- Sensibility: This film struggles a lot staying reasonable. The largest issue is the function and capabilities of the microwave emitter technology of which the requirements for suspending disbelief are beyond extreme. There are series of issues with batman's technologies, like a car going dark, some oddities with Rachel's poison effects and the scarecrow's behavior on horseback, and some comically non-sensical moments like Alfred picking up a fully-suited Batman in the backseat of a car and the Batmobile becoming invisible during a police pursuit.
- Cinematography: Has lots of good, with excellent production design and costuming, particularly around the Batman items. However, some of the choreography is a bit awkward and outside of a few moments of clear inspiration, much of the film is visually bland but not quite to an extent where it sends a message or is meaningful.
- Energy: If there's anything Nolan is a master of, it is making incredibly well-paced and fun films. The film's only bumps are in getting over the repeated bits of groan-worthy nonsense sprinkled throughout.
- Narrative: The story has some great conceptual value in establishing the origins of the Batman character and portraying Bruce's childhood. The only problem is, that his re-insertion back into his old life is ridiculously smooth to the point that the film becomes far more fantastical than it needs to be. This is perhaps a judgment with a bit too much hindsight from seeing the sequel films, but the villains here don't have the grit or darkness needed to really take this film over the edge.
- T-Points: The film received two bonus points: one for a great shot where Bruce first enters the Batcave and one for a classic "swear to me" interrogation
My viewing of this film might have been hurt by the brilliance of the next film in the trilogy, but the narrative issues alone make this film amount to mediocre at best.
Number of Watches: 2
