Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
Batman Begins packs a powerful punch and saves the franchise from extinction.
Award winner and Oscar nominee for his 2000 screenplay, Memento, Director Christopher Nolan delivers a powerful punch and a believable plot set in a very realistic Gotham City. Nolan brings the audience back to basics and returns to the original concept of Batman as a crime fighter putting down thugs, gangsters and thieves. Christian Bale performs admirably as the sometimes Bi-polar Bruce Wayne, brooding and sullen while at the same time trying to laugh through the pain.Mixed in with the mobster villains are two distinct antagonists who will be familiar to fans of the comic. Cillian Murphy masterfully plays the Scarecrow, a.k.a. Dr. Jonathan Crane, and stays true the psychotic, fear inducing character created by Finger and Kane for the original Batman series. The Ra's al Ghul storyline serves to condense all of Bruce Wayne's training into one easy to view montage. It is also the first time in film that Ra's makes and appearance. The scenes illustrating Bruce in training with the League of Shadows, remind us that unlike other mutated or alien superheroes, Wayne is just a man; but a man with extreme intellect, physical power and a never-ending supply of money to fund his crusade. In opposition to Wayne's agenda, is the powerful Ra's who believes the best way to create balance is to destroy most of humanity. The two grapple, one believing in the overall goodness of man and the fairness of the system, the other judging man to be inherently evil using a flawed system that will never lead to true justice.The downside to this film is the forced romantic line between Bruce Wayne and contrived character Rachel Dawes. Holme's acting is not superb in this role and one wonders if she were given a more poignant character from Bruce Wayne's list of loves such as Talia al Ghul, or even Rachel Caspian, would there have been more emotion in her performance. Rachel Dawes is such a flat, one dimensional character that it seems likely that even the finest actress would have difficulties bringing her to life. There is nothing at stake in the relationship and while at one point she appears to be Wayne's better angel, it is Alfred who truly acts as his conscious. When will screen writers learn that women will still go see a sci-fi action films without obligatory romance!The ever-brilliant Michael Caine as Alfred, was a superb casting choice. Charming, father-like and sometimes heavy handed, Caine delivers the best portrayal of Wayne's caretaker since Alan Napier.As for the gadgets, the movie takes great care in showing the origins of the bat cave, the suite, and of course the bat mobile. Fan-boys/girls will enjoy the "new" look of the Caped Crusader's ride based on the art of Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns).It has been a long time since the public had the opportunity to see Batman as he should be: dark, pining, credible and absolutely fantastic!