Batman Begins

Batman Begins

Scott Manning
July 5, 2005

Director: Christopher Nolan
Release Date: June 15th, 2005
Rating: PG-13 (for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements)
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When I first saw the previews for this movie, I was not excited. Even though amazing actors such as Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Liam Neeson would dare try to continue a genre that sported such mediocre actors as Val Kilmar, Jim Carrey, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, I just wasn't excited.

But luckily the excitement was there with my fellow movie-goers and we caught a late showing of this movie on opening night. The hype was right-on. The series of Batman movies from the 90's was clearly dead and a new path had been created for one of the most beloved superheroes.

I proclaimed it the best movie of the year and attempted to help others who, like me, just couldn't get excited. Seeing Schwarzenegger play Mr Freeze and use lines like "Chill out" in the neon-crazed Batman & Robin film from 1997 is probably what killed any excitement we could have had for another movie.

But all of that has to be forgotten. The neon-caped crusader of the 90's is dead and the sepia-toned Dark Knight of the new millennium now lives.

Escorting some doubters
Last Saturday night, my wife and I were escorting another couple who were as unsure as I was before seeing Batman Begins.

Sitting in the lobby, my friend said, "Are you sure this is the best movie of the year?"

"Did I say that?"

"You sure did."

I thought about it. I couldn't think of a better movie that had been released this year so far. "That sounds like something I'd say," realizing that I had let the neon Batman creep up on me again and overshadow the movie experience Batman Begins had so majestically created. "Yeah, it is the best movie that has been released this year."

And I was right.

In the beginning...
This movie is the start of something great. Instead of vague flashbacks and sketchy dream-sequences, Batman Begins starts the movie-goer at the very beginning of Bruce Wayne's life. We get to see the transformation of a little rich boy into a superhero.

The actors put forth an all-star performance with a script that actually has inspiration in it. Instead of the same old canned lines, the dialogue is fresh and thought-provoking. You feel the heroes, the villains, and the random people spread throughout a giant conspiracy to destroy Gotham City with Bruce Wayne caught right in the middle. When they hurt, you hurt. When they're happy, you're happy. It's the dialogue and delivery of the lines that makes Batman Begins a move you can experience instead of watch.

After the other Batman movies and all the recent superhero movies, one may think that there is nothing new left. Batman Begins proves this wrong as well with new special effects and concepts.

As the story builds, the cinematography is done as though this were an epic film about a historical figure. The viewer feels as they are watching the life of someone who will do great things.

Throw in a soundtrack that increases the intensity of every scene and you've got a movie that is amazing from start to finish.

In the villain department, you've got some gangsters, some ninjas, a slew of random bad guys from Arkham Asylum, and Scarecrow. While none of them may be the fan-favorite, they give Batman the fight of his life.

It would be nearly impossible to see this movie without any preconceived notions of what to expect, but if you can get past previous versions the genre and open yourself to the new, dark side that this movie offers, you'll realize just as I did that Batman has a long movie career ahead of him.