*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
Batman Begins is the first of three films about the iconic comic-book superhero, Batman. This film is about how Batman first came to be the famous vigilante he is now. We don't even see Batman until exactly one hour into the film but that's okay. The first scenes of Bruce Wayne training with Ra's Al Ghul, in the organization known as the League of Shadows, are brilliant and full of suspense. Wayne soon leaves and returns to his home town of Gotham where he plans to stop crime and become a vigilante. However, he is the son of Thomas Wayne, a famous philanthropist who owns Wayne Enterprises and is known by the whole of Gotham. Unfortunately, Thomas and his wife, Martha, were shot when Bruce was just a child so he was brought up by their loyal and caring butler, Alfred (Michael Caine). Now, an adult, it's up to Wayne himself to take care of the business his father built but, whilst he's out training in the League of Shadows, he is presumed dead and the enterprise is taken over by Willam Earle. Fortunately, Wayne arrives and takes back his enterprise. This isn't his main concerrn, however. Since leaving the League of Shadows, Wayne has wanted to become a anonymous vigilante so no one will know it's him. This is where Batman comes in. We learn that, as a child, Wayne had a fear of bats. Now an adult, he conquers his fears and bases his superhero identity on the winged creatures.
Like I mentioned earlier, we don't meet Batman until one hour into the film but, when we do, it's an iconic scene where he lifts a drug lord out of a car and snarls "I'm Batman!" Definitely one of the best scenes in the entire trilogy.
Director Christopher Nolan has finally made a Batman film we can all watch without cringing and one that he should be proud of. It's mature and dark much like the caped crusader himself.
Christian Bale is the perfect choice for Bruce Wayne/Batman. He really brings the emotion to the character and makes Batman his own. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job than him.
And with every superhero film, there's a villain. In this, it's psychiatrist, Dr Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy) who mentally scars his patients by using a toxin gas and wearing a mask that resembles a scarecrow, hence his name The Scarecrow. I think he is definitely one of the scariest villains out of the whole trilogy because of the mental images he shows.
Helping Batman to fight the injustice in Gotham is Alfred, who is like a father to Bruce and has cared for him since he was a child. He's always there to protect Bruce and to assisst him in any way possible.
Morgan Freeman appears as a 'Q-like' character, Lucius Fox, who works at Wayne Enterprises and is there to equip Wayne with any gadgets he might need (such as the iconic Batmobile).
Gary Oldman is best known for portraying over-the-top characters but now he has started playing more mature roles. In this, he protrays Sergeant Jim Gordon who cared for Bruce briefly when his parents were shot. Now, many years later, he is still a detective and is unsure of who Batman is or what he plans to do but, by the end, he becomes one of Batman's loyal allies.
And, with most films, the superhero has a love interest. In this, it's Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), who has been friends with Bruce since they were children. However, by the end of the film, Bruce develops feelings for her but she doesn't want to start a relationship with him because of Batman, much to Bruce's dismay.
And, with most films, the superhero has a love interest. In this, it's Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), who has been friends with Bruce since they were children. However, by the end of the film, Bruce develops feelings for her but she doesn't want to start a relationship with him because of Batman, much to Bruce's dismay.
Overall, a great start to the Batman trilogy.
8/10
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