Fear The Knight
BATMAN BEGINS
By Shawn Snead / June 26th, 2005
He's back.
The caped crusader returns to the big screen, with some new faces. The film restarts a franchise that came to a screeching halt in 1997 (Batman & Robin). The film is also, undoubtedly, the best Batman film ever.
The film begins tracing the origins of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale, the best Batman yet), from the death of his parents, his cataclysmic phobia of bats, and his training in an undisclosed location by the League of Shadows, led by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), and Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe). However, when Wayne refuses to kill someone as a membership requirement, Ducard becomes his enemy; the reclusive millionaire returns to Gotham determined to fight evil, without realizing quite how much trouble he is in.
He returns to Gotham to find that a corrupt crook (Rutger Hauer) is running his family's business. With the help of his childhood servant, and friend Alfred (Michael Caine) and a defiant scientific genius who works at Wayne Enterprises, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), Wayne becomes Batman. Lucius provides the toys, and of course, the Batmobile. Or, "the tumbler" as Lucius calls it, which looks like a Hummer on steroids. Alfred aids in constructing the Batcave beneath Wayne's property.
It's fascinating watching the transformation from Bruce Wayne to Batman. Bale turns in a star-making role, and makes the other actors who played Batman, look like amatuers. The work of Bale, along with the tremendous script from David Goyer, and direction from Christopher Nolan, really illustrate the different sides of Bruce, and gives depth, and character that other Batman fims lacked. From the arrogant millionaire, to the scared little boy inside, to the dark hero who wants to make Gotham a better place.
We are introduced to Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), a local crime boss who ends up on Batman's hit list. However, he is just a pawn of the mad Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy), who is the real threat. Then there is Lt. James Gordon (masterfully played by Gary Oldman), who appears to be one of the only "good guys" left in the system. Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) is the quasi-love interest in the film. Her character is the least intriging, and Holmes delivers the weakest performance. Nonetheless, the film doesn't miss a beat.
Christopher Nolan follows up his masterpiece Memento, and his criminally underrated Insomnia, with Batman Begins. At only 35, his career is just in bloom. His inventive imagination along with David Goyer's sharp script really shine. James Newton Howard, and Hans Zimmer collaborate on a hauntingly beautiful score. The film is stylish, powerful, and dark. The darkest Batman yet, and I applaud Nolan for that. The entire concept is dark, Batman's origins, his character, his story, and Nolan allows us to immerse ourselves in it. He is able to make a jaw-dropping summer blockbuster, whilst making a smart, grand piece of cinema.
Batman Begins should surely not be missed. Not only is it better than last year's highly acclaimed superhero adaptation Spider-Man 2, not only is it one of the best films of the year, but it's the best superhero film of all-time. Period.
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Warner Bros.
Running Time: 2 Hours, 21 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements.
Release Date: Wednesday, June 15th, 2005
Viewed: Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005
Starring Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred), Liam Neeson (Ducard), Katie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), Gary Oldman (James Gordon), Cillian Murphy ( Dr. Jonathan Crane), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone), Rutger Hauer (Earle), Ken Watanade (Ra's Al Ghul), Linus Roache (Thomas Wayne)
Produced By Larry J. Franco, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas
Written By David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan (Characters by Bob Kane)
Directed By Christopher Nolan
posted by Shawn Snead @ 6/26/2005 03:14:00 PM
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