How it should have been!! (Batman Begins (2 DVDs))

Member Name: MrTink12

Product:	Batman Begins (2 DVDs)
Date:	30/12/06 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Finding out about the Batman character, some great acting on display

Disadvantages: Fast fighting scenes

This is a reboot of the Batman series, and to be considered separate from the previous four Batman films. Batman Begins is all about focusing on the origins of the Batman character. It stars Christian Bale in the lead role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film was directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento (2000)), and scripted by Nolan along with David S. Goyer. Initially it was released in cinemas June 2005.


-------- What’s the film about? --------
As a child Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of both his parents by a mugger. Years later he has been imprisoned to gain an understanding of the criminal mind, but is released after a visit from the mysterious Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson). As a member of the vigilante ninja group ‘League of Shadows’ Ducard, lead by Ra’s Al-Ghul (Ken Watanabe), trains Wayne. Being a man with principles Wayne refuses to put to death a murderer, and returns to Gotham City. Wayne’s main objective is to restore justice in a decaying city, and discovers he can do this only as a man dressed like a Bat.


--------My opinions--------
It was an highly gratifying experience finding out the reasons how and why Wayne becomes Batman. Having never read the comics, and with the previous films not examining this issue I had no idea.

Some of you may be used to films, which rely heavily on CGI (Spider-Man is a great example). Nolan chose to use hardly any CGI, which really adds to the authenticity of the film. Overall the visual look of the movie is very impressive indeed. Gotham City really does look like a bleak, dark, and scary place to live. The film might be 2 hours 20 minutes in length, but it does not feel long by any means.

One criticism I do have of the film is that during the fighting scenes it was hard to tell who was getting hit. Even so this was a deliberate technique used by the filmmakers to highlight how hard it would be for those who attempt to tackle Batman. Thus I am sure others will really appreciate it.


--------The acting performances--------
There is a great cast on offer in Batman Begins, and thankfully they (nearly) all deliver the goods. It is very interesting how the film shows different sides to Wayne’s character; guilt over his parents’ murder, pretending to lead a playboy life with a woman on each arm, and a man determined to tackle a city embedded with corruption. Bale is a fine young actor who manages to successfully pull off each facet of the character he plays. Whilst wearing the Batman suit his voice is sufficiently menacing, ensuring viewers believe this is a crime-fighting vigilante. Michael Caine, as we now come to expect from this experienced and highly praised actor, is excellent as Wayne’s loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth.

Wayne needs some assistance to become the Batman character, and this comes in the form of scientist Lucius Fox played by Morgan Freeman. Once again Freeman provides a faultless acting performance. Katie Holmes who plays childhood friend of Wayne, Rachel Dawes, does a competent job. Nonetheless the interaction between Bale and Holmes does lack chemistry, and their scenes together can feel a little pointless. In an unusual good-guy role for Gary Oldham, he plays Gotham City’s only honest cop, Lt. Jim Gordon, splendidly. Rutger Hauer has a small role as Earle, which is best described as decent. Obviously if you want to see an astonishing performance by this actor, you should watch Blade Runner (1982). As you may expect Batman Begins is not short of villains. There is Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy), as well as mob leader Carmine Falconi (Tom Wilkinson). The former is performed in particularly disturbing manner when Crane unleashes the evil ‘Scarecrow’.


--------Final comments--------
Batman Begins feels like a proper movie with character development and excellent acting, which thankfully is a complete opposite to the ‘lets make this as camp as possible’ Batman & Robin (1997) film. Thus I would recommend the film to all kinds of people, from those who know nothing about Batman to fans of the comic books. Additionally the DVD is not all that expensive, costing just £4.99 (excluding deliver) from amazon.co.uk. We can all look forward to the sequel (‘The Dark Knight’ due 2008), as the franchise seems to be in safe hands with Nolan directing.

Summary: Excellent, well made movie!