Rebirth Of The Dark Knight

Rating: 8/10 (22 June 2005)

Yeah folks, forget the previous Batman movies. There is a new Dark Knight in town and this one seems set to rekindled major interest and probably start a scramble for the DC comics and Bat merchandise. Batmman Begins reboots the franchise,taking us back to the origin of the Caped Crusader; and making us grasp for more.
Indeed, this is one Batman movie that its fans would definitely like--and one that would make Batman seem 'logical' to non-comic book readers. The movie works on many levels. On the narrative level, we see why Bruce Wayne ( Gus Lewis ) is scared of bats as a boy, and later blames himself for the death of his parents.
As an adult, Bruce ( Christian Bale ) learns to deal with his fear. Dumping Princeton and girlfriend Rachel ( Katie Holmes ), he leaves for the Himalayas where he meets Henri Ducard ( Liam Neeson ) and Ra's Al Ghul ( Ken Watanabe ) and learns the nimble skills of the ninja.
When he returns to Gotham City, he is told by his butler Alfred ( Michael Caine ) that he has been declared dead and that Wayne Enterprises has a new CEO ( Rutger Hauer ). More importantly, Bruce discovers that Gotham City is overrun by crime lord Carmine Falcon ( Tom Wilkinson ) whose 'henchman' Dr. Crane ( Cillian Murphy as The Scarecrow ) makes a mockery of law and justice in the city.
And when Rachel, now an assistant District Attorney, is caught in the fray, Bruce decides to do something about it. He sees his company scientist Lucius Fox ( Morgan Freeman in a role similar to Bond's Q ) about a body Armour ( think Batsuit ) and a multi-terrain vehicle that comes in black ( Batmobile ).
On the thematic level, the most compelling issues are how Bruce deals with fear, revenge, love and lust for power. On these scores, Alfred doubles as his guide and conscience, instead of just a butler.
In the F/X and action department, director Christopher Nolan is careful not to let the stunts and effects overwhelm this character driven film. The bat-mobile here is more adaptable than that in the comic books but it is the people like Detective Gordon ( an unrecognizable Gary Oldman ) and Rachel who make Gotham City come alive.
Indeed, the production is first class. Gotham City pulsates with vivid details of buildings and lights. One of the few areas of the movie that is undeveloped is the relationship between Bruce and Rachel. They never seem to 'click' in the way Clark Kent did with Lois Lane in Superman , or like Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson in Spiderman.
Still, Bale has shown himself to be definitive Batman ; as a poor rich guy caught between justice and revenge ; instead of just another CAped Crusader from the comic books. Embrace the force of the Dark Knight.