Batman Begins (2005)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe
Runtime: 140 minutes

Synopsis: After training with his mentor, Batman begins his fight to free crime-ridden Gotham City from corruption.

Performances: 6/10
Screenplay: 5/10
Editing: 4/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Entertainment Factor: 5/10

Verdict: 15 years ago, a young British filmmaker on the rise was trusted with a task no one thought was achievable. Christopher Nolan, who only had 2 hits to his name ("Insomnia" and "Memento"), was successfully handed over the Dark Knight franchise less than a decade after the debacle that was "Batman & Robin". And for many, the first installment not only redefined and legitimized comic book adaptations for years to come but also propelled Nolan's name among the most promising filmmakers in Hollywood.

It wasn't until recently that I thought to myself that I hadn't revisited this trilogy since its last installment came out an eternity ago. And since I have very fond memories of Nolan's take on the Dark Crusader, I immediately made plans to rewatch them. But my excitement quickly turned into disappointment because, and I'm ready for the backlash that's about to come, "Batman Begins" did not age well for me at all.

My biggest issue with it is its inconsistent tone, which, on one hand, sets up a dark and gritty atmosphere, but on the other stays true to the goofiness of older Batman adaptations. The dialogue was either cheesy or cringe-worthy, filled with many outdated one-liners that belong in the 1980s that were impossible to take seriously as well as a few shy attempts at humor that did not land at all.

The movie is nearly two and a half hours long and follows a three arc structure that was both dull and overwhelming at the same time. It wants to show us the origin of the superhero, his past, his training, his growth, and his attempt at bringing down a forgettable villain (whose motivations are definitely not in line with the film's serious tone), but unfortunately does all those things in an unfulfilling manner that always felt lacking.

There was no depth to the story or characters, no real stakes that made me invested in the narrative, and worse of all, no real identity to a film that I ultimately found boring more than anything else. Certainly one of Nolan's weakest efforts in my book.

FINAL GRADE: 5/10