This is the Batman film that comic book fans want. This is the credible genre film about a superhero that cinephiles have desired. Most of all, this is the first live-action adaptation of one of DC’s lead superhero triumvirate to actually come close to the brilliance of Batman: The Animated Series. And that, my fellow fans, is something to be praised, supported and savoured.
The cast is pure class – an international roster of pure acting talent: Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Ken Watanabe, Rutger Hauer, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Linus Roache, Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes, and Michael Caine & Gary Oldman as the best Alfred and Gordon EVER.
The script from comics & movie scribe David S.Goyer leavens the darkness and gloom with just enough wit to make it all palatable to a multiplex audience, while including nods to all the eras of the comic book in both character names and events brought to life. Director Christopher Nolan does a Bryan Singer, clearly establishing ths reality of this world as just around the corner from ours, while bringing his own trademark flashback structure to bear on the psychology of his leads.
The Production and F/X teams have done amazing work – this is a real Gotham, a city that is as real as any other great American city, built out of Chicago, London, Pinewood and CGI. The decision to shoot the film as an action-horror piece in the mould of Goyer’s previous films immediately thrusts the entire Batman mythos to the fore, making Batman the lead rather than a figure of fun or a mirror of the freaks and thugs he hunts.
This is the Dark Knight, the man of justice, the man who has good reason not to kill but is still so terrifying criminals tell their kids scary stories about him. This is someone I recognise from years of reading Detective Comics, Batman, Legends of the Dark Knight and countless minis and one-shots. The only fault I can find with the film is perhaps not a major one – the need for a third-act stunt-packed finale in true Hollywood summer blockbuster style is well met, but I personally would have preferred Bats making good on Ducard’s promise of his training in Act One – that he could take on a hundred men and win…. At any rate, roll on the sequel!