Batman Begins MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 1/2 Content: +2

Looking at the origin of the caped crusader, Batman Begins follows the tragic death of his wealthy parents. Impacted by injustice, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) turns to the intense training of Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) but eventually breaks away from the order, preferring to fight for justice, not the destruction of evil. Wayne returns to crime-plagued Gotham and teams with the family butler, Alfred (Michael Caine), to begin his double life as a crime fighter. Waynes arsenal of gadgets is developed by Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman), a faithful worker in the family business. Since the death of Waynes father, Gotham has become a cesspool of corruption with mobsters and corrupt law-enforcement officials. The D.A.s office has a lone crime fighter in Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) who was a childhood friend of Wayne. After years of separation, their paths cross again to bring peace to the city.

After his parents killer is released and then murdered by the mob, Bruce Wayne flees Gotham, burdened with guilt for his parents death and regret for not having avenged their loss. Batman Begins, which does not have a comic-book feel, offers an interesting contrast between good and evil. Two groups seek to rid Gotham of corruption, but their plans to accomplish that are drastically different. Bruce Wayne has the opportunity to follow each path, but only one leads to justice. Rachel Dawes, the assistant D.A., is a refreshing character who will not sell out or flee from doing the right thing, even in the midst of danger. While the bad language is minimal, the intense characters and fight scenes should cause some concern for parents of younger children. Preview gives this movie, sure to be a summer blockbuster, high entertainment marks and a positive acceptability ranking. This reviewer didnt want to see Batman Begins come to an end.

Preview Reviewer: Henry J. Rogers
Distributor: Warner Brothers