Product: Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Rating: 5.0
The Making of a Legend - The Nature of Fear
This is the way it should be: an ordinary man who rises above tragedy and his own guilt and fear to become something more. A legend. An icon. The Batman."Batman Begins" does not flinch for a moment in its portrayal of the origins of the Dark Knight. We do not even see the Batman we know until the film is half over. What we see first is Bruce Wayne, his tragic childhood and the burdens he carries as an adult, and finally the choices he makes that turn him into a symbol for hope in the face of dark times and evil people. This is how we come to understand how a man can become so driven, so focused, so honed and balanced, like a weapon always prepared to strike. The first act of "Batman Begins" shows us not only his physical training, but his mental and spiritual rigor as well. We come to understand the man beneath the mask, before he ever puts the mask on.And then, when he does finally don the familiar cowl and cape, it is so much more powerful, so much more bellievable than it ever has been before. We see a man who understands what the nature of fear is, and for the rest of the film he uses it against his enemies, the criminals who are tearing his city apart, and those who threaten to tear it down completely. Because as much as "Batman Begins" is about the creation of the legend that is Batman, it is also about fear. Coming to understand one's fears, to face them down, and finally to use them as tools. Bruce Wayne understands this when he puts on the mask and the cape, and one of his foes understands it as well. The nature of fear forms the subtext and undercurrent of this powerful film.And what a film it is. The casting is ideal, from Christian Bale as the best Bruce Wayne/Batman dichotomy to ever grace the screen, to Gary Oldman as the perfect Sergeant (soon to be Commissioner?) Gordon, to Liam Neeson as...well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. The direction of Christopher Nolan captures with crystal clarity, and for the first time on screen, the dual aspects of the Batman character -- the man, and the hero. The musical score, a unique partnership of Hans Zimmer's dramatic style and James Newton Howard's understated themes, suits the film beautifully, carrying the dramatic aspects while avoiding the use of a catchy theme. The story is well-paced, with a good blend of finely-tuned character development and high-octane action to keep it interesting, leading up to a pulse-pounding conclusion that will leave you breathless.I'm inescapably reminded of "Unbreakable," the only other film I can think of which takes the concept of a comic-book hero and deals with it in a real-world context. Both films share a grounding in reality, a hope that things can be better than they are, and an emotional center which should resonate in even the most cynical heart. Chances are good that if you like "Unbreakable," you'll like "Batman Begins," and vice-versa.At last, you can forget Joel Schumacher's Batman flops, and you can even lay aside Tim Burton's efforts at bringing the Batman to the screen. Finally, in "Batman Begins," we have a film that treats the Batman as he should be treated -- a complex character who is both legend and man, who looks his fear in the eye and brings a new understanding of fear to his enemies, who buries himself inside a cocoon built of his own doubts, fears, and guilt but emerges as a changed man, free to fly above darkened streets."Batman Begins" is certainly one of the best comic-book movies ever made, primarily because it treats the subject seriously and honestly, but more than that, it is a challenging film that confronts the subject of fear and the nature of heroism head-on. Here is where we see that being a hero doesn't mean having special powers or abilities...a hero is defined by the choices he makes, and by the actions he takes.Truly, a brilliant film.