In director Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins,” we see a new version of the “Batman” saga and witness fast paced action, a villain driving victims to insanity, and a memorable hero appearing as a gothic predator enforcing justice.
Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), has traveled to different parts of the world, hoping to return to the crumbling city of Gotham to avenge his parents’ death and make it a safe place to live. Taken in by Ducard (Liam Neeson), after being held in an Asian prison camp, he is trained to use his own fear against others and to use their fear as a weapon of sheer terror. Asked to join The League Of Shadows (a group of ninja like vigilantes’ that, to Bruce, go too far with their acts), he turns down the offer and makes a blazing escape. After realizing that killing the ones he seeks revenge against does no good, he uses a new strategy of trying to set all of Gotham right so that evil does not flourish. Returning to Gotham where he is welcomed back into his father’s empire, he meets Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), who works as a sort of a military weapons designer and supplies Bruce with all his needs.
In this film, we see Batman as we have never seen him before. The costume is very dark and has more of an armor-like look to it, rather than rubbery as we have previously seen in other films. The logo on his chest is almost unnoticeable, bearing the famous bat shape in the same color as the rest of his suit. The Batmobile lacks its previous appearance and is now a high speed, enormous black tank. The Bat-cave is literally a bat cave. Last but not least, Batman’s costume now includes a set of enormous wings with which he is able to glide great distances.
Christian Bale makes an excellent Bruce Wayne and is able to show the character that Director Nolan was aiming for, especially the psychological journey that Wayne must go on to return to Gotham and become Batman. Frankly, when it comes to playing the Batman character, you really just need a good chin and Bale is certainly qualified in that respect. Michael Cain makes an outstanding Alfred, Wayne’s loyal butler. Caine is a very likeable actor who brings his own humor to every role he plays and is always enjoyed by audiences.
The film’s look is very dark and scarier than any Batman movie we’ve ever seen. The villain is almost minor compared to the other things Bruce Wayne/Batman is up against. Going by the name “Scarecrow”(I won’t ruin it for you by telling you who it is), he wears an old-fashioned potato sack over his head and blows an enhanced hallucinogen at his victims which nearly terrifies them to death. This may sound tough but is nothing compared to the other threats Batman must face.
Bale says he will be doing at least one more Batman film which should be released in 2006 or 2007. Batman fans finally have something to look forward to other than the usual cartoons on Saturday mornings.
Rated PG-13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements. Running time 140 minutes.