Batman Begins
Batman. That name is one of the most recognizable names in fiction. From his humble beginnings in the comic books, people have always been enamored with him. The first modern big screen adaptation of Batman was 1989's twisted, dark tale from Tim Burton starring Micheal Keaton as the Dark Knight. The second, in 1992, had Keaton return, as well as Burton. The story was even more twisted and odd. The other two movies, Batman Foever and Batman & Robin, were increasingly awful. After the last abysmal movie, DC comics and Warner Brothers took a break, looking for the right story to re-invision the tale.
That right story came the way of David Goyer, writer of the Blade movies, and director Christopher Nolan, who did Momento and Insomnia. And the new Batman? Christian Bale, probably best known from 2000's American Psycho.
The tale this time around would focus on a part of Bruce Wayne's life that no one else had chronicled. The exact events between his parents getting killed and him becoming Batman. It details his training at the hands of Ra As Ghul and Henri Ducard in the Himalayas. He is being wooed by the League of Shadows, and by the time he finishes his training, the ask him to join them in destroying the city of Gotham. He refuses, and destroys the temple and kills Ra As Ghul. After forming an attatchment to Ducard, Wayne saves the man's life.
Bruce heads back to Gotham, intent on saving the city he loves. He takes control of his father's company, and sets up camp in the caverns underneath his father's mansion. His father's manservent, Alfred, helps him, but encourages him to be the playboy he should be. At Wayne Enrterprises, he befriends Lucious Fox, head of R&D. He picks up gadgets like the utility belt, the Batsuit, and of course, the Batmobile.
As the movie progeresses, we learn that a psychiatrist is setting patients free, and that psychiatrist is in cahoots with the League of Shadows. He moonlights as the Scarecrow, and has plans to put the whole of Gotham under his spell. This includes Wayne's old flame Rachel and an up and coming police detective named Gordon.
As Batman closes in on the Scarecrow, he also meets up with Ducard, who is actually Ra As Ghul. In a fantastic chase and a spectacular confrontation with Ducard, Batman finally destroys Ducard and saves Gotham. For now.
Yeah, this movie has restored my faith in Warner Brothers and the Batman franchise. It rocked in all the right places, and Bale was fantastic as the Dark Knight. He was intense, and took the role seriously. The rest of the cast was way too good to be true. Micheal Caine as Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucious Fox, Katie Holmes as Rachel, Gary Oldman as Gordon, Liam Neeson as Henri Ducard, Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow. It has started the story in a way I couldn't have imagined, and set up nicely for the second chapter, as it were. By starting anew, thewy have opened the possibility for a new Joker, new Riddler, new Two-Face etcetera. I'm looking forward to the next chapter, and looking forward to seeing Bale grow as the Batman.
7 out of 10.
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