Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
I am Vengance, I am the the NIGHT! I AM BATMAN!
A flutter of cape. The tinkle of a bottle down and ally. A flash of a dark omious figure, and then he's there, in front of you, behind you, above you, and your life of crime is now over.This is Batman. This is the Batman, I, my Father, my Mother, My Fiancee, my Brother, and everyone I know has been waiting for. As a fan of the Comics, and of Paul Dini's masterpiece, Batman the Animated Series, I had high expectations of this film.I didn't particularly care for Burton's Batman, and I couldn't stand Batman Returns. Burton was always more interested in why the villians were the villians, and most of the screen time in both of his films are dedicated to showing us the Villians' origins. Well this movie does not have that problem. This is about Bruce's motivations. This is about a wounded Child, a monster set free by a murderer, and reigned in by self-disipline.This is BATMAN:YEAR ONE done right. We see a young Bruce wrestle with the demons of his past, and finally realising that he can never fully exorsize them, he must control them, or they will control him. He has help in the the form of Michael Caine as Alfred, spot on and ego free. I was worried that Michael may be too big a name to play the butler. But Alfred is more the father in this than the Butler, and his worldly advice is always spot on.Morgan Freeman plays Lucious Fox, Former CEO of Wayne Enterprises, and holder of all those ((if I may steal from Burton and Jack for a Moment)) "Wonderful Toys" Morgans has such a wonderful Twinkle in his eye every time he shows off a new toy, you are very very excited for the possibility.Katie Holmes is a womderful Rachel. A grounded Love interest for Bruce, that keeps him centered on the past that was, and that which was happy.The always Underated Liam Neeson is an excelent foil to Christian Bale. He proves that Youth and Speed do not trounce Age and Experience.Ken Watanabe is awesome as Ra's Al Ghul. A vigillanty of the global Order.Cillian Murphy makes the Scarecrow truely scarry. I was worried that he would just be silly, but I actually jumped in my seat during his scenes.and Gary Oldman is just fantastic as Lt. Gordon. Not quite the confident ally of Batman yet, he is new to the scene, and is feling things out.This film is dark. This is the Batman of the comic. There is no neon save the flickering light in the front of a pawn shop. There is nothing gothic other than the oppressive structures of Chicago, New York, and London ((all of which stood in or Gotham, and made me partial to the film from the get go, as a Chicago Filmmaker))This is Batman, respected, in the fore front, and learning what it is to be a Hero.