Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
Best adaptation ever
From the colorful and pun-intended show in 1966 to the chillingly brilliant teamup of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini in the early 90's, Batman has always been something of a challenge when brought from his comic origins to the small or silver screen."Batman" directed by Burton I found all right but lacking in something. The campy version of the Dark Knight on the silver screen almost gave me a headache with its garish tones and bizzare settings. Wasn't there a better way to pay tribute to this legendary character of fear and justice that had held the world spellbound since Bob Kane's creation in 1939? Apparantly not. Three films later and with the bad taste of camp in my mouth, I turned off the set watching "Batman and Robin" on video. What a shame, I bemoaned myself. My favorite superhero had become as ridiculous as a plastic action figure.When rumors circulated that a new "more serious" and "more realistic" Batman film was being produced, I was very skeptical. "Trust me, this one will be different," my brother promised me. My loyalty as a die hard Batman fan runs very deep. As I paid for my ticket and got into my seat at the movie theatre in the summer of 2005, I silently prayed that Bruce Wayne and Batman's reputation would not be desecrated again.My prayers were answered.What Nolan has done is stripped the film of all ridiculous extravagent loud costumes and bright colors that drowned out the past few movies. He has returned to the basics of WHY Bruce Wayne chose to become Batman and the fans call tell he has done his research. Gone are the green and purples of "Batman Forever". The film is shot at night in a fitting urban setting (Chicago was chosen)and cast in black or brown colors giving the film a more "natural" feeling. The dialouge is not corny, the atmosphere is majestic and solemn, and the themes of revenge, personal redemption, and triumph over despair are felt down to the bones. The two primary villains are serious, scary, and downright intereseting. The newly-created Dark Knight makes mistakes in his first trials but he refuses to give up in his crusade against crime. THIS is the way to do a Batman movie."Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller is an excellent book to get behind the scenes and into the mind of Bruce Wayne. He returns to Gotham City after a personal crusade and finds his town buried in the filth of injustice. No Joker is needed right now--Batman's enemies are the corrupt police and pampered henchmen that rule the city with iron fists. Fear is a tremendous factor in this movie as veiwers discover that as a child, Bruce Wayne was terrified of bats and had to overcome that obstacle before saving others. He then uses fear to shake the criminals out of their boots and kick some order back into Gotham City. Dangling a dirty cop upside down in the rain on top of a building and all dressed up like a dark creepy demon with a growling rapsy voice does get the job done, I must say.Another factor in the film is the theme of fathers: Michael Caine is the kind yet firm butler Alfred Pennyworth who graciously takes on the role to become Bruce's surrogate father after his parents are gunned to death. Liam Neeson as the legendary demonic ruler known as Ra's Al Ghul tempts Bruce to join him in his crusade of purging the world against evil but the young man is forced to carve himself a difficult yet different and effective path to stop crime.If Ra's Al Ghul's fanatic obsessions with justice are at once end of the spectrum and the pathetic dishonest citizens of Gotham are at the other end, then Batman is that fine line that must be in between them. I haven't heard or seen a better Batman than Kevin Conroy's adaptation as voice actor to Batman in "Batman: the Animated Series" but Christopher Nolan has done an outstanding job in and out of the bat suit.While it may take two more movies and several years before he enters, I only pray that Nolan will consider doing justice to the origins of Dick Grayson and his role as becoming Robin. While not the bedrock of protection as Batman in, the Boy Wonder does deserve a second chance at being redeemd on the movie screens too.