Batman Begins - 2 Disc Edition [2005]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Just when you though that the Batman franchise was dead and buried--certainly after the abomination that was 1997's Batman & Robin--along comes director Christopher Nolan to brilliantly bring it all back to life with the astonishingly strong Batman Begins.

Nolan, whose curriculum vitae already features Memento and Insomnia, focuses his attention where films in the franchise haven't gone before--by examining that character of Batman himself. Thus, the story here is the genesis of the character, from the death of Bruce Wayne's parents, harrowing training with the mysterious League of Shadows, right through to the Dark Knight's first appearances on the street of a crime-ridden, moody Gotham City.

Nolan plays several trump cards in his take on the Batman legacy, and none pay off quite so handsomely as his casting. Christian Bale is an immense force in the dual role of Bruce Wayne and Batman, bringing a brooding anger and genuine unease to the Batsuit. He's backed with strong turns from Tom Wilkinson, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, and Cillian Murphy as the unstable Scarecrow.

In spite of a last twenty minutes that can't quite sustain the tone of what's gone before, Batman Begins is a major achievement, and one of the finest superhero movies to date. Easily the best of the Dark Knight's big screen adventures, it manages to be a blockbuster film that's unpredictable, compulsive, superb to look at and well worth many repeated viewings. A staggering achievement, particularly considering the state the Batman franchise had got itself into.--Simon Brew

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Customer reviews

review by: private008 date: 2008-07-27 rating:
Great Movie
Now that's more like it. I'd like to start off with mentioning that a lot of people have said to me that the original Batman by Tim Burton was Good. I'd like to iterate that, in my opinion, that Batman movie by Burton was horrendous, and that's being nice. Now that that is out of the way, let's move on. I always knew that Christopher Nolan was a great Director (loved Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige). I have also felt that Batman/Bruce Wayne is an interesting and tormented character. In simple words, it requires a director who is good at exploring character to give this particular character justice. Christopher Nolan is that Director. I would go as far as to say that he is as good as Ridley Scott. The direction is great, the acting is brilliant, the story is good, the production design is amazing. The only complaint i have for this movie is the action. The camera is too close and the cuts are too quick. Otherwise, it couldn't have been better. It will be interesting to see what they do with The Joker in a sequel. Not much more i can say!

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review by: Craig Duncan date: 2008-07-18 rating:
Bad title, bad cover, dull hero.
This film, I'm afraid gets a bit boring. It attempts to make the `creation' of Batman a real life possibility but never really convinces. At the first sign of fire he bursts into flames and melts his wings. The car isn't very cool and the idea of thinking Batman is quicker at getting through Gotham in a car anyway is a nonsense, so why does he have one at all?
The film starts with the clichéd going to seek some seemingly Tibetan wisdom. There is then a very long and over indulged initiation followed by the too hasty capture of a baddie - who isn't the real baddie and a pretty lame scarecrow story relating being poisoned and people being turned mad.
Tom Crusies wife is very difficult to watch - basically because she is so known as Tom Cruises wife and loses credibility and isn't all that great an actor. Also I think Katie is too young for the role and for that matter, so is the guy playing Batman.
But as the title suggests it is leading up to the sequel so we can perhaps forgive it all these things. It doesn't do the excellent job Iron Man does though in making a normal person a hero. But Batman is flawed because he cant spin webs and doesn't have a big jetpack to make him fly - so all he really is is a bit of a glider with some abseiling kit. Excited? No. Me neither.
Oh the stairwell sequence was filmed in St Pancras Station before they made it all new.

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review by: Musegirl date: 2008-05-24 rating:
WOW
Well!! the best Batman yet!! Christian Bale adds that very dark and devious side to Batman. Let's face it most comic book hero's have a dark side.. More Christian Bale please. Looking forward to seeing Ed Norton as the Hulk now that's a challenge for Mr Ed.

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review by: date: 2008-03-26 rating:
At last Batman is given the darkness!
I knew Christian Bale would be good after seeing him in other movies but he surpassed all expectations to portray the characters of Bruce Wayne/Batman correctly. True fans know that Batman is who he is whereas Bruce Wayne is the alter-ego as he plays the playboy billionaire just to keep attention from Batman.
As for Christian Bale's Batman he is a brooding, vengeful character that displays the darkness in Batman's character. Truly superb!
The supporting list is full of renowned actors and the film is better for it. Michael Caine is excellent as the kindly Alfred and Morgan Freeman as his friend Fox.

Buy it, you won't be disappointed.


review by: date: 2008-02-23 rating:
The greatest BATMAN movie ever!
BATMAN BEGINS (2005)

starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe.

plot: Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has lost his parents when he was young and trained with the great Ducard (Liam Neeson). He returns to Gotham and wins his parent's fortune, manor and business, Wayne Enterprizes. Now, with the help of an old friend of his family (Morgan Freeman), Bruce becomes Batman by night, a dark hero who fights crime in a city where the good people do nothing. Batman is thrust into a war with his first major enemy, The Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), only to discover that the evil villain is working for someone much more powerful from Bruce's past.

the good: Wow, for the last 13 years I held Tim Burton's BATMAN RETURNS above every BATMAN film, and every film for that matter. It was a great film, and it still is. But it was not the true BATMAN that I thought it was. I have just came back from seeing this film, BATMAN BEGINS, and it beats BATMAN RETURNS by a long-shot.

As much as I love Michael Keaton's portrayal as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Christian Bale beats them all! He's great as the millionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne, and also as the dark, bad-ass Batman. He treats Bruce and Batman like two completely different characters, even better than both Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer! He also sports the best costume, and an awesome bat mobile.

Michael Caine and Gary Oldman are also great replacements for Michael Gough and Pat Hingle as Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon. Caine turned out just as great as Gough as the butler/father figure, but Gordon put a more humorous touch on the character which did not disappoint me!

Cillian Murphy is equally great as the villain, The Scarecrow, who freaks me out and leads to some creepy/cool trippy horror-like scenes. Katie Holmes is also here as the love interest, she was OK, not as bad as people say but still a little off. The rest of the cast also handles their parts perfectly!

Christopher Nolan's direction was the best because it managed to be dark and gloomy like Burton's, only a little more realistic!

The score and action are also honorable mentions for this film.

But in the end, what makes this the best is Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and Batman. Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer were also great, but the way I see it, Bale is the definitive Batman!

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The Batman Legacy (Batman/Batman Returns/Batman Forever/Batman and Robin)
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Batman And Robin - Special Edition [1997]
Batman Forever - Special Edition [1995]
The Machinist [2004] [2005]

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . Heroes & Heroines
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . 12
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 2000 and later
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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