Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
Not as good as Batman and Robin...
...only joking.Christopher Nolan's take on the Caped Crusader takes a refreshing and more serious direction than the previous two installments of the Batman franchise. Gone is the irritating self-parody. Gone are the tired theatrics. Gone are the camp villains whom seem more in common with the tone of the original television show (POW! WHACK! YAWN!) rather than Tim Burton's revitalised take on the then stale 'superhero' genre.Christian Bale is an inspired choice to play Bruce Wayne. If you have seen his portrayal of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho you begin to recognise a true acting talent. His transformation from murderous, souless Wall St yuppie into one of the world's most recognisable superheroes is very similar to Michael Keaton's transformation from his funny OTT performance as the green haired, bug-eating bio-exorcist in Beetlejuice to his sobering, deadpan portyal in Burton's Batman world.Bale, however, is just as complex as Bruce Wayne as Keaton was in his portrayal. Bale's Bruce Wayne is fuelled by anger, guilt and, initially, a desire for revenge. In this respect, he is not much different from Henri Ducard, Bruce Wayne's initial mentor (played by Liam Neeson) - who teaches Wayne how to let go of his fears.Katie Holmes is the love interest as Rachel Dawes, a district DA (if somewhat unrealistically young) who, like Wayne, seeks justice in a city slipping into squalor and corruption, fuelled by apathy.Michael Caine is great as Alfred. He is very paternal to Wayne, even to the point of chastising him as if he is a mischievous school boy. Morgan Freeman adds warmth as a fallen Lucius Fox who keeps some pretty cool toys in his warehouse-like workplace.Gotham City has also been given a fresh takeover. Gone is the neo-gothic fairyland that is always nearly buried in night and snow. This city is a fusion of New York and Chicago and other huge city landscapes. This supplements the film's more sober approach to the Batman legacy. Criminals are drug-dealers, mobsters, corrupt cops, rather than Jokers, Riddlers, etc. The Scarecrow is a wacky villain, but his use of mind destroying drugs is creepy and sinister enough to give him serious gravitus.I found this film brilliant in its fresh retake on the story. This, arguably, is the best superhero film to be made in years. It has revitalised the legacy for new Batman fans as well as offering something new for old die-hards.The ending finishes up with a tantalising prospect of a sequel (I read somewhere Jude Law may play the Joker, though it may be just a rumour).