Batman Begins (2005)

After the horrific Batman & Robin, the franchise of the Caped Crusader was left dead in the water with nary a flotation device in sight. But thanks to Christopher Nolan (director/screenplay) and David S. Goyer (screenplay/story), Gotham’s favorite crimefighter has once again returned to the big screen. Acting as a complete reboot, Batman Begins expertly melds action and cool gadgets with an all-star cast and issues of redemption, fear, and the true nature of justice.

Early on, the film introduces us to a young Bruce Wayne, reveals his fear of bats, and sets up a number of personal relations which will crop up throughout the rest of the film – specifically his friendship with the family butler, Alfred (Michael Caine), and childhood playmate Rachel Dawes (played as an adult by Katie Holmes). We also witness the tragic murder of Wayne’s parents, an event which both scars his psyche and drives him to become the world’s greatest hero.

The years roll by, and a grown Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns from college to witness the possible release of Joe Chill, the man who gunned down his parents. You see, Chill once shared a prison cell with Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), Gotham’s top crime lord, and he’s agreed to provide testimony against the mobster in exchange for his freedom. Wayne seriously contemplates shooting the freed Chill, but he’s beat to the punch by a Falcone assassin.

Following an eye-opening meeting with Falcone himself, Wayne begins a personal trek to the far corners of the globe. He suffers many hardships, hones his body, and begins to explore the nature of the criminal mind. While imprisoned, he’s approached by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), who offers him a place in the League of Shadows, an ancient group of vigilantes led by the mysterious Ra’s al Ghul (Ken Watanabe).

Wayne trains in the ways of the ninja, and Ducard calls the driven Gothamite his greatest student ever. But Wayne refuses to take a life–a final test of sorts for membership into the League–and the ensuing conflict leaves their temple destroyed, Ra’s al Ghul dead, and Ducard unconscious in the snow. Wayne journeys back to Gotham, intent on using fear and misdirection to combat the criminal element. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s a billionaire, but he soon learns that slimy Wayne Enterprises CEO Bill Earle (Rutger Hauer) has had him declared dead and is about to take the company public.

In case you’re worried that I just revealed the entire plot of Batman Begins, rest assured that there’s plenty more story to be told. After all, I haven’t even mentioned Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), one of the few honest cops in the city; Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a tech genius and former member of the Wayne Enterprises board of directors; and Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy), who works at Arkham Asylum and moonlights as the maniacal Scarecrow.

The movie offers plenty of geek-out moments for the fanboys in the crowd, including an opening scene where thousands of bats swarm to create the Batman logo. But that’s just the tip of the atmospheric iceberg, as director Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister team up to deliver a Gotham City that’s oozing darkness and corruption from its every pore. It’s a damn welcome sight compared to the childlike neon tones used in Batman & Robin, and you really do get the sense that the citizens of the city are close to collapsing under the weight of urban decay.

In the capable hands of Nolan, Batman Begins boasts one visual treat after another. A character exposed to fear-inducing chemicals watches Batman transform into a demon before their eyes. Bruce Wayne embraces his fear of bats in the subterranean caves beneath his home, allowing the nocturnal creatures to cascade over him like a black waterfall. And the list goes on and on.

Action and gadgets abound in Batman Begins, and the Caped Crusader has become something akin to the American version of James Bond. The hand-to-hand fights are refreshingly easy to follow in this age of seizure-inducing camerawork, and hardware like the Tumbler (aka the new Batmobile) will have male audience members of all ages looking on in slack-jawed envy.

A strong cast has been assembled for this franchise reboot, and it’s led by the intense performance of Christian Bale. As Bruce Wayne he oozes a Patrick Bateman sort of charm, which is fitting considering that both Wayne and Batman are dark, tormented individuals who hide behind a mask of affluent normalcy. As Batman, he’s far more motivated by revenge and fear than previous versions of the character. While being interrogated by our hero, a terrified criminal shouts, “I swear to God!”. Batman grabs him, gives his best snarl, and exclaims, “Swear to ME!”.

Gary Oldman is perfect as the honestly downtrodden Jim Gordon, and who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be supplied with gadgets by Morgan Freeman? Michael Caine exudes a warm, parental vibe throughout, and Tom Wilkinson is a welcome sight, as always. The only real misstep seems to be the character of Rachel. She’s intended to act as a moral compass for Bruce, but in many of her scenes she comes across as too judgmental and more than a little annoying. It seems as though nothing Bruce/Batman does is good enough for her. And, of course, there’s the obligatory-yet-unnecessary scene where he reveals his secret identity to Rachel (just as he’s done with every love interest in previous films).

On the villainous side of things, Cillian Murphy shines the brightest as the Scarecrow. Unfortunately, he’s pushed to the side during the final act of the film, and we don’t learn his fate until the sequel, The Dark Knight. Ken Watanabe is a welcome addition to the cast, but he’s mostly asked to look somber as Ra’s al Ghul. The same often holds true for Liam Neeson as Henri Ducard, and both actors are capable of so much more.

Batman Begins provides a blueprint on how almost any franchise should proceed with a reboot. It’s filled with action, character development, familiar faces, and plenty of eye-catching visuals. A lot of information is conveyed, but the film never feels as though it’s talking too much. After Batman & Robin left the Caped Crusader on life support, it’s nice to see our hero up and walking around again.