Opening tomorrow:

"Batman Begins": Director Christopher Nolan of "Memento" and "Insomnia" fame promised his take on the Dark Knight wouldn't be like Tim Burton's grandly gothic vision or Joel Schumacher's cartoonlike camp versions. Instead, his Batman would be grounded in the real world and play to the twisted psychology of his alter ego, Bruce Wayne. Nolan and "Blade" screenwriter David Goyer envisioned a story of Wayne's intense training at the hands of a shadowy organization before returning to Gotham City as Batman.

The $150 million production stars Christian Bale in the title role, Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Tom Wilkinson, with Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe as the villainous Scarecrow and Ra's al Ghul, respectively. (PG-13)

Opening Friday:

"The Perfect Man": This mother-daughter romantic comedy stars Heather Locklear and Hilary Duff. Duff plays Holly, a teen who invents a secret admirer for her hard-luck mom. The virtual relationship takes off, thanks to e-mails, notes and gifts, but Holly eventually must produce the suitor in the flesh. So she "borrows" her friend's charming and handsome uncle (Chris Noth) to play the potential beau. (PG)

Click for online calendars and events.

---

Send questions, stories or other story ideas or comments to:
Features, Honolulu Star-Bulletin,
500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96802
or E-mail to features@starbulletin.com.
Please include your phone number.