Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
The Real Batman
One would have thought that Batman and Robin would have been the end of the Batman film series but Batman Begins pumps new life into the franchise. Gone from the new Batman are all of the gimmicks that turned the original series into a parody of the original film directed by Tim Burton. Christian Bale makes an excellent Bruce Wayne, a figure who is truly haunted and searching for a meaning to life, taking the road less traveled into becoming what he hates until found by the mysterious Ducard. Mr. Bale is excellent in the exploring the depths of Bruce Wayne as he goes from being a vengeful college student, to being a petty criminal, searching to find himself as Ducard's pupil and finally determined to rid Gotham of crime rejecting the violence of the League of Shadows.The film is beautifully cast, down to the smaller roles. Michael Caine does a wonderful job as Alfred, providing a great deal of the film's humor and the necessary reassuring figure for Bruce Wayne. Before him Michael Gough was the quintessential Alfred but Mr. Caine has made the part his own. Katie Holmes does well as Wayne's love interest in a part that has little of the sexuality of the prior films but stands as a disapproving figure to Bruce Wayne's playboy image. Gary Oldman was an inspired choice as Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman is wonderful as the Wayne Enterprises head of Applied Science and Liam Neeson makes a tough minded mentor and later an effective adversary. Cillian Murphy is very suave as Jonathan Crane transforming himself into the "Scarecrow" with a help from the mind altering drug that will shortly be used on Gotham. I also liked seeing Rutgar Hauer (Blade Runner) in a mainstream movie; most of his film roles seeming to be released only to video.The film portrays Gotham as a gritty, crime-ridden city with criminals without gimmicks. The effects are limited to just telling the story, avoiding sensational extremes. Most important, Batman Begins brings back the feel of the comic books, telling a great story.