Batman Begins

Image credit: Batman Begins: David James

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Batman Begins

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RELEASE DATE June 17

WHY WE CAN'T WAIT If anyone can make us forget the last couple of campy Batmovies, it's Christian Bale (American Psycho), who makes for an intense Dark Knight, and Christopher Nolan (Memento), who has directed brainy, haunting thrillers. Plus, there's the all-star cast of prestige players, including Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Ken Watanabe, and Cillian Murphy.

THE PREMISE How does Bruce Wayne (Bale) evolve from a kid left orphaned by a street crime to a tycoon who moonlights as a crime fighter dressed like a bat? Well, he has a lot of help, from mentors (Neeson and Freeman), his butler Alfred (Caine), the future Commissioner Gordon (Oldman), a lovely gal (Holmes), and supervillains Ra's Al Ghul (Watanabe) and the Scarecrow (Murphy).

SOURCE The DC Comics hero created by Bob Kane in 1939

THE BACKSTORY The costume really helped Bale get into character — because it was so uncomfortable. ''The cowl was so damn tight,'' he says. ''It gives you headaches and puts you in a foul mood. You're in a rage after an hour.''

BURNING QUESTION It's what Nolan calls ''the whole greatest American icon of the past 100 years, am I going to f--- it all up? question.'' Yeah, we're wondering too.

COME FOR Bale, who deserves to be a big movie star already

STAY FOR Murphy (28 Days Later, this summer's Red Eye), who also deserves to be a big movie star already