Film Review: Batman Begins

Director: Christopher Nolan

A reboot of the Batman franchise saw Christoper Nolan take over the directing duties in trying to save the franchise after the failure of Batman & Robin in 1997. Nolan was following on from the critical success of Memento (film on my 'to watch list') and does a great job of resurrecting the famous comic book franchise. The tone of the movie is certainly darker and more mysterious than previous versions which adds to the tension and fear within the movie.

Batman (Christian Bale)

The film explores the beginnings of the Batman (Christian Bale) where he is trained as a ninja by the League of Shadows and develops a phobia about bats after falling into an abandoned well. After his training to be a ninja in Bhutan he intends to return to Gotham City to rid the population of the criminal underworld but finds himself tangling with the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy, more fearsome due to his lack of abnormal behaviour) and the people he thought he could trust.

The Batman films along with Inception are the films that have made Christopher Nolan's name as a big blockbuster director and rightly so. The first film in the trilogy really helps us to understand Batman's beginnings as well as what motivates him as a super hero. It is as much about Batman's beginning as it is about him stopping the latest villain threatening to destroy Gotham City.

A young Bruce Wayne with his dead parents

Despite all the positivity there are a few negative points mainly around the casting for me. Michael Caine isn't an actor, he just plays himself and certainly isn't the right person to play Alfred whilst Katie Holmes was a disappointment acting wise as well. There was just no chemistry between her and Christian Bale on screen so you don't feel yourself hoping that they will get together which is a big shame. Bale overall is impressive as the Batman whilst Cillian Murphy and surprisingly Liam Neeson (super moustache) are excellent throughout.

3.5/4 saved a flagging franchise with a dark look at Batman's past.