Batman Begins [DVD] [2005]

Wow, talk about a franchise facelift!! This film was easily the best film of 2005, cracking entertainment all round. So what made it so good? Let's start with the cast, this was successful not just because it had a wonderfully talented A list cast, it was successful because each actor gave their best to their character without trying to outdo their co-stars. In roles big or small (some were only on screen for 5 minutes like Ken Watanabe or Rutger Hauer) they still gave their best while allowing others to shine around them. As talented as they are can we say that about Jack Nicholson in Batman or Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey in Batman forever? It was great to see actors with real talent such as Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Liam Neeson making their characters really come to life, not to mention people like Tom Wilkinson and Cillian Murphy giving great turns as the villains. There are some outstanding performances but the ones that really stand out for me are without a doubt Michael Caine as Alfred and Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne. This was another key reason for the film's success, it was the first film where the character's of Bruce Wayne and Batman was BOTH impressive. It was brilliant how they showed Bruce Wayne's obsession with bats and how he eventually used his fear to his advantage This is not the case in any of the other Batman films. The story gave both personas a backbone and a real history. My father who hates super hero and fantasy films (he hates Star Wars and LOTR as well!!)of all kinds walked in when I was watching it on DVD at the beginning and actually said it was a great story and he came away very impressed with the acting as well. The score which although had no real identifying theme like Spiderman or Superman had a riveting, pulsating beat which really added to the tense and scary atmosphere. Make no mistake this is a scary film, I defy anyone not to feel scared when the Scarecrow dons his mask and attacks the minds of his victims, or watches Bruce Wayne faces his fear of Bats. I defy anyone not to feel exhilarated and tense as Batman moves through the night (where most of this film is set)to take out the goons one at a time. That is another element to the films success, the action. I am not just talking about the set pieces such as the Car Chase or the monorail sequence. No slow mo antics of bullet time or fancy martial arts ala Hero or Matrix. I am talking about the vicious and brutal hand to hand fighting. What makes it so impressive is how the camera is focused upon the henchman as they stare terrified into the darkness waiting for the Batman to snatch another one away. It shows how Batman can engage a number at a time and take them out so swiftly it is almost hard to follow. The only time this has been matched so realistically is in the Bourne films and thankfully unlike Bourne this is no shaky camera routine. So is there any downside? Only one spring to mind and that is the role of Rachael Dawes played by Mrs Tom Cruise. I am not against good female characters in these action films, quite the contrary but this one although trying to come across as a determined lawyer trying to bring justice to Gotham, simply turned into a bit of a self rightous do gooder. If her character did not exist the story would barely need any changing at all, I could not say that about most of the other roles. This I believe is partly due to the story and partly due to how she was portrayed. A great moment for me came at the end when they slipped in a reference to Batman's greatest arch nemesis from the films, TV series and of course the comics. I do not think I need to name him but what an agonising wait it has now been as a result for the sequal, one which has been whipped to fervour by the latest media hype!! So all in all this was a truly cracking film and one highly recommended to all.

I would like to clarify a few things that apmalmighty has stated in his above review. Firstly Batman Begins DOES have a major bat-villain, and that is Ra's al Ghul, who is by Batman's own assesment (in the comic books) THE most dangerous villain he has ever come across!! Secondly the change from Bruce's parents being murdered by the Joker to a random homeless guy was welcome as this is the real story in the comic books. More specifically, in the comics he still does not know who killed his parents, but the impression readers are given is that it isn't any super-villain and was just another random theif. That clarified, i do agree i didnt like the batmobile. But other than that i absolutely loved the movie. Christian Bale does make a brilliant Bruce Wayne and Batman. Nolan's dark style also gives the movie the perfect touch and i can only hope the sequels continue in the same vain.

This is one of the few films that has pleased the four major danger groups : critics, comic-book-fans, average humans and me. This is because it is just so good, the cast is well picked for the parts, the story is good, and best of all its not anything like that terrible one with george cloony in it (shiver). Where other bat-movies relied on super technology instead of super powers, this film turns more to a more and simple (and much less shiny) aray of gadgets. eg. the batmobile is a jungle warfare vehicle spray-painted black, and the bat-sign-spotlight-thingy is a criminal duck taped to a searchlight. Anyway its a great movie, buy it if you can, rent it if you cant.

Batman has been reborn and it is Christopher Nolan who has given the batman franchise the spark it needed on the silver screen...Many would consider George Clooney as one the best batmans ever but he has been made to look like a batgirl compared to Christian Bale he has the muscle the look and the voice to play both a perfect batman and bruce Wayne...batman is given a new look he is darker and if you suggest even sinister in both his actions and looks.....and what about the tumbler the bats tank like riot vehicle its perfect....this film is a must have for fans of the dark knight ..and look out the sequel the dark knight is out next summer which includes the original cast christian bale morgan freeman michael cane and heath ledger as batmans greatest enemy the joker.....and new toys including a new batsuit and a new vehicle which is like a harley davidson on steroids it is called the batpod it makes ghost riders chopper look like a honda 50...hope you enjoyed my review its my first if you did email me your comments to [email protected] Thank You

the film is quite long at 2hours and fifteen minutes.but it is very enjoyable with lots of action.alot different from the older batman films.the new films seem to have better storylines and a more in depth view of batman growing up.overall i would recommend this film to anyone who likes batman films with lots of action in them.

Back to the original Batman type of show about bloody time

One of the best films of all time in my opinion. I love Comic book films and Batman Begins is another great! The Batman/Dark knight trilogy is one of the best trilogy's of all time. Great cast, director and story. I highly recommend this DVD and the trilogy in general!

While I love Tim Burton's version of the vigilant hero, this bring more realistic touch to the film. I loved the fact that it felt more real and more serious, that the emotion of Bruce Wayne brings the root of the issues to the core. How he felt about his parents being murdered, the creation of Batman, saving Rachel Daweson from being in danger. And finally, the scarecrow! Some regonization there! This gets a lot of stars!

Achat pour rien... Import anglais, pas de français sur ce DVD. Attention, ni sous titres, ni voix. Ne faites pas la même erreur que moi :-(

It would not work