Musings of a Punk Rock Father

Last night Melanie and I finally saw Batman Begins. I had been looking forward to it because I expected Christopher Nolan to redeem the series' sullied reputation by undoing all of the wrongs perpetrated by Joel Schumacher.

This film is by far better than those neon and rubber-nippled Schumacher debacles, but it still didn't surpass my affection for the first Burton Batman film. I loved the return to a dark atmosphere, and I felt okay with the re-write of Batman's origin over the first film. The changes were minor, and ddint bother me. I did feel, though, that the training sequences were far too lengthy. I guess I just wanted to see Batman, in the suit, earlier than an hour into the film.

Christian Bale fit the role well, far better than Clooney or Kilmer. Of course, they may have been better Batmen if they weren't encouraged to camp it up. I think I need to watch this film again, though, to truly appreciate it, especially now that I know that half the film leads up to the appearance of Batman. Originally, I thought this film was to be based on Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, but I didn't see any evidence of that.

I'm really hoping someone makes a film out of Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, with Micheal Keaton again taking on the lead.