'Batman Begins': More than mere action
by Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

"Batman Begins" intends to banish all thoughts of Tim Burton, nippled Batsuits and Holy Bat Anything. And to a great extent, it succeeds. In their stead is a dark, stylish and dead-serious movie that doesn't so much re-imagine Batman as re-mythologize him. This is the story of the Dark Knight, not the Caped Crusader. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
Years after his parents are murdered, Bruce Wayne falls in with deadly fighters in the Orient to learn the skills that enable him to become Batman. When Wayne returns to crime-ridden Gotham City, he battles a villain named Scarecrow who paralyzes his victims with their most primal terrors.

FILM FACTS ...
Warner Brothers Pictures
'Batman Begins'

Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Ken Watanabe, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy
Run time: 140 minutes
Release date: June 15, 2005
Rating: PG-13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements.
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Babble Royale!
Palm Beach Post critics Hap Erstein and "Flick Chick" square off over Batmania.

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
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READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: B+
"The picture repeatedly stresses the human side of Batman, reminding us he has no superpowers, just skill, wits and an ability to manipulate fear, which is one of the film's themes."

Austin American-Statesman: 3 of 5 stars
"Credibility seems to be the movie's watchword. Nolan goes out of his way to hammer home the core of Batman's appeal: that with an iron will and a massive fortune, you, too, could perfect your body, dress up like a bat and fight crime."

Dayton Daily News: B+
"... sets the stage for a sequel and, in contrast to Schumacher's films, it leaves fans eager for more."

Middletown Journal: A
"... not only brings the hero back with a vengeance, it has vengeance coursing through almost every scene."

The Palm Beach Post: B-
"Only the most rabid fans are likely to be fully satisfied, but this is not the embarrassment of the recent installments."

The Palm Beach Post "Flick Chick"
"Batman's back, baby, and he's still brooding all over the scenery... He's buff. He's tough. And he's something of a drama queen."


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