Best Batman yet

Rating: 10/10 (6 November 2013)

"Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy." -F.Scott Fitzgerald In the story of Batman Begins we are given the story of a young boy who sees crime first hand, at the death of his two parents. The movie is a first for Warner Brothers that depicts a more accurate version of the Dark Knight played very well by Christian Bale. At the beginning we see Bruce Wayne as a man who is lost. Searching Asia for answers to his past, why people commit crimes is his main driving force? Through all of his travels he becomes truly lost in his own journey. He is then met by Henri Ducard played by Liam Neeson who offers him answers and direction. He is more like a father figure to the searching Bruce Wayne, who adopts his role as mentor, and teacher. He begins training at the league of shadows, and starts to learn about himself more than ever. During this time we are given glimpses of Bruce's past and see why he is such a damage person. Seeing the tragedy of his past unfold through flash backs of his childhood. Then through training we uncover the real theme of the movie which is overcoming your fears, making them your weapon. This is the main theme which is used throughout the entirety of the movie. We learn that Bruce's greatest fear is bats, or so we think it is merely a trigger of an event prior to the death of his parents. He secretly blames himself, for their deaths, and using the fear of bats to cover up his true emotions. When he was young he was playing with Rachel Dawes played by Katie Holmes, he steals an arrow head she found at his mansion and as he is running to hide he falls down an abandon well. Bruce is completely engulfed by bats as he lies at the bottom of the well with a broken leg. This is where we first get a glimpse of his fear of bats, trembling and helpless he finally sees relief from his torment as his father descends down the shaft to rescue him. With the use of a very organic sound the director Christopher Nolan uses natural bat sounds to capture the audience's attention. The shrieking of the bats throughout the movie almost makes the hair on your neck stand up. During these flashbacks of his past Bruce is receiving training from Ducard on how to utilize your fear to make it your strength. Obviously Ducard sees the potential in Bruce, but it is not how he truly sees himself. Ducard wants Bruce to return to Gotham and destroy it after his initiate in the League of Shadows. At this moment we see the true hero come out instead of wanting to please his mentor, when asked to kill a murder he simply shakes his head in refusal of the last test. Showing the true nature of batman coming out, a true moral core unlike most men we see today. No matter how much he is pushed he will not resort to becoming a common criminal, after this he has to fight his way out. After he is free and he brings Ducard to safety he is then met by Alfred Pennyworth played by Michael Caine, his family butler and close friend. He is instrumental in the creation of Batman's outfit and tools. Upon his return Bruce is fixated on creating a symbol that the citizens of Gotham can unite under. Upon discovering a bat in the clock in the library Bruce discovers the secret areas of the southwest corridor. Alfred quips at Bruce, "In the Civil War, your great-great grandfather was involved in the Underground Railroad, secretly transporting freed slaves to the North. And I suspect these caverns came in handy" (Goyer, Kane & Nolan, 2005). This is now where Bruce starts to develop the idea of the Batman, he confides in Alfred that bats actually scare him and that's why he chose the image of a bat as his symbol. This is where he divulges to Alfred his plan to use his greatest fear as a weapon against evil doers. "People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed; but as a symbol... as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting" (Goyer, Kane & Nolan, 2005). Thus one of the best depictions of Batman is made from his fear to the bad guys' nightmare. Really utilizing the original archetype of the Batman we all know and love from the comics that they originated from. Using fear as a weapon to attach the bad guys and make them scared to go out at night and harm people. Making him Gotham's Dark Knight, the defender of the week, a real hero the type of hero we need.