Batman has been saved!!!

Rating: 10/10 (25 June 2005)

I knew from the beginning of production of this film that the Batman franchise and legacy was in good hands. Although the choice of Christopher Nolan as the director is an unconventional one...I knew he could make crap into gold with his talents. The cast is unbelievable, the special effects are dazzling enough that they don't steal from the story like in previous superhero films. Also unlike previous superhero films(namely the other Batman films) they don't hand the movie over to a mega-star actor as an over-the-top villain. They rather give talented actors enough screen time to get their character across.
The story was very much true to the comic book. It explains the origins of the character of Bruce Wayne, and proves that you don't need to be "Superpowered" to become a super-hero. The film starts with Bruce Wayne(Christian Bale), as a hermit traveling the world (mostly in areas reminiscent to Japan) starting fights with thugs and petty criminals to shadow over his guilt over the death of his parents, Thomas Wayne (played with sincerity by Linus Roache) and Martha Wayne. He is greeted by the mysterious Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson),who promises that he and a legendary warrior Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe) can teach him to turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. Bruce takes him up on his offer and learns to become a warrior of justice. But when he is asked by his mentor, Ducard, to kill a prisoner, he refuses...claiming that his compassion is the only thing that separates he and his enemies. Bruce is nearly killed as a result, only to survive and return to Gotham and become the hero he was born to be.
He begins with his Bat-Suit, weaponry, etc., and of course the Tumbler (bat-mobile). Along for the ride are his trusty Butler, Alfred (Michael Caine), the head of science divisions at Wayne Enterprises, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), the only decent Cop left in Gotham, Sgt. Gordon (Gary Oldman), and his old flame, now the assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (the ever annoying Katie Holmes). Things are worse than ever in Gotham...Carmine Falcone, a mobster, owns most of the city's officials, and as he runs drugs and gambling, those officials turn a blind eye to his malevolence. Things get extra precarious when Falcone sparks up a deal with Dr. Jonathon Crane aka The Scarecrow and his employer...Ra's Al Ghul. Now Batman must put his trust in his allies's hands and turn his fear on his enemies to save Gotham from a Truly horrific fate.
Most of the performances are nothing short of incredible. Bale shines as the caped crusader and Bruce Wayne. Proving that he can play characters other than say American Psychos. Bale shows many different sides to Bruce. You can tell by looking in Bale's eyes that his innocence has been shed long before it should have and now he only has his fear to guide him. As Batman, he does something different. Unlike Michael Keaton (still one of the best), Val Kilmer, or George Clooney...Bale shields his voice by sounding and behaving almost like a vicious animal, creating a voice that sounds like Alec Baldwin after drinking one too many shots of vodka. Caine does an Oscar worthy job as Alfred. He does more justice to the character, showing him as more a father figure than just a hand servant. Caine especially can nearly bring tears to your eyes when he speaks of how he'll never give up on Bruce. Liam Neeson didn't really surprise me with his Jedi-like mentor of a character in the beginning, I just saw it as Neeson being Neeson, but he really proved me wrong by the end of the film. (Spoiler ahead) Neeson returns at the end of the movie only under his real name...Ra's Al Ghul. Not surprising considering he looks and sounds like the character from the comic books. Neeson goes from teacher and father figure to oozing with villainy and suave sophistication in his fight scenes w/ Bale.
As for the supporting cast...Morgan Freeman is fantastic as a no nonsense scientist at Wayne Enterprises. Freeman adds an elegance, strength, and above all, presence to this movie with very little screen time...much like Marlon Brando in Superman. As for Katie Holmes ...she does what she has to do in the whole "...it's what you do that defines you." fortune telling crap, which I really didn't care too much for. But, in the end, her character comes off more as a self-centered pain, who wants to be noticed as a hero, which is not the way her character was most likely supposed to be played as. Gary Oldman does what Neeson does...he plays against type. Neeson is usually cast as a mentor/good guy...and now shines as a heavy. Oldman is usually cast as a psychotic and over-the-top villain...but he now plays a sincere and trust worthy cop...and works great with Bale. From the first shot of Oldman as Gordon, consoling young Bruce after his parent's death, you get the feeling that he's a good man, one with a conscience and dignity. Murphy does an especially good job as the Scarecrow...many would complain of his reality based re-creation...but i think it was the only way to do it without turning the Scarecrow into a cartoon character. Murphy also emits a great villainous flare with the delivery of lines like "The Bat-man." Tom Wilkinson and Rutger Hauer contribute well to their side-villain performances. Wilkinson seems to enjoy himself with his Italian, tough guy accent, and Hauer fits the role of a greedy, corporate S.O.B. very well. As for Ken Watanabe, he fills out quite well as the "Ra's Al Ghul" we meet in the beginning. Iv'e always admired Watanabe and his choice to play such a small but vital cameo still puzzles me. Never the less, after his "Gotham must be destroyed speech." I don't think I could see anyone else play the villainous role like that.