Last week before we began the MicroCast over at CrazyAces, Jeff raved to Chris and I about Batman Begins, the new movie with Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson and Michael Cain (if anyone’s ever heard of these guys…). Jeff said it was, hands down, “the best Batman movie ever made,” and he added later that he considers it the best comic book movie adaptation ever created as well.

He just might be right.

After seeing Batman Begins on Friday night, I have to say that it was, unquestionably, the BEST Batman movie ever made. Tim Burton had a great take on Batman in the early nineties, without a doubt, but what Chris Nolan did here elevates Batman to a whole new level. What astounded me the most in this movie is I found myself marvelling at the feeling that I wasn’t watching a “comic book movie,” but was seeing a full-fledged, character-driven movie that just happened to be about Bruce Wayne. That’s important to note: it wasn’t about Batman at all, it was about Bruce Wayne and the experiences and influences he had that spurred him to become a caped crusader.

It was an exhausting movie, by far. Emotionally, visually… you feel a bit worn-out when it’s done. But you also feel satisfied. It was well-worth the full price of admission, and it’s so rare you can feel that way these days.

Batman Begins is an excellent example of what a combination of first-rate direction, talented actors and sharp writing can produce: a fantastic movie-going experience.

And for that, I have to give Batman Begins an “A.”

Kevin

P.S. If you want to see why Christian Bale scored the role of Batman, I highly recommend you check him out in the movie Equilibrium (see my review here).