Batman Begins...as does a new legend...

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2005)

Going into the cinema I had no idea if this was a prequel to the original films or the start of a franchise. I was delighted to realise that it was not a dismal attempt at a prequel to the awful original Batman films, but rather a fantastic creation of its own.
This film captures everything required to become a classic of its time. First, it hits the roots behind the legend 'Batman' as it explores Bruce Wayne's life after the death of his parents, following his journey to becoming the Caped Crusader. By doing so, the audience are sucked into the emotions behind Bruce's life and feel the rare highs and many lows that he goes through and are able to relate well to the character...a necessity for the start of such a series. Second, the film also helps create a very colourful and detailed creation of Gotham City, and its current state from Bruce's childhood to the time of Batman. This is achieved by a very realistic picture of Gotham being portrayed as we see very graphic images of the wealthy and poor areas of the city, similar to that of a real life place. In addition, the train service running through 'Wayne Enterprise' appears new and clean when Bruce's parents are alive, but when Bruce returns from his time away the train and other areas are covered with vandalism, thus portraying a realistic image of a city that is bleeding due to corruption. Finally, the characters of the film help make it what it is...a legend. Bruce's allies, his butler, his old friend and potential love interest and his colleagues relate well to Bruce and to the overall story of 'Batman Begins'. Also, the other characters, particularly Bruce's enemies are not the well known, typical villains that you expect from a Batman movie, but rather they are a good way to centre all the focus on the growth of Batman, with entertaining villains nevertheless for Batman to defeat.
As a result, 'Batman Begins' has all the ingredients of a classic. With an excellent script and fantastic direction grouped with these factors, this film is a classic of its time and is worthy of numerous sequels of the same theme. This film has a unique edge as it is dark and is as realistic as a marvel comic can be, as it related more to the person Bruce and all his emotions as Batman, than to the stereotypical, vintage Batman character. Therefore, 'Batman Begins' barely has a criticism to its name and rightly so, as it is one of the best films ever to grace the entertainment world and it must be said that a legend has begun...roll on the sequel!