The Dark Knight Returns - The Death and Rebirth of the Franchise

Rating: 9/10 (18 June 2005)

Let's face it, the Batman franchise has been on the rocks since Joel Schumacher took the reigns with Batman Forever. Since Michael Keaton first donned the mask, only Michael Keaton has remained longer than a single film as the Dark Knight. Generally, the man in the pointy-eared-suit has been upstaged by the villains he faced. Jack Nicholson's Joker and both villains of 'Batman Returns' upstage their black masked actors. Even Tommy Lee Jones, side by side with Jim Carrey's squandered potential as the Riddler make Val Kilmer look like the second line star of Top Gun given a chance, which he then ruined.
The Schumacher films almost caused the end of the franchise. Tim Burton's Gothic and dark, yet just slightly unbelievable, juxtapositions of 1600's architecture, 50's cars and modern technology was replaced by Schumacher's techno rave Gotham, populated by roving biker gangs, where the roads weren't actually on the ground...
Now we arrive at a new dawn.
The first thing one notices about Batman Begins is the lack of a title sequence, or any titles at all. A swarm of bats at dusk quickly, and vaguely, create the new Batman logo (Stolen from the phenomenally successful and originally spirited animated series). Christopher Nolan is in charge now, and he immediately makes it known.
One of the things missed out in previous Batman films was how exactly the son of a Billionaire got his ass-kicking skills. The later 90's comics, which made Gotham into a real city, and explored his origins once again, established that he was in fact trained as a Ninja. The first hour of the film deals with Liam Neeson's training of the young Wayne, his prodigy, his best student. Things of course, go awry later on...
Cillian Murphey's Dr. Crane/Scarecrow does a sterling performance, and for once the motives of the villains are tied together... even the petty criminals that Batman makes feel his wrath are involved, at a level much lower than they themselves think...
From the first time we see Christian Bale training, and the first time he dons the mask, we know things are different. When the first stooge disappears into the darkness without so much as a scream, we know things are different. Bale plays both Wayne and Batman well, something that cannot be said for his predecessors. Granted, his Wayne is younger, more enthusiastic about his new empire, and more optimistic, but it's still better than George Cloony's clueless ness and Val Kilmers almost non-performance in the role.
Ken Watanabe .... Ra's Al Ghul. A lot is left to wonder. He certainly doesn't die at the end, and nor does the Scarecrow (We are instead, introduced to an old favourite...) Liam Neeson's Ducard is shifted into the limelight and acts as both the foil and the foe. Neeson does an excellent job, both as mentor and monster, a true demonstration of his acting talent. The Lazarus Pits are conveniently left out, as is Ghul's daughter, which is probably for the better.
There is a large re-imagination of the beginning. The Joker is no longer responsible for the Wayne's deaths; instead it's just a down-on-his luck bum with a gun... This is quite formative in the mind of young Master Wayne though, as becomes quite evident. This Batman runs from the police in a black tank, spreads fear through stealth and manipulation like it's confetti, and just on the whole looks awesome. Gotham, and even Batman's technology (He flies on his own now) are all made believable, and even explained. The Batcave isn't some high-tech wonder; it's just a cave with a closet and a garage. Oh, and bats, lots of bats.
Gotham too has been re-imagined. It's real. (It's also, according to the license plates, in Illinois) It feels like it could actually be a real place. The only problem is the greenery surrounding Wayne manor to the horizon...
Speaking of Wayne Manor, as its caretaker and butler, Michael Caine does a superb job as an Alfred that cares, rather than one that's just obsessed with duty. This is a nice Alfred, one that we can like and has his own personality, rather than just a servant. Morgan Freeman plays his role of Lucius Fox with typical irony and aplomb, well done and well cast for the most part.
Katie Holmes does do a good job, but seems a tad young to be an ADA. (Although her DA's similarity to a young Sam Watersone and her's to every female ADA Law and Order has had is a tad amusing, if hard to shake, until you're forced to) Gary Oldman does a convincing job as Sergeant Gordon, not Commissioner yet.
On the whole, Batman Begins is what the franchise needed. Fresh blood, fresh story, dear, darkness, originality. Bale has apparently signed on for another two or three films (Reports conflict) and it's something everyone, not just fans of the Dark Knight, should wait for avidly. The film does merit seeing twice, and just try to resist the urge to rent the game. If you can find it.