Batman Begins
A Film Review By Clyde Ayles
GOING BATTY
In 1989 we saw "Batman" starring Michael Keaton. It was a tale of the dark knight, fighting crime alone as he did in the golden age of comics. It was very well done as directed by Tim Burton. After that they had more Batman movies adding Robin and various villains, the worst being Jim Carrey as the Riddler. So they slowly went down hill. Now we have "Batman Begins". This film tells us the origin of the Batman. We all know by now that as a young boy Bruce Wayne saw his parents gunned down by a thug during a robbery. Here we also learn that as a boy one of his biggest fears were bats. These facts are well presented in visual form in this film directed by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN (Memento). As the film opens we find Bruce Wayne in a prisoner camp in an unknown location as he is in training for fighting evil. He then is found by a strange man, Henri Ducard (LIAM NEESON) who becomes his mentor. He teaches Bruce sword fighting and self defense. Then he tries to enlist Bruce into the evil League of Shadows, but when Wayne refuses to kill someone as a form of membership, Ducard becomes his enemy.
Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that Wayne enterprises are run by a corrupt corporate monster (RUTGER HAUER) now Bruce is more eager to fight crime. He is helped by a scientific genius Lucius Fox (MORGAN FREEMAN) as he becomes the Batman; he covers his secret identity as Bruce Wayne by portraying him as a wild millionaire playboy. This disappoints his childhood friend Rachel Dawes (KATIE HOLMES) who is now an assistant D.A. She and Lt. Gorden, later to become commissioner Gorden are faced with a crime syndicate. GARY OLDMAAN, one of my favorite actors, plays Gorden. The crime lord is Dr. Jonathon Crane who's alter ego is the Scarecrow. He has a plan to fill the Gotham water supply with drugs that will drive the population daffy allowing him to rule. Batman's secret identity is shared by the longtime family butler Alfred (MICHAEL CAINE). CHRISTIAN BALE is perfection as Bruce Wayne/Batman. But I have issue with the costume. First, we never really see the full suit. We mainly see the hood. The hood looks as if it came from a cheap 5 & 10 cent store. It just did not fit right. The end sort of sets you up for Keaton's Batman. SEE YA AT THE MOVIES CLYDE
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© 2005 Clyde Ayles