He really wanted to be called "Captain Trust Fund," but that was TOO scary: "Batman Begins"

I'll give this a shot, but it probably won't work. In discussing "Batman Begins," let's throw out the previous Batman franchise, mainly so I can purge the memory of Danny DeVito waddling around.

I know, I know ... forgeting the last four Batman movies is like not cringing during those Ellen DeGeneres commercials: damn near impossible. But I'll try not to compare this latest incarnation with the Series That Schumacher Ruined, mainly because this film, when taken separately, definitely stands well on its own.

As we all know, "Batman Begins" re-launches the Batman story with a younger hero and more faithful adherence to recent graphic novels. (That's "comic book" to you and me, Russ.) Given the way the previous series fizzled out -- dammit, there I go ... -- it was hard not to be pumped for this new version. It didn't hurt that the man behind "Memento," Chris Nolan, directed and helped write this movie, which also stars everyone's favorite American Psycho, Christian Bale.

Who would thought way back in "Empire of the Sun" that little Bale would become one of the more edgy and interesting actors of his time? He doesn't get the press of other guys his age, but "American Psycho" -- "Do you like Phil Collins?" -- and "The Machinist" alone show he can act. Throw in solid supporting roles in "Shaft" and "Laurel Canyon," and I can safely say Bale is a guy worth giving the benefit of the doubt, even if it involves a cape and a cowl.

How does he do here? Pretty good, right from the start. This definitely is a comic movie for grown-ups, with a whole heap of set-up before Batman actually appears. In that time, Bale convincingly shows the anguish and anger of Bruce Wayne following his parents' murder by a mugger. Better yet, we get to see all the mental, emotional and technical background that leads to Batman vs. just taking for granted that this caped crusader is tough and has a lot of toys.

Helping the script is a slew of solid performances:
-- Liam Neeson ("Krull") as the man who introduces Bruce Wayne to the League of Shadows assassin group and trains Wayne in the way of the ninja.
-- Michael Caine ("Jaws: The Revenge") as Alfred, the trusty butler of Wayne Manor and source of several one-liners. (Most good, actually.)
-- Tom Wilkinson ("Black Knight") as a mob boss who Batman has to remove to clean up Gotham City.
-- Gary Oldman ("Lost in Space") as the last honest cop in Gotham (and future police commissioner, most fans realize).
-- Morgan Freeman ("Teachers") as the gadget man at Wayne Enterprises and main outfitter for Bruce Wayne's nocturnal flights of fancy. (He gets some good lines, too, and finally gives us an American among the Brits.)

All of these guys deliver relatively well, and Cillian Murphy ("28 Days Later") as a less-than-honest psychologist and Katie Holmes ("Muppets from Space") as the obligatory love interest are decent, too. I know, even Katie Holmes. Listen, can we all agree to set aside this Tom Cruise business and recall the Katie we know and love? Forget Julia Roberts ... this is the girl next door I had in mind. (Well, except in "The Gift." Hello! I bet Dawson never saw those.)

In the end, if you can be patient and appreciate the unfolding of the Batman legend, this is a pretty good movie. I might quibble with there being a few too many elements in the mix. Also -- and this is irritating -- Bale didn't look that great in the mask. Maybe it was just a bad fit, but his face looked fat, and we can't have chubby cheeks on the Dark Knight, can we. It was a bit distracting, I have to say.

Still, Batman/Bruce Wayne's anger is pretty believable, especially one scene in which he interrogates a bad cop atop a building. Add the requisite action scenes and cool scenery, and "Batman Begins" scores pretty big. As long as we keep Chris O'Donnell far, far away from things, this could be the start of something good.