Clooney hails new Batman

Former Batman George Clooney has applauded makers of the new superhero movie for focusing the film on the Dark Knight himself.

Previous sequels Batman Returns and the Clooney-starring Batman Forever were critically mauled and accused of not being true to the comic books that conceived the superhero.

But Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins promises to take Batman, played by Christian Bale, back to his roots - and Clooney is glad.

He says: "Honestly, I'm quite sure it will be a heck of a different movie from mine and fun to watch. I'm happy they're focusing on the Dark Knight. They're doing it the way it should be done.