Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
"A Little Bit of Opera Goes A Long Way, Right Bruce?"
It has been said that a work of art tells us more about the artist than the subject matter in the art. This is particularly true in stories about comic book characters. I feel privileged to have lived in a time when so many good "superhero" movies have been made.I enjoy morality plays, stories that are thinly veiled formulas for discussing uncommon ideals and moral questions. As I get older, I enjoy fewer things, but I still enjoy a moral tale. It seems a little bit ironic that we seem to be able to swallow sweeping moral discussions more in animated, operatic, or superhero features. In TV we've constantly had morality plays in the many incarnations of "Law & Order", "Star Trek", & many other shows.The movie starts off by graying the lines between good & evil and vigilantism & idealism. The main characters are people with primary personas different than their alternate identity. We hear the advice of Liam Neeson's character, not knowing whether to champion him or be suspicious - a writing choice that respects the intelligence of the moviegoer.The movie explores the long running "Batman" question of: What separates a vigilante from a righteous avenger? When is a person simply a facist by taking justice into their own hands?The movie also explores the important question of: How do you deal with the possibility that you may have been a contributing factor to the death of someone you love? The movie does not "answer" either of these questions; but rather shows characters trying to survive in the aftermath.I love this movie because it promotes these, and many other, ideals:1. Never give up on the people close to you. Seriously, never. (Or as Michael Caine says, "Nevah!")2. Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.3. People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy. People need someone to rattle the cages.4. Its not who you are "underneath" that matters. It's what you do that defines you.I really appreciate the intelligence and creative force of Christopher Dolan & David Goyer's caring screenplay. This movie packs a great emotional punch, on par with Spiderman 2, another great movie.The title of this review is from a line in the film where Batman's father lets young Bruce know things will be alright, and the father will stand beside his son in the midst of all fears, even death. "It's okay, it's okay."