Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 4.0
Something Batty's Going On
Behind the city lights exists a subterranean society where crime runs rampant. Who better to rid this society from corruptness than a man in a suit of amour that resembles a bat-like figure? BATMAN BEGINS has the similar dark and sinister quality as the first BATMAN film, but with much more violence. For the premise of the film, it is twofold. First, Bruce Wayne attempting to come to terms with his demons. Second, fighting municipal and corporate bureaucracy that is tainting the waters of Gotham city.The highlight of the film shows how Bruce Wayne came to being the "Batman". From his childhood recollection of falling into an empty well and encountering a flock of bats attacking him to escaping the fears of his past, Wayne seeks solace in an unidentified far away land that resembles a snow covered Shangri la Himalayan landscape where he trains amongst darkly clothed ninja warriors, which are led by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) and Ra Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe). Director, Chris Nolan, presents a somewhat ambiguous and sketchy depiction of Wayne's travel to the Far East. However, Nolan cuts to the chase by with Wayne declaring his purpose in life is to serve justice and to conquer the Gotham underworld. Some may consider the first hour of the film as sluggish, but it is the core of the film. As a historical-side footnote, did the lower foundations of Wayne mansion, which later was converted to the bat cave, possibly serve as a passage to the Underground Railroad? Ah, the fantasy of fiction.Nevertheless, BATMAN BEGINS carries its weight with a parade of well-established stars. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Cane as Alfred the Butler, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox steal the show. However, the romantic entanglement between Wayne and Rachel (Katie Holmes) appears in fragmented segments. The most frightening scenes are captured by Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy)who sprays some pscyhologically brain-poisoning powder with a sandpeople looking mask that results in an extreme depiction of a hallucination gone bad. Despite the defining moments, there are subtle moments in the film where Wayne still has not come to grips with the loss of his father, and continues to have flashbacks and the repetitious scene with his father's stethscope. Could this suggest that he wanted to cure the ills of society as his father had done to cure his patients?BATMAN definitely delivers. However, this is not a film that young audience members should see without an adult. There is plenty of pop `em and sock `em scenes, but not without a tremendous array of explosive theatrics and cinematography that does at all resemble the old Saturday cartoons of yesterday. So, if you're in a batty mood or would like to see the beginnings of a superhero, may Batman begin.