BATMAN BEGINS

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
JULY 18, 2012

“…this is the movie I did not realize I was waiting for, because I didn’t realize that more emphasis on story and character and less emphasis on high-tech action was just what was needed.”

–Roger Ebert, Review of “Batman Begins”

Christopher Nolan has a vision. A superhero genre grounded in reality—no more wacky villains with the same cockamamy tricks and no more flashy theatrics. No, Christopher Nolan wants to breathe life into every character, and though he is not the first director to take a stab at it, he is probably the most successful.

For starters, Nolan’s choice of creating a believable Batman is relatively straightforward since Batman does not have any superpowers besides a harnessed fear of bats and loads of cash. So, “Batman Begins” is an origin story where Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) disappears into Bhutan after failing to kill his parents, and training with the League of Shadows is a perfect way to begin. Led brilliantly by Ra’s al Ghul (Ken Watanabe) and Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), the film’s entire opening is nowhere near Gotham City.

Like any great superhero story, the age-old tale of a split-life runs most of the film’s plot. Bruce Wayne spends his time convincing the public that he is a hotshot playboy during the day and prowling the streets of Gotham at night, masked as the bat, even protecting childhood sweetheart Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) in the process. Aligning with Sgt. Gordon (Gary Oldman), one of the only clean cops left in Gotham, Batman sets his sights on Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), the head mob boss of Gotham.

The supporting cast of Batman helps carry “Batman Begins” (and superhero films, in general) to the next level, placing Michael Caine as the Wayne family butler, Alfred. Caine delivers some of the film’s best dialogue and most memorable lines. Also, Morgan Freeman, as Lucius Fox, a once trusted advisor turned Applied Science Division director, helps supply Bruce Wayne with all the high-tech gadgetry he can get his hands on. Even Rutger Hauer delivers the perfect amount of evil to be believable as the CEO of Wayne Enterprises.

With all these pieces in play, Nolan does a stand-out job connecting everyone in what comes off as a great game of chess. With not just one central villain but several, he introduces characters like Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) and Ra’s al Ghul, who fit right into everyday life, yet have a complete and valid explanation as to why they are the way they are. The streets are gritty, the characters of flesh-and-blood, and with an eventual twist that brings the full film circle, Nolan reveals his sleight of hand with the most remarkable ease.

With spectacular graphics, an engaging story, and visually stunning cinematography, “Batman Begins” set the bar for superhero films and practically marks the turning point in the superhero genre into a household name. However, I feel Christopher Nolan will never receive that credit, despite deserving it (“The Dark Knight” came close). With “Batman Begins” only the start of Nolan’s vision, his future endeavors emote promise.