Not so much a review, as an excited rave… but:

In short, it was better than Star Wars. That’s right, better than Star Wars.

I’m a humongous Batman fanatic. The first (Michael Keaton/Jack Nicholsen/Tim Burton) Batman movie is still in my top 10 favorite movies of all time, (though this one may just have replaced it). I’ve never bothered to watch Cloony’s Batman. I didn’t want to break anything (TV, DVD player, DVD, movie screen) after watching it.

The thing that I liked the most was the depth of emotion Christian Bale brought to Batman. “My guilt is overcome by my anger” he says once, describing how he deals with the death of his parents, and outrage over the state of Gotham city. That anger and vengance, however is brideled by an intense compassion, and respect for the judicial process of dealing with criminals. He refuses to directly kill a criminal to deal with a crime (though he will let them die, and apparently isn’t concerned with collateral damage…). I think this trait is what I’ve always loved so much about Batman.

The other great thing about this movie was character development. That is pretty much what they spent the entire movie doing. The tackled what no Batman movie or TV show (save the animated series) has attempted. Introducing one of the most complex of all of Batman’s nemeses: Ra’s Al Ghul.

Plenty of ninja fight scenes, scary villains, amazing chase scense, appropriately placed humor. Currently in my top five favorite movies. Definitely recommended.

As one radio commentator said this morning: “THAT is how you make a Batman movie!” I agree wholeheartedly and hope that Goyer and Nolan crank out a few more of these before they are done.