Batman Begins (HD DVD)

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OK, did I have any misgivings about this new venture? Of course, but I didn't find them severe enough to spoil my enthusiasm for the movie. First, I found director Nolan's fondness for close-ups and quick edits a bit off-putting, not only in the fight scenes but throughout the picture. Nolan probably uses so many of these devices because he believes they involve the audience more in the action and, just as likely, because he believes people expect this of an action film. As far as I can tell, this was Nolan's first outright adventure movie, and while he does a superb job moving things forward, it is clear he's feeling his way along like anybody else.

Next, there's James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer's new score that tries hard to recall Danny Elfman's original music without actually duplicating it. But the new score succeeds mainly in sounding louder and less inspired than before, reminding one again how unique Elfman's music was. However, I won't complain too much since the new score does have an epic, heroic quality that grows on a person, especially as the film wears on.

Then there's the matter of the villains, something I mentioned earlier is primarily a plus. What I didn't mention is the lesser problem that "Batman Begins" offers us a layering of villains throughout rather than a single dominant force. Although I can understand how the surprise factor in using multiple evildoers can keep audiences on an expectant edge, it also tends to water down our fear of any one scoundrel, particularly when we don't know who is at the top of the hierarchy.

Still, these are minor carps in a film that succeeded in keeping my attention from beginning to end. I've seen it four times now--in a regular theater, in an IMAX theater, on SD DVD, and now on HD-DVD--and I look forward to watching it again.

Video:
I found little to fault in the standard-definition disc's high-bit-rate, anamorphic video reproduction. Now that I've had a chance to compare it to this new HD-DVD transfer, I'm not sure I can say the same thing, except that the SD is still good by standard-definition standards, while the HD-DVD takes the picture into a whole new area. Again, the screen size measures a ratio of about 2.40:1, but this time the detailing is ever more precise, colors are richer and more radiant, and textures are better delineated.

It seems like with each new HD-DVD, the picture quality gets better and better. "Batman Begins" looks as good as anything I've seen on my television. Yes, it is a dark film, but inner detail is good even in darker areas of the screen, and black levels are intensely dark on my CRT television. Facial features still appear a tad soft, but it's all really quite beautiful.

Audio:
The disc makes the audio available in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. Either way, it is as good as the video. In the standard-definition's Dolby Digital 5.1, I found big dynamic contrasts and a robust deep bass; in the HD-DVD's Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, I found more of the same but a touch clearer. And Dolby TrueHD 5.1 takes things an incremental step further. In TrueHD there are strong dynamic surges and impact; pinpoint surround activity; taut bass; a wide, open feeling; an extended frequency response; and a realistic clarity. Comparing TrueHD to DD+, I heard a bit more fullness and, if anything, an even wider stereo spread, imagined or not, thanks to the TrueHD track not placing as much emphasis on the center speaker as DD+ and regular DD does. Oddly, perhaps, it makes the TrueHD soundtrack seem slightly more subtle than the other audio formats, but, believe me, it's every bit as good and better.

Extras:
The bonus features on the HD-DVD include everything found on the standard CD two-disc set and more. For me, the most important aspect of the extras was what Warner Bros. wisely decided not to give us; namely, the goofy, hard-to-navigate, interactive comic-book format that made finding anything on the standard edition so difficult. Here we get all the bonus items listed in a straightforward manner on a single screen.

The first item is the In-Movie Experience, which basically replaces any regular audio commentary. The filmmakers take you behind-the-scenes as you're watching the film, providing inserts, comics, special effects, and the like, all on screen along the way. After that is a section called "Additional footage" that contains "Reflections on Writing Batman Begins" with David S. Goyer, two minutes; "Digital Batman," the effects you may have missed, a little over one minute; and "Batman Begins Stunts," two minutes.

The longest section is one the disc calls "Beyond the Story," and it includes eleven sections. There is MTV's "Tankman Begins," a cute parody lasting about five minutes, integrating scenes from the movie with added shots of Jimmy Fallon and a surprise guest. Next is "Batman: The Journey Begins," a fourteen-minute documentary on the development and casting of the film. It's typical of such making-of documentaries, with comments from the director and filmmakers, plus excerpts from the movie. After that is "Shaping Mind and Body," twelve minutes on Christian Bale's transformation into Batman. Then it's "Gotham City Rises," twelve minutes on the creation of Gotham City, the Batcave, Wayne Manor, and more. Following that is "Cape and Cowl," eight minutes on the development of the new Batsuit; "Batman: The Tumbler," thirteen minutes on the reinvention of the Batmobile; "Path to Discovery," a fourteen-minute look at the first week of filming in Iceland; "Saving Gotham City," thirteen minutes on the miniatures, CGI, and effects for the monorail chase scene; and "Genesis of the Bat," a fourteen-minute look at the Dark Knight's incarnation and influences on the film.

Things conclude with "Confidential Files," which list and explain "Hardware," "Enemies," and "Allies and Mentors" in the story; a stills gallery; forty scene selections (but no chapter insert); and a widescreen theatrical trailer. There are English, French, and Spanish spoken languages available; and English, French, and Spanish subtitles, with English captions for the hearing impaired.

As usual with Warner Bros. HD-DVDs, this one also includes pop-up menus, an indicator of elapsed time, a pan-and-zoom feature, and an Elite Red HD case.

Parting Thoughts:
Was "Batman Begins" the best film of 2005 or one of the greatest movies ever made? I have no idea. But is it entertaining? You bet. There hasn't been another film in years I liked well enough to watch twice in a movie theater except this one. I found it creative, energetic, imaginative, involving, and even a little inspiring. Its edgy tone and dark atmosphere coupled with its comic-book theatrics make it a winning combination for older children and adults alike. If this HD-DVD version doesn't sell a few copies, nothing will.

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