Humble Origins

Ever watch a hero movie and think to yourself, “Why did they gloss over the origin story? I want to know more?” The answer is, of course, running time. Thankfully, in BATMAN BEGINS, what is normally a five minute montage in the first act of a heroic epic is the whole movie here. What’s great about David Goyer’s foray into Gotham City is that he sets up a cool, modern little universe that makes this Bruce Wayne more accessible than those that have gone before. It’s the kind of world a fan might expect Batman to live in. No florescent lights. No glow sticks. No neon paint. No nipple-sporting body armor. Jesus Marimba! Finally, the Batman has come back to Gotham City.

The Good Guys

It’s obvious Goyer and Christian Bale want to gives us not only a Batman we can root for and a Batman we can believe in, but a Batman we can believe. The technology he uses to fight crime here is akin to the off-the-shelf do-it-yourself arsenals the A-Team used to cobble together, if a bit more on the high-tech side. The nature of his internal conflict is more fleshed out…we learn more about the young Bruce Wayne, where he went to learn to fight evil. And who taught him to. But getting too far into that would ruin your enjoyment of the film. So let’s talk about characters.

Micheal Caine gives spirit to the normally rigid butler Alfred who is Bruce Wayne’s companion and domestic servant. Caine brings levity and a sharp affection to the role, which gives him great connection with Christian Bale on-screen. Complementing that relationship is Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, a little-known character that runs Waynecorp in Bruce’s absence. Like Caine, Freeman is a humorous voice of reason that helps brighten what could have been a dour script. And Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon (see, he’s not Commissioner yet…isn’t that cool?) gives an understated performance that shines in its simplicity.

As for Christian Bale, well, it’s obvious he’s into playing the Batman in a way that is his own. He’s loyal to the character, he isn’t too aloof (ie Clooney), or too campy (a la Kilmer)…he just is. This is the starting point for Batman. That much is clear. And this is a great jumping off point for a new franchise.

The Villains Of The Piece

What are the problems?

Katie Holmes is out of place. We don’t really care if she lives or dies, no matter powerfully she pouts her way through courtroom battles and riots. And I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t see the ghost of a floor-pounding Tom Cruise in my mind‘s eye whenever she entered a scene. Distracting.

We don’t get to see nearly enough of the Scarecrow, who has real potential to be a very frightening bad guy. One of the few mistakes Goyer makes is giving almost no reference to Dr. Jonathan Crane as he was written in the comics, though Cillian Murphy (remember him with the shaved head in 28 DAYS LATER?) gives a capable performance to sure. Ra’s Al-Ghul is little more than a throwaway villain for most of the story. The plot gets a little convoluted because of the tale having to serve so many masters (lots of characters, multiple conflicts, flashbacks, etc.) But if Goyer’s biggest sin is trying to pack in too much story, this is a trespass easily forgiven. The balance between explosions, interior conflict, interesting characters, and the exploration of what makes a man a myth is excellent.

A Hero Born Again…

BATMAN BEGINS blows its predecessors away…for the most part. Call me nostalgic, call me unfair…but so far, nobody has beaten Mssrs. Burton, Keaton, and Jack in BATMAN. The first one is just so…quotable. It even overcomes its own ludicrous Prince score. So strong. So original in its portrayal of the Batman’s universe. What this new film doesn’t do, thank heavens, is make a mockery of the Batman mythos as BATMAN FOREVER, BATMAN AND ROBIN, and (Ack! Thppthh! Hairball!) CATWOMAN did.

BATMAN BEGINS does not ignore the legacy of Bob Kane...it pays homage to the origins of a character who has captured the popular imagination for decades, and plants the seeds for a fascinating future in the life of a zillionaire who wants justice for all. It’s chock full ‘o interesting details, great characters, intrigue, suspense, and action. With Christian Bale signed on for another outing as the caped crusader, the story can only get deeper, stronger and more seasoned. Just like Bruce Wayne.

BATMAN BEGINS swoops into theaters on June 15, 2005.

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