Batman Begins
(June 17)PREMISE Unable to avenge the murders of his parents in a robbery, brooding Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) fights crime by transforming himself into the grim Caped Crusader we know and love.
TRAILER HIGHLIGHTS Bale's Bruce is shown receiving combat training and Zen-like aphorisms from Liam Neeson as mentor/sensei Qui-Gon Jinn — er, we mean Henri Ducard (top). Returning to Gotham City from some foreign wilderness, Bruce constructs the familiar Bat-costume (middle). Finally, in a rapid-fire montage, he's shown unleashing hell. That upside-down confrontation with a bad guy (bottom), a twist on the famous Spider-Man kiss, is a nice touch.
PERCENTAGE OF PLOT SPOILED 25 percent. There's nary a glimpse of the film's extensive roster of supporting characters, including villains Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe) and Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), associates Alfred (Michael Caine) and James Gordon (Gary Oldman), or love interest Rachel (Katie Holmes).
VERDICT Most trailers are too spoiler-heavy, but this one almost errs in the opposite direction — it's brief, dark (literally, with the shots appearing washed out in sepia), and short on information. Still, that air of mystery is apt for the nightstalking hero. Bale (American Psycho) looks poised to bring an intensity to the role that's been missing from the campier recent movies. Trailer grade: B+
