It's what I do that defines me.

Rating: Null/10 (31 October 2005)

I like the sociological commentary it has the same goals that the protag and the antagonist have but have different moral standards and methods of getting there. The movie opens with it's first Act having temporal displacement, to hold our interest and at times to delay exposition, answers to questions like why did Wayne end up in prison. What are the things that have kept his disturbed. From here, we also learn of the philanthropy and good will of his parents and his childhood fear of bats. When the movie clocks 45 minutes, after an immersion of rigid training with the League of Shadows, Wayne manages not to flinch and remain steely calm amongst a cyclone of bats inside a cave.
Cillian Murphy - you wouldn't know he was the hapless and the hunted in 28 DAYS LATER when you see his effective villaneous performance in here. The theme of FEAR, is very well played-out. How Bruce Wayne uses his own weakness to make him stronger and to make his enemies share his dread. And you can see the symmetry between scenes, what Rachel tells Bruce in the hotel and what Batman throws back at her when she asks for his name. The compound in the blue flower, the hyperbole of it's effects displayed by the Scarecrowe and the ecoterrorism that stems from the mad doctor's medicine. Or how the TRAIN also becomes a character in the film at one point.
Nolan is also a master at creating surrealistic nightmarish sequences, juxtapousition and quick flashes, we've seen him do this in Memento and even more in Insomnia where we become as restless as Al Pacino's character. From the side-effects of the blue flower to what happens when the good guys get poisoned by psychotropic hallucinogen.
Batman Begins explores moral standards as well, from philanthropy to how our hero applies what he has learned in a monastery of Ninja Warriors to shake people out of apathy. There is no obvious contrivance of plot devices as the narrative is decisive and taut. The twist behind who or what group of people were really responsible for the depression in Gotham city that has caused many to hunger and turn into a criminal. One thing that Wayne tries to turn into at the beginning of the film and how he reveals how he lost many assumptions of what is "right and wrong".
You will also see excellent location photography (like Nolan has given us in INSOMNIA), dark and eery sequences with a touch of film noir (we know Nolan is a master of this genre) in them especially with Jonathan Crane, the fear mongrelling Scarecrow who manages to bring down our hero and his District Attorney Lady friend for a time. And eventually, drives the mind of Gotham's toughest most feared criminal boss in for a reversal after the Batman puts him behind bars.
Bale brings much duality to the character. Compared to Keaton who was also very good, Keaton was all about subtleties, but Bale brings an arrogance and caustic wit to the character of Bruce Wayne who immediately dons the persona of a beast when he wears the "costume". Many might NOT easily grow into appreciating how Bale approaches the role, but his skill because of previous experience in heavy drama as a child actor is put to good use here. Michael Caine, unlike Gough in the quad franchise is more than just a senior citizen lackey but also much like a guide and sort of a father-figure for Bruce. Alfred in here constantly reminds Wayne of his NAME and what might have been left of his father's legacy.
And it boasts an all-star cast who all do very good. Morgan Freeman is entertaining as he is a much, older, wiser aid to Bruce Wayne and Batman. "Didn't you get the memo?" The contentiousness of Rutger Hauer. And Neeson the movie's master antagonist is imposing as Ducard, Bruce Wayne's trainer in his techniques of subterfuge and warrior arts. Refershing to see Gary Oldman do an EXCELLENT job as the honest and noble Sgt. James Gordon amongst a crooked police department (someone who might be eventually Commisoner in the sequels).
The score isn't the like the stylized Gothic timbre and melody that the duo of Tim Burton films had, but the collaboration of James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer coudln't have been a better marriage. From propulsive motifs to hints of histrionic texture as we mostly get from Newton Howard who scored "Prince of Tides" and the last 4 M. Night Shyamalan movies. Zimmer has his signature in the score and the propellant energy of his music further accentuates the action scenes.
Begins has finally vindicated the name of the Dark Knight after the failures of the last two in the earlier "Batman quad". And it is something (not just for fanatics of the DC comic) for those who love to watch an action or thriller movie with a good plot and some things that might be worth thinking about. While a rude awakening for some, the film stresses practicality and contains a verisimilitude not-so expected in movies of this genre. A very good character drama, disguised as an action-thriller. Kudos to Goyer, Nolan and his cast and crew.
10/10