Batman Began

OK, I am going to admit something no one else will ever agree with me on....I actually LIKED the previous BATMAN movies. Yes, ALL of them.

Of all of them, I probably liked BATMAN RETURNS the least. Sure I had some complaints with the last 2 ambiguously gay Batman movies, but I liked them. They were colorful. They were over the top. The were fun, and the Bat had lots of cool toys.

BATMAN BEGINS ain't havin' none of that. This movie takes the point of view that says "if there really were a Bat Man, how could it happen in the real world?" And as such, all of Bruce Waynes motivations are made clear and perfectly justified. His costume is grounded in reality, and doesn't just appear in the Bat Cave due to the hands of Alfred.

The Batmobile is more like a tank and a Hummer morphed together. I can't help but miss the old Batmobiles. While this vehicle is more real, makes more sense, it just doesn't seem like Batman's ride to me.

I really did like the actor thet plated the movie's villan, the Scarecrow. He was just the right amont of creepy. Christian Bale was a great Batman, and his voice was downright bone-chilling. Katie Holmes was OK, but her part didn't give her much to do. Commissioner Gordon was perfect, just like I pictured him based on "Batman: Year One." Michael Caine as Alfred was a better/bigger role for the character than previous movies.

This movie is creepy, scary at times, gloomy and violent. This is a great movie.

Still, I can't help missing the flashy Batman movies of the past. (and the Batmoibile, did I mention I missed the Batmobile?)

Things change, and a realistic Batman movie is better than no Batman movie.

The Bat is back....I'm sure I can get used to it.