Review: Batman Begins

Summary: Eh. More "interesting" than "good."

Warning, Matey! Here Be Spoilers! And Really Geeky Commentary!

First, the good bits: Casting, for the most part, was good, with Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman in supporting roles. The origin story was cleverly handled, and added some new texture to the Batmyth. Gotham City looks pretty cool, and plausible. Overall though, it pales in comparison to Tim Burton's less-flawed Batman.

To begin with, the plot should probably have been a little streamlined, and/or the editing less frenetic. It's hard to follow (let alone invest in) dramatic, chase, or fight scenes, when there's an MTV-style cut every 2 seconds. Not helping is the music from Batman Begins, which barely supports the narrative and leaves no impression at all. The music in Tim Burton's Batman was arguably a bit TOO intrusive, but for the most part, it enhanced the film, even the shoe-horned Prince songs.

As for casting, Michael Keaton made a better Batman, though Christian Bale is a convincing and engaging young Bruce Wayne -- it's just that as Batman, I thought they did him a disservice with that growly voice, and the stupid one-liners. Kim Basinger was similarly superfluous and talent-impaired in the Burton film as Katie Holmes is in BB, but KB was a bit more fun to watch. Katie Holmes has the cutesy stench of Dawson's Creek and Tom Cruise all over her, and it's only distracting. (Why does there always have to be a love interest for Batman, the one character in comicsdom who's never [since the Silver Age, anyway] had anything more than ambiguous and/or tortured relationships with some of his more comely enemies?)

The litmus test may be which version of Batman is one more likely to watch again? TB's Batman was darker than Batman Begins, but also managed to be more fun. TB's Batman had an over-the-top Joker; BB, the lamest Batman foe of all in the Scarecrow. Ra's al Gul is a fascinating character, and well-played by Liam Neeson, but I don't know if they really put that character across to folks that don't read the books.

Oh yeah, and the Bat Tank was lame.

Two and a half stars.