I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, I think it will end up being one of my favorite comic book movies, and I’ve seen quite a few of them. I think the key to having a good Batman movie is an actor who can play Bruce Wayne well. Bruce Wayne should be dark and a little crazy. After all, any person without superpowers who would dress up as a Bat has to have “issues.” Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne does seem appropriately psychologically damaged.

I’ve read some reviews saying that the movie is humorless and too grim, but I thought that Michael Caine as Alfred brought a lot of humor to the movie. The supporting cast is great, it is unusual for a movie of this type to be stacked with so many big-time actors (and Rutger Hauer). I really didn’t care for the Rachel character - she exists purely to pop up and intone inspirational catchphrases. I wish the writer had done something to make her character a bit more quirky. On the other hand, Christian Bale does push-ups shirtlessly. That’s always good.

I am looking forward to the sequels now, and I want to see this movie again.