Director Christopher Nolan resurrected Warner Bros.’ Batman franchise with his reboot, BATMAN BEGINS. Working as an origin story, Nolan draws inspiration from some of the most intriguing stories written about the character, specifically Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. Steering away from the campy spectacle the Batman film series had become, Nolan takes a new approach and opts for realism. What would Batman be like if he operated in our modern world? Shot primarily on location in Chicago, Nolan’s Gotham City is filled with realistic corruption, greed and crime. It resonates in a way that no other cinematic adaptation of the caped crusader before it has. The film explores greater themes of vengance and justice in a way that feels poingnant, not tacked on like in previous Batman films. Actor Christian Bale is both a terrific Bruce Wayne and Batman, a combination sorely lacking from earlier adaptations. Fans of the comic book will not be disappointed and those generally turned off by films about super heroes may find themselves converted. BATMAN BEGINS is truly one of the best films about a comic book character ever made.