Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 07/08/2008 Run time: 102 minutes Rating: R

Batman Begins discards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-parody by 1997's Batman & Robin. As the title implies, Batman Begins tells the story anew, when Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) flees Western civilization following the murder of his parents. He is taken in by a mysterious instructor named Ducard (Liam Neeson in another mentor role) and urged to become a ninja in the League of Shadows, but he instead returns to his native Gotham City resolved to end the mob rule that is strangling it. But are there forces even more sinister at hand?

Co-written by the team of David S. Goyer (a veteran comic book writer) and director Christopher Nolan (Memento), Batman Begins is a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, of Spider-Man 2 (though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the young police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane. --David Horiuchi

Batman at Amazon.com

All Batman DVDs	Batman Begins 101: A Comic Book Primer	Where Have I Seen Christian Bale?
All Batman Comics and Graphic Novels	Batman Toys	Batman Begins Soundtrack

Stills from Batman Begins (click for larger images)

Batman Begins discards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader as a fearsome avenging angel. As the title implies, Batman Begins tells the story anew, when Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) flees Western civilization following the murder of his parents. He is taken in by a mysterious instructor named Ducard (Liam Neeson in another mentor role) and urged to become a ninja in the League of Shadows, but he instead returns to his native Gotham City resolved to end the mob rule that is strangling it.

Batman Begins is a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, of Spider-Man 2 (though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane and Liam Neeson as the villain. Batman Begins is sure refreshing and is entertainment at it's best.

In this latest batman installment forgot the past because it's dead. Director Chris Nolan takes this genre into a new direction. Christian Bale is spot on as a believable gritty force that literally puts fear into criminals. All other actors' delivery honorable performances expect for Katie Holmes who is flat from start to finish.
No campy one liners and cheesy fight scenes in this blockbuster. The fighting is hard hitting and visceral. The writing is original and full of laughs. This isn't a story where you can guess what is going to happen next. You're taken on a ride and when it stops you'll be begging for more.

Side Note: Isn't a comic book movie but a great action/drama based on a comic book movie. Good flick whether or not fans of the comic book.

The product was excellent and the transaction was fast, accurate and flawless. It is a great product with prompt, couteous service.

I bought this movie for basically the same price it would have cost me to rent it, so I cannot complain. I am not going to offer you a review of the movie, there are better places to find that; I am just going to recommend that, if you like this movie or think you might like this movie at all, it is better to buy it at this price then to rent it for a buck less.

I haven't seen the Dark Night yet and in order to get what is happening in that movie I decided to watch Batman Begins. I never really wanted to see this movie even though I have been a big Batman fan over the years. However when I finally put the DVD in to watch it I was gripped from the first moment of the movie.

This movie is by far the best Batman I have ever seen. Christian Bale gives an incredible performance. Katie Holmes as usual is so-so but she was better in this movie than most others I have seen here in. This movie is 2 hours and twenty minutes and my interest was kept the entire time. The action shots can get a little rough and Batman's voice is weird but there is nothing else about this movie I would have wanted better. I am so glad I finally watched this movie and hopefully you do too.