Batman: Hero, Vigilante, Human

Rating: 10/10 (6 November 2006)

For the past few years, I have been noticing rather problematic issues in the Batman series. The original Batman was one of my favorite films... Keaton played a rather excellent and yet mysterious Batman/Wayne and Jack Nicholson was a rather funny Joker. Then when Batman Returns came.... I didn't like it as much (wow.... violent and bloody) but still good. Batman Forever was a weird one too... neon lights... weird bat-mobile... but, hey, it was still enjoyable. Batman and Robin...... yeah. Lets forget that shall we? So, I was a bit skeptical when I saw the trailer for Batman Begins. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne? He played that guy at with Gun-Fu and had a black coat like Neo, right? And who in the world was Christopher Nolan (Excuse my ignorance, Nolan fans)? And what an even weirder Batmobile! But when I watched the film.... my skepticism was gone. And so was my tongue, so to speak. Here, we have a film that the other Batman films seem not do.... focus on the man who became Batman. Batman wasn't only a hero... defender of the weak, watcher of Gotham. He wasn't just a vigilante in a mask. He was human, and this film expressed it more than any other Batman film. It gave Batman/Bruce Wayne life. It gave him character, and that made me enjoy the character more. And the Batmobile.... how weird looking, but excellently applied. I will enjoy seeing that car in the sequel.
Christian Bale, I consider him to be the best Wayne/Batman. As Bruce, he showed conflicting emotions, anger, rage (comes especially when he sees the man who killed his parents years ago getting an opportunity to go free). As Batman, he becomes determined, mysterious, and at times, violent.
Michael Caine (another unknown actor for me) makes an excellent Alfred... a Butler, helper and a father figure for Bruce Wayne. Liam Neeson was amazing... a teacher, and... well, you watch. Gary Oldman... just by the look, you already know its Gordon. Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow) and Tom Wilkinson (Falcone) make excellent bad guys. Katie Holmes was rather weak... she seemed to smile (or was it smirk) in odd moments.
Other than Katie Holmes, there are some other problems with Begins. First was the editing... a prime example was the showing of what was going on inside the Tumbler (bat-mobile ^-^). Either it was Katie Holmes, who seemed to look rather nervous of Batman's driving rather than being panic induced with a toxin. Though its a blemish, it doesn't really affect overall film.
While it has its faults, Batman Begins gets major props for giving life to Bruce Wayne/Batman. Fitting title... this movie is a very solid and an excellent beginning of the franchise. Bravo Christopher Nolan, and the cast. I shall await for the sequel.