Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 4.0
Unlike Any Superhero Flick I've Seen
"Batman Begins" brings a breath of fresh air to the tired and weakened "Batman" film franchise. Although it lags a little when compared to Tim Burton's original "Batman" flick, it more than makes up for the drivel that followed it. Christopher Nolan directs this Bat with care and a harsh degree of reality. He also manages to make a Bat that is considerably darker, moodier, and more atmospheric than Burton's. That's hard to pull off, but Nolan does it. David Goyer handles the script rather well, and manages to make a film that is appeasing to the mind and to the eye.The story introduces us to the events that lead up to Bruce Wayne's becoming the Dark Knight. It plays out as if the other films never occurred. Wayne's parents are murdered and he witnesses the crime. The killer gets off after serving a few years, but a series of events leads to the uprising of a crime boss with a stranglehold on Gotham City. This prevents Wayne from exacting vengeance on his parents' murderer. Angered, Wayne seeks out the criminal mind, learning everything he can about them(including prison life), but it is when he meets up with Ra's Al Ghul and Ducard where we find out how he masters numerous fighting styles and skills. When Wayne returns to Gotham, the city is in shambles, and he sets out to make things right. What follows is a wonderful story that has a few twists and turns and some wonderful action.The story realizes its characters so well that the viewer forgets that they are watching a film based on comic books. It doesn't seem quite as silly to believe that a man can become so enraged with the criminal element that he would dress up like a giant bat and fight for justice. If I had to categorize this film with any other comic flick, I'd have to say that only "The Punisher" with Thomas Jane and John Travolta comes close to the realism expressed in "Batman Begins." However, "Batman Begins" is a much better film than "The Punisher" could ever be.Christian Bale seems to be a perfect fit as Bruce Wayne/Batman. He looks comfortable as a billionaire playboy and as a masked vigilante. Some folks have made fun of the way he changes his voice when dressed as Batman. Has anyone thought that perhaps he changes his voice so that he becomes harder to identify? Michael Keaton spoke with a raspy hiss when he was under the cowl, and Val Kilmer and George Clooney did little to mask their vocal identity. Also, Bale's Batman is intent on striking fear into his enemies. If some dude in a batsuit comes up to you with a booming voice and batarangs flying all over the place, you'd probably get scared too.Gary Oldman is perfectly cast as Sgt. Gordon. He's a nice guy who only wants the best for Gotham. Problem is, the criminals run the city, which makes it a little hard for Gordon to do his job. He becomes a strong and worthy ally of Batman as the story unfolds.Michael Caine is wonderful as Alfred. Though Michael Gough's Alfred will always hold a special place in my heart, Caine makes the role his own in "Batman Begins." He is the one true source of comedy in a film as dark as this one.Morgan Freeman is very believable and likeable as Wayne's weapons expert. He's responsible for all of Batman's gadgets and the wonderfully big and loud Batmobile.Cillian Murphy, who I'm not very familiar with, is seedy, twisted and perfect as Dr. Crane/Scarecrow. I've always believed that Scarecrow deserved to be in one of the other films, but I'm glad that they held off until now. Murphy's a weasel and his eventual send off is downright fun to watch. He was perfectly cast in this part.Liam Neeson is solid as Ducard, a man who seemingly has a deep concern for Wayne when he is learning the arts of justice under the tutelage of Ra's Al Ghul. Much like his Qui-Gon character from "Star Wars: Episode I," Neeson fills the role of mentor perfectly.Katie Holmes is sufficient in her role as Wayne's love interest in the flick, but her role is probably the weakest in the bunch. Also, all of her publicity with Cruise lately made it harder to believe in her character.Although there are plenty of special effects, there isn't much CGI. That's a beautiful thing these days, when most comic flicks rely heavily on the oft-fake-looking gimmick. Instead, we get plenty of explosions, close-up fight scenes, and lots of crashes.In short, this is a wonderful flick that fans of action, drama, and suspense will love. Remember, this pic does not come across as a comic book film, but as a legitimate story that has some wonderful characters and great atmosphere. I give it a strong four stars, although Holmes' performance is somewhat of a downer.