Batman Begins Movie

Holy smaller government and lower taxes, Batman! "Batman Begins," Christopher Nolan's brooding comic-book blockbuster, has been embraced by its fans for many things: Nolan's dark, shadowy aesthetic; the detail with which he has teased out Batman's mythic origins; and Christian Bale's wholly credible performance as the psychologically complex billionaire-turned-Dark Knight.

Holy smaller government and lower taxes, Batman! "Batman Begins," Christopher Nolan's brooding comic-book blockbuster, has been embraced by its fans for many things: Nolan's dark, shadowy aesthetic; the detail with which he has teased out Batman's mythic origins; and Christian Bale's wholly credible performance as the psychologically complex billionaire-turned-Dark Knight.

Capturing attention in a stunt-filled media world isn't easy. Thus, swag: eye-catching items that pit promoters' imaginations against seen-it-all recipients. This week's winner: "Batman Begins" -- in a can. The item: A package of unknown provenance arrives. Arising from a snowy cascade of plastic packing peanuts is a can of black spray paint, wrapped with the movie's logo and title. Hanging from the neck of the can, like one of Alice's enigmatic "Eat Me/Drink Me" signs, is an imprinted card.

The Batman franchise lives -- but not enough to reverse the worst box office slump in 20 years. With an estimated $46.9 million Friday through Sunday and $71.1 million in the five days since it opened Wednesday, "Batman Begins" got off to a good start in the U.S., with an additional $41.7 million reaped overseas, Warner Bros. distribution executives reported. All films combined brought in about $133 million this weekend, according to tracking service Nielsen EDI.

The Batman franchise lives -- but not enough to reverse the worst box office slump in 20 years. With an estimated $46.9 million Friday through Sunday and $71.1 million in the five days since it opened Wednesday, "Batman Begins" got off to a good start in the U.S., with an additional $41.7 million reaped overseas, Warner Bros. distribution executives reported. All films combined brought in about $133 million this weekend, according to tracking service Nielsen EDI.

When David Goyer, co-writer of the eagerly awaited "Batman Begins," attended a comic book convention in San Diego last summer, the audience of 7,000 was noticeably antsy. It was the first time anyone associated with the film was speaking publicly. "The first question I got," recalls Goyer, "was someone stood up in the audience and said, 'How can you guarantee this movie won't suck?' And everyone applauded." In a way, that's the dilemma facing Warner Bros.

Not your father's Batmobile Gone are the sexy curves, replaced by a rugged military vehicle that is a cross between Mad Max's Hummer and a stealth-bomber-inspired Lamborghini. "Batman Begins" production designer Nathan Crowley developed the film's untraditional Batmobile, dubbed "The Tumbler" for its acrobatic prowess in the film opening Wednesday. The moviemakers produced eight cars at a cost of $250,000 apiece. -- "Tumbler" specs Max speed: 220 mph Weight: 2.

The Calendar article "Rescuing Batman" [by James Greenberg, May 8] claims that "how Batman became Batman had never been chronicled on film or in the comics" before the upcoming "Batman Begins" movie was shot and that director Christopher Nolan "saw that as a gap in film history that he could fill." This was not the first time that similar statements have been made to media outlets by people involved with the new movie. Holy Totally Bogus Assertion!

The BRITISH filmmaker Christopher Nolan has the mien of a passionate literature professor (passionate, that is, in the British sense of the term) and, last December, he spoke about the young actor Heath Ledger as if he were the most fascinating manuscript to cross his desk in years. "The bold decisions that Heath has made with this performance are fascinating to watch," said Nolan, who had one hand perched on his hip and the other holding a curled finger to his chin.

Not your father's Batmobile Gone are the sexy curves, replaced by a rugged military vehicle that is a cross between Mad Max's Hummer and a stealth-bomber-inspired Lamborghini. "Batman Begins" production designer Nathan Crowley developed the film's untraditional Batmobile, dubbed "The Tumbler" for its acrobatic prowess in the film opening Wednesday. The moviemakers produced eight cars at a cost of $250,000 apiece. -- "Tumbler" specs Max speed: 220 mph Weight: 2.

Capturing attention in a stunt-filled media world isn't easy. Thus, swag: eye-catching items that pit promoters' imaginations against seen-it-all recipients. This week's winner: "Batman Begins" -- in a can. The item: A package of unknown provenance arrives. Arising from a snowy cascade of plastic packing peanuts is a can of black spray paint, wrapped with the movie's logo and title. Hanging from the neck of the can, like one of Alice's enigmatic "Eat Me/Drink Me" signs, is an imprinted card.

When David Goyer, co-writer of the eagerly awaited "Batman Begins," attended a comic book convention in San Diego last summer, the audience of 7,000 was noticeably antsy. It was the first time anyone associated with the film was speaking publicly. "The first question I got," recalls Goyer, "was someone stood up in the audience and said, 'How can you guarantee this movie won't suck?' And everyone applauded." In a way, that's the dilemma facing Warner Bros.