One of the best action films of the year, redefining just who Batman is.

Rating: 9/10 (27 May 2006)

Most everybody enjoys a good action movie from time to time (or even all the time), and 'Batman Begins' is no exception. This film, directed by Christopher Nolan, almost redefines how we see the characters of both Batman and Bruce Wayne.
The film itself is set with a dark and intense look at each of the characters. First impressions are always the most important, and Christopher Nolan was quite aware of this fact from the moment he began looking at this script as can be seen from the final copy of this film.
From the beginning, it's obvious that Bruce Wayne isn't your typical multi-billionaire; being locked into a prison under his own free will to go day-to-day, fighting hordes of inmates for survival and the rush. We see that throughout the film (through flashbacks), Bruce had utter contempt for his family name after the passing of his parents, not caring for much else other than revenge against his parents murderer. Coldness towards life was a very jarring emotion displayed by the character we all know and love from the comic books and past movies. As the film continues, a definite change is taking place from within Wayne as he encounters 'Ducard,' a very skilled ninja who takes him in as an apprentice to teach him discipline and guidance, as well as mastering his fears. Once trained, he seems to be full of life once more, taking an active part in helping to better society, risking his life as our hero 'Batman.' Christian Bale has performed excellently within his role as Bruce Wayne and also as Batman. His performance as a cold-hearted young man is very striking and creates a lasting impression of his acting abilities. His movements seemed to flow in front of the camera, leaving the impression that he had been on screen all his life.
The supporting actors such as Liam Neeson (Henri Ducard), Kaitie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), Cillian Murphy (Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow), Michael Caine (Alfred), Morgan Freeman (Lucious Fox), and Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon), all performed fantastically on screen, portraying each character as if they all could support their own storyline and series, as every character should.
Liam Neeson provided the perfect villain as 'Ducard,' his presence on camera quick to strike both awe and illicit a shiver at the thought of the character. His portrayal of a man angered with society was flawless throughout the film, his previous film experience quite an asset.
Katie Holmes is a relative newcomer to the camera, but her acting as 'Rachel' may imply otherwise. She displayed a headstrong and assertive character, knowing exactly what she wanted and someone who would fight for it. Her romantic involvement with 'Bruce Wayne' was performed beautifully, not in any way harming the film at all.
Perhaps the darkest character of all within the film is portrayed by Cillian Murphy. 'Dr. Jonathan Crane' was a very sinister and dark character throughout the film, even as he played the 'innocent' psychiatrist, as opposed to his masked character 'Scarecrow.' Cillian was able to present the camera with such a dark 'aura,' that even being seen without having to speak any words, caused a slight chill to run up the spine of the viewer. Like Holmes, Cillian Murphey is still considered a newcomer to the screen, having been in lesser-known films in the past, but his work on this film is definitely worthy of note for his future career.
Michael Caine's supporting role as 'Alfred' was performed flawlessly as both a friend and father-figure to Bruce Wayne. His constant love and support is shown as Bruce's life follows from day to day, as well as his frustration with the young man. The acting job was well done, leaving us with a bit of a brand new look upon our favorite butler, offering bits of comedy, but still retaining the seriousness required for the character.
The storyline in and of itself is quite dark, offering us insight as to how 'Batman' was born into society and how Bruce was trained. The plot line has been done before many times; bad guy tries to destroy the city, good guy has to run and stop him...but the way Christopher Nolan presented us with his directing abilities, it displayed it within a new light, not the same, boring old stories we read and see everyday in entertainment. It left the film open to following sequels which (hopefully) will follow with the same stunning performances and sequences as this film presented.
The music fit the picture perfectly. Hans Zimmer delivered an astounding soundtrack of symphony that brought the action sequences to life and the serious, dramatic moments just the right touch to present us with a perfect atmosphere. The soundtrack was as audibly appealing as the movie is visually, helping to send each audience member to the edge of their seat as the music invaded every ear. The soundtrack is available through Warner Home Video, also through most popular and mainstream music stores.
All in all, 'Batman Begins' is the best movie within the Batman franchise, creating a fresh and new look at the 'Dark Knight' and characters we've all grown up knowing and seeing through previous shows and movies. This film redefines the 'Batman' film franchise, hopefully causing a certain 'revival' within fans and non-fans of the 'Batman' genre across the globe. It is a beautiful mixture of sound and visual effects, a stunning and exhilarating feast for the senses of anyone willing to pick up a copy. It's definitely worth the $5 new release rental fee, or the $18 purchase price-tag.