Gilbert wanted to save Batman, which naturally meant reshaping Batman's image. This film was destined to establish the new identity of the Batman series.
From the previously released trailers, the movie depicted how Bruce Wayne became Batman.
Batman wasn't born Batman; he had to undergo a transformation, likely through painful experiences.
On screen, young Bruce Wayne and Rachel played hide-and-seek, accidentally falling into a garden well, where bats flew at his face, sparking his lifelong fear of bats.
Watching this, David Ellison thought, If Bruce Wayne's fear of bats made him Batman, then if I were afraid of spiders, would I become Spider-Man?
It was a brilliant thought.
However, Bruce Wayne traveled the world exploring the roots of evil to become Batman—something David Ellison could not do.
Or be bitten by a spider, though that was unrealistic; who knew whether a bite would cause mutation or death?
Perhaps Gilbert's skills had improved over the years. The first half, detailing Bruce Wayne's growth, despite using flashbacks and interwoven storytelling, maintained excellent pacing.
Compared to Nolan's Batman, the film's biggest innovation was undoubtedly the action sequences.
In the first half, Bruce Wayne practiced martial arts on wooden posts and trained in swordsmanship on icy plains with Henry Ducard. The combat looked neither flashy nor exaggerated, yet was visually stunning.
This was exactly what Gilbert had described: combining aesthetics with practicality, making fight scenes enjoyable to watch.
Jet Li appeared for the first time in a Gilbert film. His bald appearance was amusing, and his fight scene with Bruce Wayne was spectacular, bolstering the first half of the film.
After studying with the Leauge of Assasin, Bruce Wayne resisted becoming a vigilante, clashing ideologically with the alliance.
When the dojo was engulfed in flames, Bruce Wayne saved Henry Ducard and resolved to return to Gotham City.
Gotham remained the same as before, seemingly unchanged; his departure and return made little difference.
Bruce returned to the well that once terrified him. As expected, a swarm of bats emerged. This time, instead of cowering, he stood tall among the bats.
With Hans Zimmer's stirring and majestic score, the IMAX screen and specialized sound system amplified the audience's emotions.
Film scholars would say Bruce Wayne's psychological transformation was perfectly paced, never abrupt.
He didn't suddenly become Batman; his growth provided the audience with a credible reason for the wealthy heir to evolve into the Dark Knight.
"There aren't many of Gilbert's signature large-scale sequences or action scenes, but what he does present is equally excellent. The live-action and IMAX effects are unparalleled. Realism—that's crucial for this Batman film," Spielberg commented.
Beside him, Tom Hanks added, "Had Gilbert continued the previous Batman style, it likely would have failed. Gilbert fully understood this and broke free from the earlier series' influence, approaching the film with a fresh perspective. Judging by the results, he achieved his goal."
Hollywood had rarely seen anyone sustain continuous progress over the years. If anyone had, Gilbert could barely count among them.
Dante Cortez was fully immersed. While this film didn't reach the pinnacle of Gilbert's Return of the King, it was undoubtedly the finest Batman film to date.
Nearby, Noel watched Bruce Wayne craft his gear step by step and found it fascinating. The appearance of the Batmobile made him exclaim, "So cool!"
He couldn't explain the feeling—like farming, watching the protagonist gather tools and grow stronger.
Noel also saw the Batmobile outside the Sofitel Grand Theater, though with a pre-release price of at least $100,000, it was out of his reach.
As Bruce Wayne assembled his gear, he began transforming into the Batman, capturing criminals.
He believed Gotham could be saved, adhering to a core principle: no killing, turning criminals over to the law.
For this, Batman approached Gordon. In a Gotham rife with corruption, Gordon was almost the only honest cop.
Chicago citizens watching the premiere could relate, hoping for a Batman—or at least a Gordon—to appear.
Finally, the climax arrived. After saving Henry Ducard, Bruce Wayne regrouped the Leauge of Assasins, intending to use Wayne Corp's microwave evaporator to destroy Gotham.
Batman first rescued Rachel, then joined forces with Commissioner Gordon to confront the alliance.
From this point, the film returned to Gilbert's signature large-scale action sequences. In IMAX, the viewing experience was incomparable.
The Batmobile roared, Batman, aided by hallucinations, transformed into a demon soaring across the sky, accompanied by powerful music that constantly stimulated the audience's senses.
Even David Ellison, there to learn, was overwhelmed by the continuous sensory bombardment.
For Megan Ellison, this was her first serious viewing of a Gilbert film in a cinema, delivering an extraordinary emotional experience.
Dante Cortez couldn't help but applaud. This Batman film exceeded his expectations; he believed the franchise had been saved.
Noel felt the same. He hadn't visited a theater in years, but Batman: Begins provided an exceptional experience.
Noel decided he would return with Harkinson and others to experience the IMAX theater again.
"I never imagined a director known for surrealistic themes could make Batman so realistic, so vivid and tangible."
Watching Henry Ducard fall with the train and Batman choose neither to save nor kill, Megan Ellison sighed.
"Megan, have you forgotten Saving Private Ryan and The Sixth Sense?" David Ellison said.
"Oh, I forgot. Those films are all Gilbert's work," Megan Ellison said, her eyes gleaming.
She glanced at Gilbert, who was taking the lead with the creative team during the curtain call, thinking perhaps he was the one she should truly learn from.
With the movie's successful conclusion, the novelty of the IMAX experience, and the film's solid quality, the applause in the theater carried genuine sincerity.
Gilbert took three bows with the creative team, then shared the process of creating Batman with the audience.
He particularly praised the actors and crew: "Filming was very challenging. For on-location shooting, we specifically went to Iceland, where we built the dojo and even constructed a village.
Chris and Liam never complained, despite facing strong winds and heavy snow at times. Everyone did an excellent job completing the filming."
The actors also shared amusing behind-the-scenes stories, letting everyone partake in the joy.
Of course, regarding the much-discussed IMAX format, Gilbert said: "Long ago, Director Cameron and I discussed whether this technology could be applied to filmmaking.
Today, you've all seen the results—it's excellent. I dare say that IMAX films will become increasingly common in the future."
Before the premiere officially ended, David Ellison exited the theater, with Megan Ellison following him.
Seeing David's notebook filled with notes, Megan said, "Let me borrow this notebook to take a look later."
David smiled. "Oh? Are you planning to learn from Gilbert?"
"Of course," Megan replied matter-of-factly. "Learning from Hollywood's best director is nothing to be ashamed of."
"Indeed, but Gilbert's approach isn't something just anyone can master," David said.
"Really?" Megan had a different perspective. "His stories may not be easy for everyone to grasp, but his techniques can be learned."
That was certainly true. The stories themselves were difficult, but the techniques were accessible to anyone.
The real challenge was the cost—the time and effort required.
Gilbert's team had a stable core, and their smooth coordination allowed him to produce films at remarkable speed while continually learning and applying new techniques without stalling.
Filmmaking has its own rules, and breaking them will inevitably backfire.
Even if Gilbert gave his all, it would be impossible to make a film every two to three months like a web novel protagonist—the time mentioned is usually only for preparation.
As a famous fast-paced director in Hollywood, Gilbert's films serve as models studied by film schools worldwide.
Especially at his alma mater, USC, and at the Northern Film Academy, where he served as honorary president.
But as David Ellison said, even if one studied all of Gilbert's filmmaking techniques, achieving the same level as Gilbert is virtually impossible.
There is only one Spielberg in the world, and likewise, only one Gilbert.
Still, the IMAX viewing experience left David Ellison very impressed. Upon returning to his hotel, he immediately discussed with Michael Ovitz.
They considered whether films like Transformers could also be produced in IMAX format.
David judged that IMAX was about to become a concept all of Hollywood would chase and emulate.
The premiere concluded smoothly, though fans would have to wait a few days to see the film themselves. Yet the IMAX experience, shared by the premiere audience, spread widely by word of mouth.
In today's era, unlike the 1990s, one thing was particularly notable: the speed of information sharing.
Previously, audiences had limited channels for sharing; telling a few friends about a film might influence at most a few hundred people. But now, through internet platforms, a single review could be seen by tens of thousands.
So, on the day the premiere ended, the internet reacted swiftly. Some fans had already written about their IMAX experience, making others who hadn't seen it yet eager with anticipation.
However, evaluations of the film weren't limited to the IMAX experience; the film itself was praised as well.
In short, audiences sharing their experiences agreed: Batman had been reborn.
.....
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