With an eight-year gap in the Caped Crusader’s screen-time, Warner Brothers hopes that audiences can forgive them for Joel Schumacher’s two Batman droppings (Batman Forever and Batman & Robin) and grant the Dark Knight another chance to start anew.
Considering Batman Begins contains the term “begins” it its title, the film itself undertakes the gutsy restoration of both Burton’s and (more so) Schumacher’s injustice to the saga of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego—and, oh boy does it deliver. With the immensely talented Christopher Nolan in the director’s chair, both the revival of a legend and the best superhero story – ever – have surfaced.
After witnessing his mother and father being murdered, Bruce Wayne – the heir to Wayne Enterprises – withdraws from his lucrative lifestyle and becomes a prisoner. Once he is rescued from his imprisonment, by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), he trains to join Ducard’s League of Shadows—a group of vigilantes, led by Ra’s Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe).
Following the completion of his training, Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City and becomes Batman. With his bat suit, car, and weaponry, Batman takes on the likes of mob boss, Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) and Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), whose knowledge of pharmaceuticals assists him in poisoning his prey. But, Bruce is not out for everyone; he does have his faithful butler, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine), a handy Q-esque hook-up, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), and the only “good” cop left in the city, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman).
Nolan directs the transformation of Bruce Wayne, from kid to criminal and from criminal to Batman, with the utmost of care. One of Batman Begins strongest suits is that the story is credible; the suspension of disbelief is low, and the effort taken to both construct and develop Bruce Wayne – as a man – is high. Viewers feel for both his affinity to fight crime and his choice to become a force to be reckoned with—creating a character that is easy to both root for and relate to.
Article comments
1 - LiamGallagher
Batman Begins kicked all kinds of ass. Looking forward to the sequel. Bale is a great actor.
2 - Candy
Not once in this article did you mention Christian Bale. He was awesome in this movie. I don't think Nolan's movie would have been a hit if it had been any other actor but Bale. The expressions in the eyes and Bale's screen presence is what helped make this movie the best one of the year.
I hope it is the first action movie to get an Oscar Nom. and one for Bale also. Thank you
3 - Bob A. Booey
Candy, baby, did you miss this part of the article? I'll spank you :)
Go back and read that paragraph starting with:
"By far, Christian Bale is the best embodiment of Batman yet."
Thinking's not for you, honey :) Just work on looking hotter because that's all that matters. Don't be a bimbo.
Bale won't get an Oscar nomination because superhero movies are never taken seriously by the Academy as anything other than summer popcorn blockbusters, but Bale is a very good actor, I agree.
I really liked this film and I like the more disturbed, psychological take on Batman Nolan presents. Commissioner Gordon also become a hundred times more interesting than the chubby, unconflicted, benevolent sap who showed up whenever Batman collared the crooks and was leaving the scene.
For those who didn't care for Katie (as I didn't either), she's the only cast member not returning apparently. They've kept the London set intact and are working on scripts for 2 sequels.
The actor who played Scarecrow, Cillian Murphy, is in the ads for the new Wes Craven film playing a psycho who tries to kill a woman who sits next to him on a plane. He really seems to have that scary, creepy guy thing down and may be next in line to play the villian all the time.
What other actors do you think have been good villains? Kurtwood Smith was always a really good, evil bad guy, but he became the lovably gruff Dad on That 70s Show and seems to have re-made his whole image.
That is all.
4 - James Beswick
Spot-on review - couldn't agree more. Loved absolutely everything about it (apart from Katie Holmes) and it redefines movies in a trule awful year for film generally.
5 - Pam Avoledo
Great review!
I loved Batman Begins. I liked how it was character-oriented rather than a room full of cartoonish villians.
Also, the explanation of the gadgets was plausible.