Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 4.0
Finally, a Batman movie to rival Burton's first
Today, on opening day, I watched "Batman Begins." And while I am no expert on the associated comic books and graphic novels, I have seen Tim Burton's "Batman" movie from 1989 more times than I can count. It's the only one that really mattered, until now, so the contrasts I draw will reference this movie more than Joel Schumacher's two lackluster attempts ("Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin") and Tim Burton's own "Batman Returns."Director Christopher Nolan is an appropriate choice for directing this franchise in that his work has, so far, been enigmatic and dark. "Memento" and "Insomnia" both played out as creepy yarns which demanded some attention from the viewer, and if "Batman Begins" feels a little too straightforward compared to those two films, remember the kind of subject matter we are dealing with. Batman is a cultural icon like Darth Vader or Frodo Baggins, and as such, any tricky storytelling for its own sake is out of the question."Batman Begins" begins with Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) raising hell in a prison somewhere in Asia. Liam Neeson, the mentor du jour for action stories, plays a martial arts expert named Ducard. He recruits Wayne and encourages him to seek vengeance for his parents' slayings back in Gotham City, as part of a bigger housecleaning project he has in mind. Nolan also goes to some trouble to set up Bruce Wayne's motivations: he thinks that his own fear caused his parents' deaths, hence his guilt, anger, and shame. All of this is fine except that it takes a bit too long. Where Tim Burton's "Batman" of 1989 skimped on the backstory, and just laid pieces of Wayne's past for the viewer to assemble, here the backstory ends up being a good chunk of the film. It's action-packed enough, but a bit cumbersome.When the story gets back to the States, Nolan avoids the eternal nightscape of a highly stylized, comic book style Gotham City ("Batman" '89), populated by blocky American cars and one-dimensional yet entertaining characters, and instead creates a Gotham City that feels more like something we might actually encounter in the USA circa 2005. It's the classic Gotham City crossed with the futuristic Los Angeles of "Blade Runner." It's a city with slums, skyscrapers, and elevated trains, like Chicago or New York.Bruce Wayne's metamorphosis from confused rich kid to tormented superhero is also depicted in some detail. Where in previous movies Batman's existence is just taken for granted, here his transition comes into focus. The effect is much like the explication in Sam Raimi's recent "Spider-man," and although it answers many practical questions about our protagonist, it also leads to many other questions. For example, Wayne Enterprises has for some reason created a $300,000 piece of body armor which Bruce uses for his alter-ego, but now we have to wonder: why did the company design it in the first place? The Batmobile, while very cool, falls under the same category. It seems to exist, complete but for black paint, only because Batman needs a Batmobile.The supporting cast is rather hit and miss. Of the ones that Nolan got right, Morgan Freeman does well what he knows how to do, and Rutger Hauer is laudable as a condescending corporate man with ambitions. Cillian Murphy is appropriately icy in his role as Dr. Jonathan Crane. Michael Caine is flawless as Wayne's father figure and right-hand man Alfred. Here he actually represents an important character, a moral compass in a murky world, whereas in previous iterations, Alfred was little more than a cliche. The biggest surprise, however, is perennial villain Gary Oldman as Sgt. Gordon, the one honest cop in a city of crooked ones. Who knew?The misfires include Katie Holmes as D.A. Rachel Dawes; how exactly does a perky twenty-something pole-vault her way to the top of Gotham City's law enforcement community? Tom Wilkinson is also miscast, as crime boss Carmine Falcone. Wilkinson is an excellent actor ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "In the Bedroom" both come readily to mind), but here he lays it on pretty thick. I can't help but think Danny Aiello or James Caan would have been a more appropriate choice.The action is good though, and there is plenty of it. It's got those dazzling moments you'll remember long after you leave the theater. Naturally the end of the movie sets up sequels, but not in an obvious way -- more in a way that makes you go "hmmmm."Overall, "Batman Begins" is a pleasure to watch, and Christian Bale inhabits his character ably and credibly. This rendition of the Batman story weighs in at 140 minutes, and although it does not feel extremely sluggish, it could have used just a bit of streamlining in the editor's room. Recommended.