Batman Begins

This is not a movie that continues the franchise started by Tim Burton's Batman movie of the early 90's. This is a reboot of the Caped Crusader and this movie takes an altogether more dark, almost gothic tone as opposed to Burton's comic book style.

Batman himself is played by Christian Bale who adds a very sombre, brooding tone, in keeping with the movie. He is a chiseled chap, not a nancy-boy and you can really buy into him as the flawed hero. There are moments in this movie where Bruce Wayne/Batman's vulnerability shines through and that's a great testament to Bale. Gotham, Batman's hometown also adds a lot to this movie instead of being just a backdrop. The massively tall buildings and dark alleyways make the humans living there seem almost insignificant and powerless, a metaphor for the struggle against the corruption of the police etc.

In keeping with the current vogue for rebooting movies franchises, we get much more of a backstory. We learn of how Bruce Wayne became the Caped Crusader and of how he fomented his hate of crime. This is done well enough to leave one somehow connected to both him and the other characters, from Alfred the butler to James Gordon the only good cop left in Gotham. This movies plot moves from Batman's early years to his formative training with the mysterious R'as Al Ghul and then onto his return to Gotham. There he faces down his own personal demons and the very real threat of the returning R'as Al Ghul who he left for dead back in Tibet.

The special effects, such as they are, pass you by here and to me that's a good thing. You don't want a movie to become one where the main draw is the effects, just like in Independence Day. In some parts, especially after Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham, the movie does sag in parts but then again this film is not one that you can watch with your brain switch off. Batman Begins is an intelligent action film, but it is also a movie that examines the human condition and deals with topics like loss and revenge. The characters within are pretty much all judged well and highlights for me are Gary Oldman as James Gordon, the weary cop and Liam Neeson as R'as Al Ghul. Neeson adds a very malevolent air of menace to his character which is departure for him as he always seems to play nice guys.

This is a fantastic movie and a brilliant addition to the Batman canon.