This afternoon, I went to see the film a second time and realized, as some of you have said, that the film doesn't rely too heavily on past adaptations. One part in particular that was kinda borrowed from other Batman films was with the Batmobile and encounters with women riding in it. Another thing that I realized was that some may complain about the editing, but it actually works for the fight scenes. Batman is elusive in these fights and the editing gives that impression instead of filming it in a linear way. Finally, after the second viewing, I have concluded that "Batman Begins" will probably become the definitive classic for Batman films, unless of course the sequels from this director and cast get better.

Eddie,

"Batman Begins" IS meant to be a prequel, in the same way that the Episodes I-III of "Star Wars" were prequels to Episodes IV-VI. It's just that this "Batman" prequel relies on sources other than the movies that preceded it, sources like comic books, TV shows, and graphic novels. The result can be seen as every bit the "new" edition, but essentially it's simply a new look at an old set of characters and an old format. And all those tie-ins I mentioned above were not coincidental. Writer-director Nolan wanted his audience to see "Batman Begins" as something new yet old at the same time.

If Nolan truly wanted to do something new and different, he'd make a film called "Momento" where the story was told inside out rather than back to front.

Instead, he made the film most of us wanted to see.

John

John,

Actually, Burton's "Batman" was as much of an origin story as "Batman Begins". In "Batman", Batman makes his first appearances in Gotham, and the movie ends with him giving the Bat Signal to Commissioner Gordon. In "Batman Begins", Batman makes his first appearances in Gotham, and the movie ends with Lt. (not yet Commissioner) Gordon creating a Bat Signal to get Batman's attention.

Also, in "Batman Begins", The Joker already technically exists (i.e. the joker cards he leaves at crime scenes). In "Batman", Jack Napier isn't The Joker at the very beginning of the movie.

Seriously, it's not that hard to let go of an idea. :)

Eddie

"It's a new start as if the others never existed." --Depression

Well, not quite. It's the "look" of the movie and the added realism of the characters--heroes and villains--that's new. It's no longer so much a comic-book adventure.

More important, it is an appropriate prequel to the other four movies that preceded it. Not to give too much away (spoilers if you like), at the end of "Batman Begins," we see Sgt. Gordon becoming Lt. Gordon, who will soon become Commissioner Gordon; we see the beginnings of the new, improved Bat Cave; we're told why there are so many loonies running around Gotham dressed up in funny costumes and committing crimes--they're all escapees from the Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. And we're even told that a character is going around committing crimes and leaving his calling card, a Joker.

So the new movie makes a nice tie-in with the movies that came before it but follow it in time.

John

They most likely will. Think of it as a completely separate entity from the other movies. It's a new start as if the others never existed.

jumping into the conversation a little late...but i saw the movie on saturday and LOVED it! i thought bale did a fantastic job, and i really thought the plot was great! i don't know much about the comic books, so i can't really comment on that.

but, i actually have a question regarding the series...does anyone know if they are going to do more of the films? and, if they are, are the going to make the same ones? i was just a little confused by the end...where they mention the joker.

I guess sequel talk is already floating.

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"Everyone is in agreement that the movie's strength is with Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman," claims Page Six. "The next romantic interest will be a much stronger actress. ... Warner is happy that people are now focusing on who'll be playing the Joker rather than Katie and Tom."
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wow! not being a huge batman fan really prohibited me from seeing all of those tie-ins with the series storyline! maybe it was because i went to the alst showing and was a little tired, but i didn't catch all that stuff, like the loonies & lt. gordon becoming the commissioner. thanks for all the info!!

so, if i read correclty, there's going to be a new series of movies but with this look and these set of characters- not a total deviation from the original but not exactly like the ones that were already made, right?

i'm really looking forward to them. i think nolan did a fantastic job with this one!

yeah, i have heard that sequel rumors are definitely quelching around...i even saw a possible movie poster somewhere out there with the joker as the dominant image and tha date being summer 2008!

i'm not sure how factual this is, but it was definitely a real-looking poster.

When is Batman Begins expected to hit the DVD shelves? I hear it may also be released on the HD format.