DVD AND MOVIE REVIEWS

 



 

Batman Begins
by Police Officer Lance

Several years ago I wrote a review on one of the Batman Animated movies and stated the cartoons far surpassed the live action movies. I can finally say that this live action movie breaks even and in my book is the definitive Batman movie that I have wanted to see for approximately thirteen years. Batman Begins is an orgin story and not to be a prequel to any of the other four films. The story begins with a twenty something Bruce Wayne who is in some sort of prison in an Asian colony. The audience sees some of the brutal hand to hand combat that will help Bruce on his journey. We see flashbacks of Bruce's childhood with a young Bruce falling through a hole and the first discovery of the cave. We watch as young Bruce's Mother and Father are savagely gunned down in front of Bruce. Through these flashbacks we begin to see Bruce Wayne's torment and a thirst for revenge. But Bruce is unable to act on that revenge and thus goes on a journey to find a spiritual harmony in his life.

Bruce has a jedi like master in Henri Ducard( Liam Neesom) who trains Bruce like a ninja and begins to build Bruce's humanity back. The second half of the movie deals with Bruce making the weapons, building the suit and becoming Gotham City's protector.

First off, kudos to finding a fantastic director in Christopher Nolen, whose incredible vision in creating a realistic Batman for the screen will assure him a high throne in the fanboy's kingdom. Fanboy writer David S Goyer manages to blend an intelligent script with some dynamic action images. The all star cast is comprised of Michael Caine( Alfred), Ken Watanabe( Ra's al Ghul), Tom Wikerson(Carmine Falcone),Liam Neesom(Henri Ducard), Morgan Freeman(Lusius Fox). Gary Oldman as Sgt. Jim Gordan took this film to another level and made this not a run of the mill comic book movie.

Several years ago, I informed one of my closet friends ( who happens to run this website) that other then myself, Christian Bale should play Batman/ Bruce Wayne and let me just say HE IS BATMAN/BRUCE WAYNE! I knew after I saw AMERICAN PYSCHO that Mr. Bale had what it took to play Bruce Wayne as a shallow self centered asshole with a lot of money.

I read in several magazines the Mr. Bale stated the public Bruce Wayne was as much a mask as the bat mask. Mr. Bale went on to say that when he was in the suit he felt like an animal and wanted to rip someone apart. Let me say that those emotions came through loud and clear.

Cillian Murphy( Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow) and Katie Holmes( Rachel Dobson) had minor parts and did a very good job with the short time they had on screen. I am not real crazy about the fact that Bruce Wayne needs a love interest in every movie and I hope in the next movie that Katie Holmes' character dies and Bruce can concentate on crime fighting.

Finally I have to give it up to Warner Brothers who did the right thing and stayed out of Christopher Nolen's way. Thank You Warner Brothers for not screwing it up , the way you guys did the last two Batman Movies.

This is not your Tim Burton's Batman and it most definitely is not Joel Schumacher's Batman with the nipples or butt shots. This Batman will compare favorably with Superman The Movie, Spiderman 1&2, and the second X-men movie. I think Marvel better watch out because 'DC is back, baby' and I think with the new Superman Movie next summer and a sequel to Batman Begins with the Joker as the main villain in 2008, DC will be the man again.