"It's not what underlies you, but what you do that defines you" -- Rachel Dawes

Rating: 8/10 (19 June 2005)

For me, "Batman Begins" is the best comic book movie since "Daredevil", and one of the best comic book movies ever; I'll explain why later. It's also, after "Batman Forever", the best movie in the Batman series. There's no surprise in the tale; and the fans probably know everything about it. But for a guy like me, who's not a fan, but knows the basic stuff, was a thrill to hear Gordon's name, see how the "bat cave" became the place it is, what was Gotham like in the light of day (I thought it only existed at night, in the Gothic darkness) and most importantly; how Bruce Wayne became Batman.
The work of professionals that could have been easily done without a big amount of money, because the team's objective wasn't achieving something like "Kingdom of Heaven", with all its incredible settings and mass production. However, production designer Nathan Crowley, together with partner set decorator Paki Smith and Award-Winning costume designer Lindy Hemming brought us Gotham back again, at its best; a wonderful "Tumbler" and a Batman mask with a costume.
Director Christopher Nolan brought some of the team that was with him at the start. Cinematographer Wally Pfister, casting director John PapsideraHe worked with them in the film that launched his career; "Memento". This turned out to be a beautiful constructed script, Guy Pearce's best portrayal and today a cult classic. He always worries about the dramatic impact of the characters in his stories, and that's, I think, why he was the best to take care of "Batman Begins"; and that's why this is one of the best comic books movies ever. For once, it's not just about showing the action and blowing things up; it's about characters and how they became who they are. My brother though I wouldn't like the film, because this is the type of film I reject; for its action and big fight sequences. But it was not any fight sequence that blew my mind off (in fact, I tend to fall asleep during action scenes and this movie was no exception); it was the other side of the coin that did.
David S. Goyer was the perfect man to join Nolan with the film's screenplay. He has worked with action hero movies before, written some of them (the "Blade" saga, one of "The Crow" movies, "Dark City"), dealing with darkness, and directed other ones (the recent "Blade: Trinity")He's in the territory. Now they are both talking about fear, mostly, and about doing what's best, but not because of vengeance, but because of the will of doing it. This is what Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) learns, in Asia, under the leadership of Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe) and under the instruction of Ducard (Liam Neeson); where he is about to become a member of "The League of Shadows". But he doesn't. He lost his faith when his parents died; his girlfriend Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) lost her faith on him, and Alfred (Michael Caine) feels disappointed about him leaving behind the Wayne Empire (companies, buildings, trains, the mansion) his father left him. We learn all of this in flashbacks and we also learn about that time he fell into the cave, and about his greatest fear; bats. In an opera, he starts imagining bats, and asks his father to go out, where a crazy man shoots both of Bruce's parents. "Your parents' death was not your fault", Ducard tells Bruce.
Some time later, Bruce is back in Gotham, where Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) has bought most of the city and Rachel and Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) are the only ones who want to make things right. There's also Dr. Crane (an unrecognizable Cillian Murphy), who takes the crazy people to treat them instead them going to jail. It's a big net of corruption. "I'm going to show Gotham that the city doesn't belong to the criminal and the corrupt", Bruce Wayne tells Alfred. "But simply as Bruce Wayne, I can't do that. Although as a symbol". "What symbol?", Alfred asks intrigued. Now, taking advantage of his high position in the city, Bruce meets Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), the guy who will provide the basics for the equipment Bruce Wayne actually built himself. In the end, the script turns to be a correct balance of wisdom and drama, with some funny and subtly juicy elements, carried on by an excellent score that mixes fantasy with darkness and sadness. This was in charge of James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, and you can really feel each one's signature.
The cast is the best ensemble I've seen so far this year. The movie is worth watching just for the pros. Flawless performances by Liam Neeson with a voice similar as the one we've heard from him lately, Morgan Freeman smiling all the way through and having a lot of fun, Tom Wilkinson screaming like a crazy old bastard, Gary Oldman wearing some cool glasses, Cillian Murphy in a macabre portrayal, Sir Michael Caine with a unique accent and Katie Holmes acting and looking as beautiful as ever (I mean, as always). An ensemble cast is perfect when all its main actors are. In difference to another super production this year, "Kingdom of Heaven", where Orlando Bloom can't keep up with the work of the pros alongside him; Christian Bale carries the whole movie with his character, wearing or not a mask. He was a perfect choice, and possesses a natural sense of depth and seriousness.
After we presence everything and Gotham seems deserted, we know what comes: Jim Gordon, Rachel and Bruce's fight for justice. "We can make it better", Bruce tells Gordon. And Gordon says there's one man, making some criminal stuff, and is leaving a cardAnyone guesses who can that be?