Batman is cool again

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2005)

After super-cool "Batman" and "Batman Returns" we saw mediocre "Batman Forever" and terrible "Batman and Robin". It was hard to believe that any good films about Batman would be made in the nearest future. But Batman luckily surprises us in a very pleasant way and makes a stunning comeback in "Batman Begins". As a prequel, it slightly differs from previous four films. We see the birth of Batman. But before that, he was born and grew up as Bruce Wayne, son of a rich and beloved man Thomas Wayne. It takes many years and events before he puts on the famous black suit. His parents, whom he loved and respected deeply, are killed in front of him. He wants revenge but at the same time he knows that it wouldn't take his fear away. After many years of prison and exile he decides to start fighting the crime as Batman. In the earlier Batman films it is dark all the time. This time we see a lot of daylight. The sunny Gotham City is very different from the dark one. An ugly and dangerous place has become a beautiful city which can be compared to famous metropolises. For the first time I felt that Gotham could exist in reality, not only in films. There is more humanity in the characters too. Bruce Wayne chooses to be Batman, it doesn't happen accidentally. As a man, he wants to be as kindhearted and generous as his father was. As a superhero, his purpose is to fight the criminals and protect the weak in a corrupted city. Christian Bale not only makes Batman interesting, he also makes Bruce Wayne interesting. Katie Holmes as Rachel is not just a hot chick saved and seduced by Batman. She has been Bruce's best friend since childhood and knows him better than the others. Michael Caine played the father of another superhero, Austin Powers in 2002. He has a more serious role this time. The loyal Alfred represents dignity, calmness and humor. Liam Neeson does another excellent role as a mysterious teacher of Bruce. Ducard educating Bruce is the best scene in this film. The bad guys have not such style and glamour as Joker, Catwoman and Penguin Man. Cillian Murphy's Dr. Crane and Tom Wilkinson's Falcone are so usual, they even don't seem very bad. But as it turns out eventually, they work for someone more powerful and dangerous. "Batman Begins" has a lot more excitement, philosophy and humor than "The X-Men" or "Spiderman" and a way more than "Batman and Robin".