Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
A New Beginning for a Old Favorite...
In 2005's "Batman Begins", Director Christopher Nolan revives a franchise gone stale by reimagining Batman's origins. An outstanding cast brings to life a solid, action-filled, but intriguingly introspective script, aided by a whole new family of gadgets and some excellent special effects.Christian Bale is Bruce Wayne, orphaned by the murder of his wealthy parents and raised by the family's faithful butler Alfred (Michael Caine in a genius piece of casting). Driven as a young man to seek revenge on the criminal underworld, his first attempt fails miserably. Bruce exiles himself to a lonely odessey that brings him to a prison somewhere in the Himalayas and to the attention of the mysterious Ducard (Liam Neeson), who offers him a destination. Bruce Wayne journeys to an isolated monastery, where a group known as the League of Shadows trains him in martial arts, cures him of a childhood fear, and provides him with purpose.Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City, to create his crime-fighting personna and to meet honest cop Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and genius inventor Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). Bruce Wayne's cover life as a rich and idle playboy brings him back into contact with life-long love Rachel Dawes (a surprisingly effective Katie Holmes), who upbraids Bruce for his apparent lack of purpose in life.The newly minted Batman confronts Gotham's criminal underworld, discovering a mysterious plot involving a psychiatrist with a dangerous secret and a deadly connection to Bruce Wayne's past. Unraveling the plot places at risk everything that Batman and Bruce Wayne hold dear. The movie's climactic action sequence is a breathless and original thrill ride.The movie succeeds in part because the maturing Bruce Wayne gets as much if not more screen time than his caped alter ego. The action sequences are dark, violent, and realistic, and the new Batman takes his share of lumps. The family of gadgets includes an all-terrain batmobile, the usual Batman tool belt, and a thrilling way to fly. Bruce Wayne's relationship with Rachel Dawes is handled with an admirable restraint that recognizes the reality of his competing responsibilities."Batman Begins" is very highly recommended as an outstanding and nuanced reimagining of the Batman story, told with crisp dialogue and plenty of thrilling action.