communication breakdown

Movie Review: Batman Begins (2005)

[ 9 / 10 ] Batman Begins is unlike any Batman movie you've seen before. Whether you love or hate the previous four, none of them can prepare you for what you will find in the newest entry to the series, the first "prequel" to the story. But to be more accurate and consistent with its comic-book roots, the best description for this film is that it represents the origin of the Batman character...

Christian Bale takes the helm as the new Batman, and I must admit that I had my reservations about him playing the Dark Knight. While I felt he had both the look and stature to play the part of the mysterious billionaire Bruce Wayne, I was unconvinced that he could convey the dark, rugged determination and sense of firm justice that defines Batman - all while hiding behind a mask. However, anyone who has witnessed Bale's previous work, particularly the chilling "American Psycho", understands that he is perfectly capable of combining his strikingly polished veneer with an ever-present darkness that lies just below the surface. In this sense, he makes for a perfect Batman - indeed, he performs admirably in the role.

Director Christopher Nolan (of "Memento" fame) brings a new vision to the Batman genre, and it is precisely his new look on the famous superhero story that injects new life into the series. While the original 1989 film was a superb comic-book adaptation, the three sequels each attempt to trump one another by being more outlandish and grand in scope. But they all failed to capture the magic of the first one, which succeeded through its simplicity - one budding superhero, one captivating villain, and a town stuck in-between.

"Batman Begins" attempts to tell the story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. In the spirit of not spoiling the movie, I will gloss over the details and provide a high-level synopsis: after facing a personal tragedy as a young child, Bruce learns to suppress his anger and fear. As a result of this, he embarks on an ill-fated conquest to understand the mind of a criminal. After wasting away several years of his life only to wind up at a dead-end, he is approached by a group of vigilantes who wish to capitalize on his anger and develop his hate into a power that they can manipulate. But instead they unwittingly awake him from his slumber and he subsequently discovers that his true destiny is not to seek revenge for the injustices of the world, but instead to do what he can to prevent them from happening in the future.

While most of the previous films were all about style over substance, Nolan brings the series back to its character-driven core, painting a thorough picture of Bruce Wayne and his struggles to find meaning in a disillusioned life. Action sequences serve as complements to the story arc, not the other way around. This leads to a highly-entertaining and meaningful film that is not afraid to explore both the good and bad sides of its hero. Like any comic-book protagonist, Batman has its flaws, and "Batman Begins" allows the main character to embrace those flaws in order to make him stronger. The Batman that we see here is probably the most believable, and thus the most enjoyable, incarnation yet.

One of the smartest moves Nolan did with this film was to surround the main character with superb talent. With Michael Caine as Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox (the techno-wizard who is the answer to Jack Nicholson's question: "Where does he get all those wonderful toys?"), Tom Wilkinson as a high-profile Gotham crime boss, and Liam Neeson as Ducard (Batman's first mentor), you've got four Oscar-caliber actors backing up your main star. Toss in a healthy combination of Gary Oldman, Ken Watanabe (another Oscar-nominated actor), and rising star Cillian Murphy, and you have a first-rate cast - the hallmark of any great film. It is certainly the best ensemble cast of any Batman film yet. The only mark against the casting is Katie Holmes as Bruce's close friend Rachel Dawes; she has about as much range in her acting as Keanu Reeves. I don't know how she got this part, except on looks, because she really has never done anything impressive in her acting career. She certainly can't compare with any of the original "Batman girls" (Bassinger, Kidman, or Pfeiffer). However, her character is minor enough to not really get in the way, and as such, it's a forgivable offense.

I really think what makes this Batman film a success is that it doesn't feel like a Batman film. Nowadays, there is a stigma attached to the Batman series that, to be honest, doesn't tend to suggest a high quality of filmmaking. But Nolan made a solid film foremost, and it just so happens to live in the Batman universe. Despite its length at nearly 2.5 hours, it never seems to drag or feel like it has worn out its welcome. The film is stylish, often breathtaking in its camerawork, and infused with a subtle yet powerful score. It is wonderfully dark and ultimately moving. You don't have to be a fan of comics to enjoy this movie - you just have to appreciate a good story.