"Batman Begins" ignores the camp of the old films without sacrificing any of the fun

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2008)

Batman Begins
Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Starring Christian Bale, Katie Holmes and Liam Neeson.
After Joel Schumacher finished running the Batman franchise into the ground with 1997's ridiculous "Batman & Robin", Christopher Nolan decided to pick up the pieces and mold a much grittier Dark Knight. "Batman Begins" isn't a perfect film, but it is a refreshing and unique take on the character and challenges typical notions of what a comic book movie can be.
"Begins" picks up on Bruce Wayne, Batman's billionaire alter-ego, living life as a criminal in a dank prison located thousands of miles from his home in Gotham City. Wayne (Christian Bale) has effectively gone off the map, breaking contact with old friends in Gotham on his quest to come to terms with the guilt he feels from witnessing his parents' death as a young boy. The result is somewhat satisfying, but it is when Bruce meets Ra's Al Ghul -- a deadly assassin who heads the vengeful League of Shadows -- that he really starts learning how to be a fear-inducing vigilante. Bruce studies under Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) and quickly proves his worth, mastering the techniques that will serve him well in his future crime-fighting endeavors. He is willing to do all that is necessary in order to be effective, except for one thing: this new Batman's not too keen on taking lives. Unfortunately, his humane outlook isn't shared by his League comrades.
After forcefully parting ways with the League of Shadows, Bruce returns to his old stomping ground, ready and willing to make an impact on its criminal underbelly. Gotham City has become a breeding ground for the insane and the corrupt. Batman has his hands full dealing with both, from the nerve toxin-spraying Scarecrow (a delightfully eerie Cillian Murphy) to the city's own Godfather of Crime, Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). The film winds up biting off a bit more than it can chew, choosing to focus less time on more villains than vice versa, but no matter. The core of "Batman Begins" is all about what drives the tormented hero, studying Bruce Wayne's character with or without the cowl.
Much of the film's success is due to Bale and Nolan, who really reignite the series and take it in a much more interesting direction. Bale delivers, delving into Bruce Wayne's psyche and unleashing his Caped Crusader over the modern, depressing background of Nolan's Gotham City (the director filmed effectively in Chicago to represent the fictional city). Others, like Michael Caine's Alfred and Morgan Freeman's Lucius Fox (playing the billionaire's butler and gadget supplier, respectively) help round out the cast and add a bit of charm to the proceedings. The only real letdown is Katie Holmes as love interest Rachel Dawes. Holmes is out of her league in this fantastic cast, and is relegated merely to damsel-in-distress status.
"Batman Begins" is a welcome addition to the Batman legacy, and will satisfy fans of all ages who are open to a darker interpretation. It successfully ignores the camp of the old films without sacrificing any of the fun. Long gone are the days of enlarged cod-pieces and curiously defined Bat-nipples. I, for one, couldn't be more pleased.
Final Grade: A-