The Knight Soars Into Legend
BATMAN BEGINS

RATING: A

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Wantanabe and Morgan Freeman. Music by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, Edited by Lee Smith, Production Design by Nathan Crowley, Director of Photography Wally Pfister, Based on Batman Created by Bob Kane, Story by David S. Goyer, Screenplay by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer, Produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Larry Franco, Directed by Christopher Nolan.

Rated PG-13, Running Time 140 mins., 2.40 to 1 Anamorphic Scope Aspect Ratio.

With the arrival of the "Blade" and "X-Men" films a few years back, it appeared that a new age of superhero films was upon us. Fresh young directors were given a shot at realizing comic book adaptations as serious pieces of art and drama, not campy summer entertainment. There have been a few misguided efforts in between, but with today's visual effects technology, the comic book characters that have brought us joy over the decades can now be fully captured on the big screen. While many of those hits gave new life to Marvel Comics, DC Comics hasn’t fared so well. Its greatest franchises, “Superman” and “Batman”, were nearly destroyed due to bad sequels. Christopher Nolan, director of such intelligent psychological thrillers as "Following", the "Insomnia" remake and the cult hit "Memento" may seem like an unlikely choice to re-invent "Batman", but then again so was Bryan Singer who went from "The Usual Suspects" to "X-Men". With studios actually listening to the ideas of intelligent filmmakers like Nolan and Singer it seems as if Hollywood is returning to the era of the seventies when an auteur was pretty much left alone with no creative interference from the studio.

Today's high production budgets keep a studio from not completely interfering, but it’s a welcome change to see filmmakers of immense talent allowed to create new visions that respect the material. I'm reminded of Kevin Smith's story where "Batman" sequel director Joel Schumacher told him, "You see kid, it's all about the toys." You're absolutely wrong, buddy. Sure, promotional tie-ins like toys, fast food and print media add to the profits, but the bottom line is that it's all about a good story, not toys. Chris Nolan obviously knows this because with "Batman Begins" he has crafted a bold and visionary piece of comic art that's not just a good comic book movie but a damn fine film, period. It’s not just the best summer movie, but the best film of the year and what I feel to be the best comic book movie ever made. With this film we are in a new age for DC comics and fans of the character have something to feel good about again.

Nolan not only brought his own ideas to the table to redefine Batman, but listened to the hearts of fans, by bringing aboard "Blade" screenwriter David Goyer and loosely basing the story on "Sin City" creator Frank Miller's classic comic series "Batman: Year One." Faced with the impossible task of casting the right actor to play Bruce Wayne/Batman, he has exceeded expectations by choosing fan favorite Christian Bale, best known for his terrifying turn in "American Psycho." The film opens with Bruce Wayne coming to the end of a journey that has brought him across the world. His self-imposed exile from his home in Gotham city is the result of the guilt and anger that has tormented him since his loving parents were gunned down in front of him as a child. He's trained his mind and body in various methods of self-defense, but it isn't enough. Immersing himself in low brow underworld activity to better understand the criminal mind, he lands in a Bhutanese jail where he's approached by a mysterious man known as Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson).

Ducard is a representative of the enigmatic Ra's al Ghul (Ken Wantanabe) the leader of a secret vigilante group known as The League of Shadows, greatly feared amongst the criminal underworld. He's sees great potential in Bruce because of his desire for vengeance and offers to train him to be a force for justice. "You know how to fight six men, I will teach you to defeat six hundred," he proclaims. The training is not just physical, incorporating various forms of combat, but also mental, as Bruce must achieve perfect harmony between his body and mind in order to "turn fear against those who prey on the fearful." To manipulate the fears of others you must first master you're own," Ducard explains as Bruce begins an inward journey to control the rage and guilt that haunt him. He must also confront his great fear of bats, the side effect of a childhood discovery of a cave. Ducard also teaches Bruce that he must defeat his enemies psychologically as well as physically. "Theatricality and deception are powerful agents," he demonstrates with clever tools that Bruce will one day incorporate as Batman.

When his training is complete Ra's al Ghul offers Bruce the chance to lead his army in the destruction of Gotham which has reached its peak of corruption and social disorder. Bruce must first prove his worth by executing a condemned prisoner, but he refuses, choosing to let the man live to face justice at the hands of the law. This is the important turning point in the Batman mythos that resonates to this day. Tim Burton's original Batman film may have been the most successful but it had many flaws, chief amongst them was Batman blowing up a factory of goons instead of bringing them before the law. The decision to use non lethal force is a code that Batman continually refuses to break and it defines him as a character to this day. When Bruce refuses Ra's offer he barely escapes with his life and after a seven year absence returns to Gotham with his new abilities.

Awaiting Bruce in Gotham is his devoted butler Alfred Pennyworth, the man who practically raised him since his parent's death, gloriously portrayed by Michael Caine. Alfred sees a change in Bruce immediately and despite his outrageous ideas for preserving law and justice, he agrees to aid him on his mission because he sees the legacy of his altruistic father within his eyes. "As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol I can be incorruptible," Bruce explains. Returning to his birth right, the billion dollar corporation known as Wayne Enterprises, he discovers that his father's company may not have been left in the right hands. The once philanthropic family business is now teeming with corruption at the hands of CEO Richard Earle (Rutger Hauer.) The ideals of the Wayne family business have been tossed aside in favor of making heavy arms manufacturing its cornerstone.

Bruce sees an opportunity in the company's Applied Science division and recruits the services of scientist Lucius Fox, an old friend of his father's who helped him design and build the city's elevated subway system. Fox's workshop is filled with various tools and weapons designed for non lethal warfare including a set of body armor deemed too expensive to mass produce for soldiers and an interesting tank/car hybrid known as "The Tumbler" that has the ability to travel across almost any terrain. With his new weapons and vehicle Bruce sets out to combat evil and corruption in the city under the guise of a bat, the nocturnal creature of his nightmares. His first target is organized crime boss Carmine Falconi, ingeniously played with a "New Yawk" accent by Oscar nominated British actor Tom Wilkinson.

Falconi rules Gotham with an iron fist, controlling businesses, the police and even the court judge who allowed Joe Chill, the man who murdered Bruce's parents to be set free. Anxious to dig up some dirt on his prey, Batman seeks out Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), the beat cop who offered him solace as a child at the time of his parent's death. Now a Sergeant, Gordon is one of the few honest people left in Gotham, along with Assistant District Attorney Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), Bruce's childhood friend. Rachel was there for Bruce at a time when he was filled with rage and wanted to shoot his parents’ killer dead in an act of revenge. "Justice is about harmony, revenge is about making you feel better," she warned him. Her harsh words and attitude towards Bruce's desires where the right words he needed to re-evaluate his life and purpose. Now her investigation into Falconi's activities has put her in danger, but Batman discovers that his problems are just beginning.

Falconi has been engaging in suspicious activity with Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy) a prominent psychologist and head of the institution known as Arkham Asylum. Crane's unorthodox methods involve the experimental use of a fear toxin he's developed that paralyzes his victims with fear and is enhanced when he dons a burlap sack that makes him appear as a "Scarecrow." Batman barely survives a confrontation with the Scarecrow but quickly discovers that Crane's employer is the most dangerous adversary he'll ever encounter. He plans to use Crane's toxin to destroy Gotham and restore balance to society. He is cunning, intelligent and a man Bruce Wayne thought he destroyed in the Himalayan Mountains: Ra's al Ghul.

"Batman Begins" is a breathless piece of entertainment that takes the comic book genre and filmmaking to new heights. I have not felt this enthusiastic about a film in quite some time. Chris Nolan's vision is not only visually stimulating, but dramatically moving with a humanity beating at the center of it. This is the first Batman film shot in an anamorphic widescreen ratio (as comic book movies should be) and Nolan fills his frame not just with haunting imagery, but incredible performances. I knew this film would work when the top notch cast got bigger and bigger. Just about every actor in this film has either won or been nominated for an Oscar and the fact that they signed on is an example that they trusted Nolan as a filmmaker as well as the incredible screenplay.

Liam Neeson brings forth the warmth and confidence we've know him to exude as a mentor, but there is also a bit of danger beneath his performance that’s completely enjoyable. Ducard becomes Bruce's friend, but he also shares an opposing and destructive viewpoint, one that Bruce finds unacceptable. "Every time a civilization reaches the pinnacle of its decadence, we return to restore the balance." It sounds like cheesy super villain talk, but coming out of Neeson's mouth it’s believable. Neeson's strength as a protagonist is handsomely fortified by Wantanabe, who made a lasting impression in "The Last Samurai" and does so again here; using the power of his eyes and speaking very little dialogue.

Bringing a bit more villainy to the table, it's good to see character actors like Rutger Hauer, Cillian Murphy and Tom Wilkinson in supporting roles that give them more than the average amount of screen time. Hauer oozes a type of sleazy Donald Trump appeal, while Wilkinson feels right at home in the skin of a man who knows the ins and outs of Gotham city. Wilkinson is not only a perfect Batman villain, but the complexities of his character could have fit right into a period gangster picture. There's a sense humor to his menace because he truly enjoys what he does. Then there's Murphy, the young actor that broke out in "28 Days Later” who develops a weapon that could turn Gotham's citizens into the savage zombies of that film. For such a young performer he has a lot of power behind his eyes that makes you question whether this practitioner of psychology is actually the crazy one. "I respect the mind's power over the body; it's why I do what I do.”

Morgan Freeman's role as Lucius Fox is minimal, but he makes every scene count and has the difficult task of conveying the science of Batman. I don't think someone other than Freeman could have made the plausibility of Batman's abilities believable or interesting to listen to like he does. It seemed like a fairytale wish come true that Nolan scored Michael Caine as Alfred, but then again a friend of mine once stated Caine goes where the money is. With the exception of Efrem Zimbalist Jr.'s vocal work on the animated series, Alfred has never been correctly portrayed before. Caine has made the clever choice of playing the role straightforward. Any occasional wisecrack about Bruce's activities is done with intelligence not as a wink to the audience. He may seem rather stiff, but that's exactly who Alfred is -- an English gentleman who often hides his emotions because he’s the moral rock that Bruce depends on.

Another bit of perfect casting is Gary Oldman's Jim Gordon, the only law man Batman feels he can trust and that we know will go on to become the Police Commissioner of Gotham. It's evident from their first meeting that Gordon and Batman are forced to trust each other, but also that they have chemistry. They put themselves on the line for one another because they share a common goal and it's "the beginning of a beautiful friendship." I enjoyed the arc of Oldman's performance and the fact that he's initially not sure about this nut in a bat suit, but realizes he's trying to do the right thing. The most powerful moment they share is their dialogue in the last scene of the film which resonates long after it’s over.

Katie Holmes may seem like a former teen TV star thrust into the role of the damsel in distress, but surprisingly it’s the best female performance I've seen in a superhero film in many years. I truly hope that her current media coverage as the new arm candy of a major Hollywood actor doesn't cause audiences to fail to notice what a talented performer she really is. Let's not forget the credibility she established with the mature performances she gave in "The Gift" and the indie favorite "Pieces of April." She has the difficult assignment of being the moral center of the film and the impressive determination behind her ideals makes the hero's evolution more realistic. I enjoyed how she cuts a younger Bruce Wayne down to size when she discovers he plans to shoot his parents' killer by slapping sense into him. "You're father would be ashamed of you."

Linus Roache is an actor vaguely familiar to American audiences but his brief appearance as Bruce's father Dr. Thomas Wayne carries emotional resonance. From the moment he comforts his son after suffering a broken leg from his fall in the bat cave to the moment of his death, you understand why Bruce felt tremendous guilt over the loss of his father. Here was a man who was a philanthropist that nearly bankrupted his fortune in an effort to aid the people of Gotham during a financial depression. He even found time to work as a doctor at a hospital as well as be a loving father and devoted husband. What's incredible about Roache's performance is that you feel his presence throughout the film long after his death.

The incredible performances are backed up by some amazing action sequences that are ingeniously designed with realism as well as imagination. The new Batmobile may look a little rough around the edges, but it’s more practical and threatening than the custom made Corvette with airplane engine from the Tim Burton films. It's showcased beautifully in an incredible action sequence that leads to a police chase across rooftops and over a freeway. The fighting style of Batman incorporates a close quarter combat style known as Keysi that's impressive but not showcased very well because of tight camera angles. Still, there is a method to the fighting and it shows that Batman is not completely invincible.

What I enjoyed most was the science of Batman, the explanation of how all of his tools worked. His cowl is made of hard graphite and the body armor he employs is a prototype survival suit designed to withstand bullets as well as electrical weaponry. $300,000 was deemed too expensive for Wayne Enterprises to spend on each suit for soldiers, but its right up Bruce's alley. There’s also a bit of wry humor in the fact that Bruce and Alfred have to make separate orders for many of the custom made pieces of his costume in order not to attract attention. The costume itself turns Bale into a winged shadow and his facial features often disappear within it. We always see Batman using cables and grappling hooks to travel across rooftops, but his ability to soar is given a dose of reality with the material his cape is made of. The cape is composed of something Freeman calls 'memory cloth' a material that alters its shape when it receives an electric current from a device in Batman's glove. To be realistic all of this is really science-fiction nonsense, but the fact that the filmmakers thought it through shows their commitment to make everything as real as possible. None of this would work without a good story to back it up.

The heart of Batman is the journey of Bruce Wayne to confront his internal demons and evolve into a force for justice. He becomes a symbol for hope and law & order in a city that exists in shadow literally and judicially. The problem is he dresses up like a bat to do it. Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne speaks the truth when he jokingly states that “A man who dresses up as a bat clearly has issues,” but I can’t think of a single actor who could convey the drama of the character’s existence and his physicality. Batman is crazy; he’s a loon, a schizophrenic that grew out of the manic depressive dreams of creator Bob Kane.

Bale plays the character on various levels as we see him evolve from a frustrated young man, to an eager pupil, to a vigilante and eventually a dark avenger for the people of Gotham. He also has a knack for being humorous when he has to be, particularly when Bruce Wayne must act as a drunk and spoiled playboy. Even his vocal performance, the animalistic low octave his voice drops to as Batman is impressive. It’s amazing that in such a short time he was able to pack on the 63 pounds he lost to play an insomniac in “The Machinist” plus an additional 20 pounds of bulk to convincingly be a superhero. He has been the fan favorite for this role and although he was once rumored to play Anakin Skywalker, I think Batman is the edgier and better written role he deserves. Bale is the center of the picture and he holds it together very well. The previous Batman films made the mistake of having the villains outshine the hero and their outrageous antics ruined the stories and made those films feel dated. The villains here are real, flesh and blood individuals, not colorful and flamboyant show-stopping characters.

Chris Nolan has once again brought onboard his cinematographer Wally Pfister, who shares his roots in independent cinema. They’ve painted a broad canvas and have various technological tools at their disposal, but I was amazed that they decided to stick with realism. Many of the film’s visual effects are practical and there is just the slightest bit of CGI for Scarecrow’s nightmarish visions and the impressive Gotham city skyline which resembles a combination of New York and Chicago. The film is also saturated with a rusty brown color scheme that has a mesmerizing effect on the subconscious. The score composed by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer has no real theme like Danny Elfman’s operatic cues from the original film, but that’s okay. This is the beginning of Batman’s legacy and within this story he hasn’t become completely defined yet. I do wish that Howard had scored the film alone since Zimmer tends to write his music with a bit of that big brass "Bruckheimer" sound.

There isn’t much more I can say about “Batman Begins” and I’ve said a lot. I’ve said a whole lot, but my enthusiasm for something this good sometimes gets the better of me. The film is a cinematic masterpiece that redefines the way movies should be made. Christopher Nolan has crafted a piece of old-fashioned film making that at the same time brings a new flavor to the pot. It’s inspiring and gave me a newfound optimism towards the way movies should be made. Every aspect of the production, from the script, to the casting, photography and editing has been executed like a grand battle plan that was obviously well thought out and done with great care. It’s refreshing to see so many talents come together and show so much respect for the material. Whether you’re making a drama, comedy, action picture, or even a TV commercial, this is the perfect example of how everyone in their respective departments should work together in harmony. I would never have thought this would be my favorite film of the year so far and I’ve seen a lot. Watching the film I couldn’t help but wonder how the late Bob Kane would have felt. I think he would have adored it.