“Why do we fall, Master Bruce?” —Alfred Pennyworth
Today’s quick review: Batman Begins. Discouraged by the crime and corruption in his native Gotham, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) ventures around the world in a journey of self-discovery. He finds the purpose and training he needs under Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of a shadowy order of assassins. Newly emboldened, Bruce returns to Gotham and dons the persona of Batman, a nocturnal vigilante who strikes fear in the hearts of criminals.
Batman Begins is a superhero movie from director Christopher Nolan and the first entry in the Dark Knight trilogy. Batman Begins offers a new take on the classic DC character, weaving Batman’s origin into a modern crime drama. The film is impressive from start to finish, with a well-constructed plot, a great cast, tense writing, and an outstanding soundtrack from Hans Zimmer.
Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne, the wealthy heir to Wayne Enterprises. The murder of his parents at the hands of a mugger sends him down a dark road, culminating in his lengthy sojourn from Gotham. The same passion drives him to don the mask of Batman in an effort to take the fight to the criminals who run Gotham. This incarnation of Bruce Wayne is surprisingly nuanced, and Bale plays all parts of the role well, from the troubled young man to the gravelly-voiced superhero to the spoiled playboy he pretends to be.
More importantly, Bale is backed by a phenomenal supporting cast. Katie Holmes plays opposite him as Rachel Dawes, a childhood friend turned city prosecutor. Michael Caine plays Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce’s butler and confidant. Gary Oldman plays Jim Gordon, one of Gotham’s few good cops. Morgan Freeman rounds out Bruce’s allies as Lucius Fox, a loyal employee of Wayne Enterprises who provides Bruce with crime-fighting gadgets.
The villains are no less distinguished. Cilian Murphy plays Jonathan Crane, a demented psychologist who dons the supervillain persona Scarecrow. Tom Wilkinson plays Carmine Falcone, an untouchable mob boss. Ken Watanabe plays Ra’s Al Ghul, Ducard’s ruthless mentor. The supporting cast delivers great performances all around, enriching the film’s plot and atmosphere immensely.
Watch Batman Begins if you are in the mood for a dark, tense superhero movie with excellent execution, memorable perfomances, and a well-handled dose of realism. With some allowances for the Batman’s gadgets, Batman Begins is as realistic as most crime dramas, offering an in for non-superhero fans without betraying the spirit of the character.
Batman Begins also holds up well against the spate of superhero movies it helped launch. Though not as flashy as some of its successors, Batman Begins has incredibly solid fundamentals that are easy to overlook on first watch. It is a must-see for fans of the genre and an excellent choice for anyone who appreciates crime dramas, tight writing, and action.
Skip it if you dislike even the more realistic side of the superhero genre or if you are looking for a lighter take on the character.
8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 to 8.5 for having the complete package.