Unexpected Wisdom

Rating: 10/10 (7 August 2005)

Storytelling at its best is often about principles, values, ideas and ideals in conflict. Characters' actions stem from their beliefs, objectives, strength of will or lack of it. Their conflicting convictions are resolved in ways that support the messages the storyteller wants to convey, and the audience finds moments of wisdom that stay with them long after leaving the theater. I found several of those messages in Batman Begins
Have Faith In Each Other -- Michael Caine, as Bruce Wayne's paternalistic butler Arthur, masterfully hammers this message home throughout the story. Through word and deed, Arthur continually reassures Wayne that he'll never give up on him no matter what. This faith carries Wayne through some of his darkest moments of doubt.
Compassion Is What Separates Good From Evil -- When mentor Henri Ducard (Leam Neeson) insists that Wayne must be willing to kill decisively and without remorse if he is to defeat evil, he refuses. He declares that the criminal must be brought to justice and judged for his crimes, not arbitrarily executed.
Revenge Is Not Justice -- While Ducard tries to convince Wayne of the righteousness of vengeance for the murder of his parents, ADA Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) admonishes Wayne, "Justice is about harmony; vengeance is about making yourself feel better".