Cinema review: Batman Begins (12)

ENGLISH director Christopher Nolan brings a once dead film franchise back to life with the epic retelling of DC Comics' iconic vigilante's birth.

Batman Begins, following millionaire Bruce Wayne's (played by Christian Bale) transformation into crime riddled Gotham's Dark Knight, does away with all the camp rubbish that killed off the Batman series in the 1990s.

Gone are the outrageous city designs, gloomy blacks and neon lights that plagued the last movies, instead Nolan brings a touch of realism to Batman's world.

Gotham, while still a city sinking under the huge weight of its own corruption, now looks like a massive metropolis, gleaming at the top, but filthy and degenerate at the very bottom, where most of its inhabitants live.

Unlike the four other Batman movies, which at the time seemed more interested in the villians, Begins turns its focus on Wayne and his alter-ego.

The first half concentrates on Wayne's journey into the East and explores the reasons why he wants to punish the law-breakers.

The second half focuses on Wayne's first few outings as Batman as he starts to acquire his gadgets and allies, like police officer Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman).

A superb cast, including Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Rutger Hauer, Tom Wilkinson and Morgan Freeman all seem to enjoy themselves and are helped by a half decent script that avoids being too over the top.

Unfortunately the film takes so long setting up Batman it leaves the second half feeling rushed.

Batman Begins is a stunning return to form for the series, darker and more thoughtful.

Peter McKinney

l Batman Begins is on general release at all major cinemas now.