Batman Triumphant

Rating: Null/10 (14 July 2005)

Finally, there is a Batman film that lives up to the legend and is true to the Dark Knight's origins. After seeing this film, the previous four films seemed like a bad mistake. This film unlike the others really focuses on Bruce Wayne and the events in his life that led him to wearing the mask of Batman. Christian Bale, standing tall at 6'2" is a very muscular and imposing figure, he makes the audience really believe that he could be Batman. Bale is a far superior Batman than Micheal Keaton, Val Kilmer, or George Clooney, who were just not believable in the role. Unlike the previous films, Christopher Nolan removes the art deco sets of Gotham City, and instead uses modern day Chicago as the template for Gotham City in BB. In contrast to the Gothic imagery and architecture of the previous films, Nolan's Gotham City is a post-modern metropolis filled with glass and steel office buildings as well as decaying slums. Its a high tech 21st century city, that in some ways resembles Los Angeles in Blade Runner. It is a tough and gritty place. It is here where the tragic events that propel Bruce Wayne towards his journey to becoming Batman take place. The first half of the film is told in series of flashbacks and memories, and the central recurring theme of the film is fear and how Bruce Wayne deals with and comes to terms with it. A significant portion of the film deals with Bruce Wayne and his origins, it focuses on the path he takes to transforming himself into a superhero, and its exciting and interesting to see his transformation. Director Nolan really shows us what is happening inside Bruce Wayne's heart and mind. We get to see a Batman in a more human light than any other hero before him. Special effects and high tech gadgets, while there are plenty of both in this film, take a back seat to plot and character development. The villains in this film aren't as eccentric or as colorful as those in past Batman movies, and their roles are subordinate to that of Bruce Wayne. This is a Batman movie about Batman unlike the past films where the villains stole the show. In comparison to previous films, there is a lot more dialogue, and many questions that were put in the background in previous films, are answered here. Seeing Bruce Wayne's metamorphosis from a young twenty-something adolescent to a formidable hero is an absolute thrill. We get to see how deals with the anger and guilt of losing his loved ones. In the end he triumphs over his inner demons and brings himself to terms with his destiny, rather than allow his anger to destroy him, he sees the pain of others, and decides to use his abilities to help others and become the hero, Batman. In Batman Begins, Batman is a true superhero, and a human one at that. Some have said that this is the darkest Batman film ever made, while it did have a somber mood, I found it to be one of the most uplifting and inspirational movies ever made. Bruce Wayne lives in a dark world haunted by a very horrible tragedy, yet he musters the strength to rise above his emotional pain and anguish to become a hero and a hope to others. The soundtrack of this film plays a role unlike any other film soundtrack to date, it truly propels this film and adds to the mood with its heroic and energizing themes. The scene where Bruce enters the Batcave is one of the most impressive ever filmed. This movie is an absolute masterpiece, its easily the best superhero film ever made, and probably the best action-adventure movie made in nearly two decades. At the end of the movie, the audience stood up in thunderous applause, I have never seen such a reaction to a movie in years.