Review of Batman Begins (2005) by Gavin M — 13 Oct 2014

"Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.".

Those words from Thomas Wayne in "Batman Begins" carry so much meaning, paving the way for this movie as well as the following trilogy, but also the character's previous cinema history. Batman dropped out of film and TV completely after the abomination that was "Batman and Robin", starring George Clooney as the titular character. This movie is almost universally hated and led to Warner Bros. cancelling more Batman movies. In 2005, "Batman Begins" was released a a reboot for the Dark Knight. Gone is George Clooney as Christian Bale steps into the Batsuit, with a brand new cast, Batmobile, gadgets, a grittier tone and no campiness in sight. Bale portrays a much more troubled Bruce Wayne than any actor before him, not showing the character to be perfect, but flawed as well as strong and intelligent. They show that Batman can not do everything by himself and needs his friends as well, making the movie feel a bit more realistic while getting across a subtle message. This is a much more grounded Batman flick as they give Batman less of an arsenal of gadgets and actually try to explain the science behind the ones he has, also opting to give him more of a tank-like vehicle this time round (which, let's be honest, looks awesome in action). Michael Caine co-stars as butler Alfred, bringing parental wisdom and restraint to Bruce's exploits, while Katie Holmes States as love interest Rachel Dawes. Also in the movie are Gary Oldman as the not-yet Commissioner Gordon, Liam Neeson as a mysterious villain and Cillian Murphy as baddie, the Scarecrow. Murphy's character is legitimately scary at several points in the movie and has a really creepy presence when on screen. When it comes to action, "Batman Begins" succeeds in every level, with realistic choreography and effects to add to the mood and the immersion of the viewer (don't worry, when Batman punches someone, BAM is not going to come up on screen). When there is no action, "Batman Begins" brings a mysterious and intriguing plot, which is guaranteed to have the you drawn in from start to finish, a testament to the pacing of the movie. The soundtrack from Hans Zimmer is also excellent, fitting perfectly into each action-packed set piece or emotional moment in the film. Overall, "Batman Begins" does everything possible right, with a stellar cast, incredible action, an interesting plot and a perfect soundtrack. "Batman and Robin" was a necessary evil for the Dark Knight to fall, as without it, the character may have never risen higher than ever before and we may not have gotten Christopher Nolan's masterpiece.