Batman Begins


The origins of the dark knight are stunningly wrought on celluloid.

Batman Begins stays close to the comic-book roots of the "Dark Knight" and shows us the origins of Bruce Wayne's fears, traumas, and desires to do justice by his parents and by the world. After seeing his parents murdered during hard times in Gotham City, he is raised by the butler, Alfred (perfectly cast with Michael Caine) and spends time drifting around Asia, where an enigmatic avenger (Liam Neeson) takes the now adult Bruce (Christian Bale) under his wing and teaches him his ninja ways.

Bruce refuses to be an executioner, though, and while standing up for himself kills most of his fellow ninjas but saves his master.

Back in Gotham, he winds up creating his Batman persona, with some help from Alfred and a Wayne employee (Morgan Freeman) who give him access to all the paramilitary toys and armor.

Unlike the Tim Burton movies of the 1990s, Batman Begins gives us a darker, more realistic version of the Batman mythology. The cinematography is incredible and Bale is a perfect young Batman. I was not as happy with the casting of Rachel, the maid's daughter who grows up to be an ADA played by Katie Holmes, who should be played by someone equally dark.

[Seen at Chelsea Cinema West.]

Posted: Wed - November 2, 2005 at 01:05 PM        

©