by Steve Brennan

Created on: March 18, 2009

Sequels, prequels, remakes, re-releases, "re-imaginings", comic adaptations - These are what now constitute the bulk of Hollywood's output, particularly over the summer months. The more cynical among us might suggest that this trend is indicative of Hollywood's inability, or unwillingness, to think up exciting new ideas of its own. After all, if you can turn a few bucks re-packaging Charlie's Angels, The Hulk, Starsky and Hutch and pretty much any old TV show or comic you care to mention, why waste the effort exercising your brain on something as strenuous as original thought?

It is a fair point. There have been some risible stinkers churned out as a result of this tiresome mindset (Catwoman, Elektra, Daredevil, Blade: Trinity), but it can't be denied that there have also been notable successes when the right bods have been at the helm. Bryan Singer brought moral depth and intelligence to his impressive X-Men films, Sam Raimi delivered an enjoyable trio of Spider-Man stories, Jon Favreau turned in the smart and witty Iron Man, and in 2005 Christopher Nolan took on Batman, a task not to be underestimated.

After starting strongly with the gothic stylings of Tim Burton's 1989 Batman and the gleefully twisted perversions of Batman Returns, the Caped Crusader finally endured his downfall at the hands of an enemy who mercileslly mugged him of his credibility and status as a surefire box office goldmine, in the form of Joel Schumacher.

The rotten Batman Forever and the legendarily awful Batman and Robin delivered a double whammy of disaster which ensured the franchise was to be found sleeping rough under a bridge with a bottle of meths for the next 8 years. However, there was no way that would be the last we'd hear of him. Despite the derision afforded to the last two filmed installments, there had always been the feeling that the real Batman had never been properly portrayed on screen.

Warner Bros, still wincing at the memory of their critical and commercial flaying in the wake of Batman & Robin, had learned their lesson and brought in a director with artistic clout and credibility in the form of Nolan, and opted to shoot David S. Goyer's origin story. The result was the most accurate and convincing treatment of the character yet seen. Batman Begins is a muscular, scowling action film of oppressive darkness, which takes us inside the raging heart of a man who spends his nights dressing in bulletproof fetish gear and beating up scumbags. Which, frankly, is my kind

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