Movie: Batman Begins

Actors: Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Rutger Hauer, Morgan Freeman and Cillian Murphy
Director: Christopher Nolan, Producer:

Batman movies have always been hit or miss affairs, with the majority of the films falling in the latter category. Ask any fan of the character, and the 1989 Tim Burton directed Batman would be named as the best portrayal of the Dark Knight on the big screen. Burton gave a dark and gothic look to the movie, and this was coupled with the presence of Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton. Unfortunately though, the sequels that followed the movie kept out doing each other in getting worse. The sequence of flops culminated in the abysmally awful and forgettable mess that was Batman and Robin.

So when it was announced that Batman Begins would take the character back to its roots and portray him in the way he was supposed to be portrayed, I was greatly skeptical. Most people already knew the origins of the character, so a retelling could surely not be interesting and absorbing. And surely, it could not outdo Tim Burton’s classic take on the character? But after having watched the movie, I can safely say that it has answered all of my questions in a resoundingly positive manner. It is interesting and absorbing, and in many ways it actually out does the original Batman.

Batman Begins is directed by Christopher Nolan; the man behind the brilliant psychological thriller Memento. He brings a dark psychological adaptation of the Dark Knight to the big screen, taking the viewer into the dark recesses of the character’s mind. It is a most magnificent and rewarding ride. Dennis O’Neil, a long time editor of the Batman comics joins Nolan’s film team and his influence is greatly visible on the way the characters are dealt with.

The film boasts an ensemble cast. Christian Bale takes on the mantle of the Bat and gives a superb performance. He makes the role his own and is riveting throughout the movie. He is joined by Katie Holmes as Batman’s love interest and Michael Caine as the indomitable Alfred, both of whom give memorable performances. The star cast also includes Gary Oldman, Rutger Hauer, Morgan Freeman and Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow. But the one person who makes the movie truly unique is the imperious Liam Neeson, as the mysterious Ducard.

The movie chronicles the journey of the tortured psyche of young Wayne, as he trains himself into what he must become in order to try to assuage his desire for vengeance. The film tries to maintain a good level of reality and the director creates a believable aura around the character. The locales are mesmerizing, from the snow laden Himalayas, to the dark seedy Gotham City.

There is no doubt that this is not only the best movie of the summer, but also the greatest Batman movie ever made, and Nolan manages to take the character further than Tim Burton did. Batman Begins is an engrossing ride, and is a must see for Batman fans and also fans of good intelligent action movies.