he has more of an animal instinct about him and a very sinister side to his character. All in all Bale has done a remarkable job of creating a new Bruce Wayne and Batman which is more realistic than those portrayed by George Clooney, Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer. In a supporting role is Michael Caine (The Italian Job) as the loyal butler Alfred. Too be honest the character of Alfred is more of a substitute ... Read review

Advantages: Great action, atmosphere
Disadvantages: Katie Holmes

The original series of Batman films, started by Tim Burton in 1989, left a few questions hanging in the air with their depiction of a reasonably mature Batman fighting crime with a minimum of backstory. Where in the name of Adam West did he learn how to be Batman? Who taught him martial arts? Where does he get his gadgets and car from? Does anyone help him secretly? Batman Begins, an excellent reboot/rethink of the franchise, answers these questions ...
...What is great about Batman Begins? The casting for starters. It was an inspired move to cast British actor Christian Bale as Wayne/Batman. Bale is an excellent actor and adds a bit of gravitas to the centre of the film. He's more than buff enough to fill the Batsuit and does a good job in seperating the Wayne/Batman identities. He's refreshingly intimidating as Batman (Batman is supposed to scare criminals afterall) but often acts the drunken spoilt ... Read review

Advantages: Everything
Disadvantages: Nothing

Batman Begins Batman - A Little History Batman is a dark superhero, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in the 1930s, and published by DC Comics. He is the alter-ego of Bruce Wayne, millionaire orphaned at a young age. Following the TV series of the superhero's adventures with his sidekick Robin in the 1960s, in 1989 Tim Burton directed Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson in 'Batman', a very dark film which carried a '12' rating (first to have this ...
...Bale in 2005 to recreate Batman to bring him back to his roots, and to create a Batman film set before Burton's 1989 'Batman'. This was to be entitled 'Batman Begins' and waqs billed as really hitting home in terms of what Batman should be all about. The Plot The story starts with the very young Bruce Wayne in the aftermath of his parents' deaths. Now heir to a fortune, Wayne grows up travelling the world seeking ways of fighting for justice and ... Read review

Advantages: Answers a lot of questions, back on good form
Disadvantages: Vehicle for setting up film number 2

...we all know the original Batman film was great and then from then on it was a gradual decline. Tim Burton's dark film was transformed into a farce by the time George Clooney put on the rubber suit - so the only way Batman could go was backwards. Right back to the beginning as the name would suggest. The film sets about establishing how Bruce Wayne (Bale) went from a rich kid, witnessing his parents murder to a rubber clad vigilante. It also delves ...
...Overall: This is the best Batman film since Tim Burton's early efforts, it is dark and explains most of the questions about why Bruce Wayne is the way he is. Bale is perfect, as the geeky teen turned muscle bound playboy with an eye on revenge. The cast is pretty solid too, backing up the great characterisation and script. Michael Cain is on his usual form as is Morgan Freeman. The weakest link to me is Katie Holmes as the annoying do-gooder. Gary ... Read review