(Credit: www.impawards.com)

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Cast:

Christian Bale……….Bruce Wayne/Batman
Michael Caine……….Alfred Pennyworth
Morgan Freeman……….Lucius Fox
Gary Oldman……….Jim Gordon
Katie Holmes……….Rachel Dawes
Liam Neeson……….Ducard
Cillian Murphy……….Dr. Jonathan Crane
Tom Wilkinson……….Carmine Falcone
Rutger Hauer……….Earle
Ken Watanabe……….Ra’s Al Ghul

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Syncopy production. Written by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Based on the D.C. Comics characters created by Bob Kane. Running time: 140 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements).

In Rob Reiner’s coming of age film Stand By Me, characters Teddy and Vern have a scene where they debate who would win in a fight between Mighty Mouse and Superman. Vern thinks Mighty Mouse has a decent shot. Teddy dismisses his claim citing, “Mighty Mouse is a cartoon. Superman is a real guy. No way a cartoon could beat up a real guy.” Well, Superman may be a superhuman superhero, but he is definitely not a “real guy.” But superheroes have the unique ability of captivating comic book readers, and leaving them clamoring for more.

Comic books, like mystery novels or serialized works, succeed only if the reader believes in the book’s protagonist and his development with each new story. The key to comics is the “origin story.” Most origin stories follow a simple formula: a character is affected by some personal tragedy and acquires uncanny abilities, which exceeds those of normal people. Dealing with feelings of trepidation, he overcomes self-doubt and decides to use his newfound powers for the benefit of mankind.

Everyone has a favorite comic book hero. Okay, maybe not everyone. There are some who don’t believe in guys who have a chiseled physique or who wear skin-tight latex. Spider-man is unique because he is a working class hero who tries to make ends meet. Superman was a hero at birth. He masks his superhuman abilities by disguising himself as impish Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent. A total role reversal when compared to the alter egos of Spider-man, Daredevil, or Batman.

Batman. Now there is a superhero people can relate to. Unlike the already mentioned superheroes, Batman has no special powers. He’s a martial arts expert and a detective who just happens to be born into wealth. As a child, the untimely deaths of his parents compelled him to become something more than Bruce Wayne, prince heir to Wayne Enterprises. As Batman he is a symbol who vanquishes the darkness that cowers in the back alleys of Gotham.

With Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan breathes new life into the franchise director Joel Schumacher single-handedly destroyed with Batman and Robin. It has been eight years since that calamitous film, and the time is just right to revamp Batman’s mystique. In doing so, Nolan, along with writer David S. Goyer, redefine Batman’s origin by examining Bruce Wayne’s grief-stricken soul.

Beginning in some Far East prison camp, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is the prototypical “whipping boy.” He endures the pain from other prisoners as part of his research in understanding the criminal mind. Like Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey, Bruce’s journey is some self-fulfilling prophecy. By exploring the darkness inside us all it foretells Bruce Wayne’s rite of passage; a righter of wrongs who craves justice in an unjust world.

This man who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men may sound like a vigilante, but his purpose is not revenge. That idea is illustrated in Bruce’s extensive training sessions under the tutelage of the enigmatic Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson). Together Ducard teaches him sword-fighting techniques; how to engage numerous opponents without apprehension; and tries to enlist him in an unscrupulous entity known as the League of Shadows.

When Bruce refuses to kill someone acknowledged as a murderer to obtain membership, his mentor becomes the enemy. Ducard may consider his student’s compassion for others a weakness, but it is the only characteristic that keeps Bruce from becoming like them. Returning home after a seven-year absence Bruce Wayne sets into motion a chain of events that leads him to become the “legend” his teacher once envisioned.

By exploring both sides of the coin – the murder of his parents and fear of bats – we get the complete origin of The Dark Night character. Both situations have been referred to many times in the four previous Batman films, but never to the extent of this incarnation. Here the story takes precedence over grappling hooks and other gimmickry. Besides, Batman isn’t unveiled until an hour into the feature; again adding to the importance to the character and the story.

If Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer are to be commended for reestablishing the Batman mythos, so should the casting directors. Lately, comic book casting has been near perfection. But a stroke of luck can play a role, as well. For instance, if Mission: Impossible 2 hadn’t suffered production delays, Dougray Scott would be referred to as Wolverine, not Hugh Jackman. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Christopher Reeve sporting a large “S” on his chest. The same goes for Mickey Rourke as Marv in this year’s Sin City and Jackman as Wolverine.

Christian Bale is the true embodiment of Bruce Wayne and Batman. And he stands tall, too. Next to Adam West at six-feet two-inches tall, Bale is the only other actor who represents Batman’s correct height as depicted in the comics. Eerie and strange, indeed. He’s not an actor playing Bruce Wayne and his alter ego with the same approach. A distinction is clearly evident. Beneath the mask he is an avenging angel; as Bruce Wayne he is a chauvinistic playboy much to the chagrin of Gotham tabloids.

In the city of Gotham, Batman has to contend with crooked elected officials and dirty cops who signify the alleyways and gutters they supposedly protect and serve. They are but a minor inconvenience to Batman. In this superhero tale he must confront a cruel and unusual psychologist, Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy). His plan is to taint the water supply of Gotham with a poison that when in gaseous form causes widespread panic.

Using the city streets of Chicago as his backdrop, Nolan, with the help of designers and artists, has finally given Gotham that “real” quality it sorely lacked in the previous films. The set design in Batman Begins is urban based. Everything from Wayne Manor to Arkham Asylum is authentic, addimg to the realism. Gone is Tim Burton’s gothic interpretation of Gotham and Joel Schumacher’s hackneyed creations of criminal hideouts.

Christian Bale’s performance may lead the film, but he is only as strong as his supporting cast. Not to worry, the casting for this film trumps all preceding Batman tales. Body language and tone play a big role in defining each character. Take Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon. While he has been tempted many times before to take a bribe, Gordon chooses not to prostitute himself to make a quick buck. As it is, he is the only honest cop in all of Gotham. He fights the good fight, but he can’t do it alone. After years on the force his face has waned; age has got the better of him. With Batman’s befriending, the two share the same goal: to rid the scum in Gotham’s streets. Working together they establish a critical relationship that is finally given substance. So forget about Commissioner Gordon’s role from the campy TV show.

Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman in their roles chew the scenery with great appeal. As butler Alfred Pennyworth, Caine’s dry sense of humor plays out during the film. It’s justified, though. Since he cleans up after Bruce Wayne, he should be entitled to the best one-liners. After his parents died, Alfred did his very best at raising young Bruce. The result: great chemistry between Bale and Caine.

Morgan Freeman plays Lucius Fox, the scientific genius who develops experimental weaponry for Wayne Enterprises. James Bond may have Q, but Batman has Fox. Freeman is great as always. This guy could be reading a phone book and audiences would be enthralled. Like Alfred, Fox understands Wayne’s motivation for wanting to fight crime. So, he supplies him with gadgets, body suits, and the “Tumbler”; basically a Hummer experiencing roid rage. Again, the chemistry he has with Bale is evident on the silver screen.

The main goal for director Nolan was to tell a story about Batman where he seemed real. In doing so, he knew to place emphasis on the hero instead of the villains. Still, villains like Scarecrow (Murphy) and gangster Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) add to the cavalcade of criminals Batman must face.

Batman Begins is one of the few superhero tales that proves that a great character and story can easily surpass those loaded with special effects. My thanks to Christopher Nolan whose direction of Memento and Insomnia laid the groundwork for a Batman film that is both dramatically fulfilling as it is entertaining.

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