Batman is finally here!

Rating: 10/10 (17 June 2005)

The caped crusader returns to the big screen and he seems to be suggesting to us that he is making his debut and that a certain quartet of movies from yesteryear never happened. Batman Begins is basically re-writing Batman for the cinema audience, but in particular to the fans of Bob Kanes original vision and the graphic novels of Frank Millar. This Batman film is dark. It is a Batman film, with no camp and it's about IL' Bruce and his alter ego and not so heavily focused on the villains. Burtons 89 version of Batman was a good movie, good fun and as much as Jack Nicholson is the man and a certified god, the film didn't have the brooding edge of Batman. Sure there was darkness, but Burtons trademark quirky dark, not dank, pessimistic and just a little brutal like Begins. Christopher Nolan has continually said he was going to base Batman in reality and he does that. He makes everything feel conceivable and gives good insight into how Bruce takes on his alter ego. We know the plot, Bruce sees his parents get killed then ends up as a crime fighter, but Nolan fills in the gaps that Burton et al never really did. This film has a really dark tone and a philosophical undertone to it and marks the first intelligent Batman film. It feels Gothic and feels like The Crow, a similarly dark and twisted tale. Many who watched the Crow feeling 2that is how Batman should have been!" Now we get that! Thank you Chris Nolan.
This film has a good plot and we have the usual comic book threat to local civilisation, while there are plenty of good twists and turns, but it is the character arc of Bruce and his interactions that are particularly engaging. This film has an epic feeling from the way it is shot to the score but also by the incredible cast of people who all come in a put their stamp on their roles whether small or more significant. Firstly Christian Bale as Batman. He is the ultimate Batman now. Firstly the role is well written and grounded but Bale pulls it off superbly. It's a performance of intensity and that thankfully challenges the actor. Yes Keaton was a good Batman, but it wasn't a performance that tested him dramatically. Bruce Wayne is a three dimensional person here. Bale is not only in excellent shape for this role but he manages to capture the heroicness of Batman as well as the tortured psyche of Wayne. Michael Caine is also excellent as Alfred. He brings real heart to the movie. He is one of the characters that lightens the film when necessary and acts as a side of optimism around Wayne. Caine really excels here with charm. Similarly Gary Oldman is another heart of the movie. Oldman isn't given much to do off the page I shouldn't think but the nuances he brings to his performance are pure class and he makes sure that Chief Gordon really stands out and for the first time in any Batman movie you'll remember who played Gordon. Morgan Freeman also appears in a small but memorable role. Also credit for Liam Neeson who seems to be in demand at the moment, and he, like Oldman and Caine, shares the best scenes with Bale. Neeson is particularly prominent in the opening 40 minutes and his interaction with Bale is fascinating. Elsewhere there are roles for Tom Wilkinson and also Rutger Hauer and they provide yet more class in roles that could have gone to jobbing actors but Nolan's insistence in loading his roles with real A-class actors pays off superbly, similar to Sin City (which also had an appearance from Hauer!). With the film so male dominated Katie Holmes is good eye candy relief and does her role very well, despite being given little to do.
Nolan has really crafted a fantastic looking movie. It grabs you instantly and just looks fantastic. The washed out colours and the use of shadow is superb and gives the film an unnerving and cold atmosphere. Nolan shows himself to be adept at a big budget movie and also does well with the action scenes which include a jaw dropping car chase. The action isn't over stylised and there's no sign of bullet time you'll be pleased to hear but it plays on confusion as Batman strikes. He comes from the shadows, pouncing on his victims, taking them by surprise like a horror film stalker. While Nolan is excellent he has also got together both Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard for the score which once again is excellent. Iti s understated, atmospheric and just a little ominous. There seems to be a deep growling drone hanging through much of the film, creating a sense of heightened tension. Howard's parts (the non-action moments) are particularly good. You think of the kind of creepiness to scores in The Shining or Cronenberg films and they are similar to much of the tone of this.
Batman Begins is the number one comic book movie and now the definitive Batman film. *****