Review: Batman Begins (A-)

Batman Begins (2005)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Tom Wilkinson, Michael Caine, Rutger Hauer & Morgan Freeman
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Dark, brooding and unusually serious, Batman Begins is by far the best of the Batman movies. It may also be director Chris Nolan's (Insomnia, Memento) finest film to date.

Batman Begins is one of those rare Hollywood studio films that gets everything right, especially the casting. Chris Nolan made a perfect choice in casting Christian Bale as Batman. Bale has the looks, the brooding manner and best of all, the strange personality that fits the role to a T. Rutger Hauer and Morgan Freeman are excellent in supporting roles and how can you go wrong with Michael Caine as Alfred?

As most know by now, Batman Begins tells the story of how young millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne came to be Batman. The first half of the story focuses intensely on Bruce's travels and travails to find himself. He is drawn into a mysterious group called the League of Shadows but he soon finds that they are planning to destroy Gotham. With the aid of his butler Alfred and his friend Lucius (Morgan Freeman), Bruce Wayne battles the evil crime boss Carmine Falcone, the Scarecrow and ultimately, Al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows.

Batman Begins deals with some familiar Chris Nolan themes, most notably, the feeling of disorientation. The Scarecrow uses a drug laced spray to make people insane with fear. The League of Shadows also try to add a disorienting drug into the city's water supply. The drug makes the citizens terrified, confused and completely panic stricken. This theme of disorientation has been used by Nolan in the Following, as well as his most well known film, Memento. It's a nice touch and Nolan truly puts his own mark on this popular film series.

Well directed, acted and photographed, Batman Begins is a wonderful film that holds up well to repeated viewings. I can't wait to see the next Batman movie, especially if Chris Nolan is again at the helm.