Hi I'm Becky, thanks for looking at my reviews. I try and read and rate as many back as I can. I als...
Hi I'm Becky, thanks for looking at my reviews. I try and read and rate as many back as I can. I also post on dooyoo.co.uk as funagogo. I finally have the internet and a functioning laptop. I live in Kettering and am a journalist by trade (for my sins)
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Directed by: Christopher Nolan (Memento)
Starring: Christian Bale (The Machinist, American Psycho) Michael Cain (Alfie, The Italian Job) Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) Morgan Freeman (The Shawsank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby)
Production Year: 2005
Running Time: 91minutes
Certificate: 12A
DVD extras: 2 Disc Special Edition contains trailer Featurettes on writing process, casting, the batsuit and making of Batmobile Features on the making of Gotham City Comic Book style navigation
Plot: So 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 into how he physically developed and got his array of gadgets. All this whilst trying to save Gotham City and protect his childhood sweetheart Rachel (Holmes.) So, after Bruce gets kicked out of University he goes after the gang lord behind his parents murder (played by Tom Wilkinson,) only he can't do it. He goes travelling, and after a stint in a jail in the orient - is taken under the wing of an ancient but honourable cult and its leader Ras Al Ghul. They train him in martial arts, and after escaping to return to a crime ridden Gotham goes about becoming the caped crusader. Through a chance meeting he gets access to all the prototypes his fathers company made for the military - including bullet proof cloth, a parachute material and an armoured vehicle called the tumbler. Just in time too as there is something sinister brewing at Arkham asylum under the watchful and creepy eyes of Dr Crane aka the Scarecrow. (Cillian Murphy)
The DVD extras: These are excellent - presented in a comic book style the featurette about the car is brilliant. It is British too so even better in my eyes! There are also some bits on the stunt driver who must have the best job in the world. There is also a section on casting the right Batman, and the process of making Bale the perfect shape. Bearing in mind he did this film directly after the Machinist where he is painfully thin just brings it home the work he put in. A featurette on the fighting sequences is a real eye opener, especially one on a glacier, which was cracking underneath the actors as they were shooting. Some of the other extras are worth a look but these are the best in my opinion.
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 Oldman pops up too as Inspector Gordon - although he is just not in it enough. The visuals in this film are quite amazing - the narrows (the ghetto district) are stunning - as are Ras Al Ghouls headquarters. As someone who is always questioning parts of films the explanation of the technology is pretty thorough and comprehensive - which suited be to the ground! If you love the comic book/ action films but where disappointed with the later Batman films this is for you - hopefully the well set up prequel - sequel (with Heath Ledger as the Joker) will be as good
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Great review. I also am excited abouth the Dark Knight. Tuxley.
eve6kicksass 28.04.2007 00:28
Excellent review on an excellent film, with a terrific cast. Are you ready for the sequel, which is called THE DARK KNIGHT, and it will be released next year??? Chris x
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![Batman Begins - 1 Disc Edition [DVD] [2005]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78485357.jpg "Batman Begins - 1 Disc Edition [DVD] [2005]")
Apr 27th, 2007
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