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Beginning at the height of Wayne Enterprise and its multi-billionaire
family, “Batman Begins” depicts the comfortable lifestyle of the
young Bruce Wayne that is quickly undermined by the sudden death
of his parents’. A terrifying childhood experience lingers in
Bruce’s memory and he continues to connect his fear and in deed
blame his fear for the very cause of his parent’s deaths. As Bruce
sinks into deeper seclusion under the guidance of his faithful
butler Alfred (Michael Caine), Gotham’s golden era begins to wane
under corrupt forces with sinister power ploys in mind including
the new head of Wayne Enterprises, CEO Earle.
As Bruce (Christian Bale) matures he develops a deeply rooted
hate for the man who killed his parents, the latest criminal up
for trial whose case is being handled by none other than his child
hood best friend Rachel (Katie Holmes). After the criminal is
set up and murdered before Bruce’s eyes he abandons his family
name and his birth city, opting to travel the world and explore
the philosophies of the criminal masterminds and villains.
Landing himself in a lockdown prison somewhere in Asia, Bruce’s
quest to understand the criminal mind is enhanced by his crime
saturated environment. But when a man by the name of Henri Ducard
(Liam Neeson) enters the picture, Wayne is bailed out of prison
pending he seeks refuge and training under the protection of underground
leader Ra’s Al Ghul. Learning the ways of the ninja, the warrior,
etc. Bruce develops a deadly combination of defense and fighting
philosophies that are to be used as a mode of justice avenging
the evil and vice of the world. But Ra’s Al Ghul’s radical plan
borders on criminally insane and Bruce flees Asia and returns
to his hometown to try to save it from its forecasted doom.
Imbibing himself in the persona of “Batman”, Bruce Wayne begins
to construct from scratch the confines, artillery, transportation,
even costume of his heroic counterperson. With the help of Alfred
and his multi billion dollar assets Bruce quickly gets his crime-fighting
scheme up and running. Meanwhile his beloved friend Rachel is
vulnerable out on the streets where her idealism provokes trouble
with the powerful villain of Gotham city, Carmine Falcone (Tom
Wilkinson).
Another villain enters the picture under the guise of a psyche
ward doctor, Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy). In cahoots with
an unnamed villain of superior terror, Crane is directed to stage
the scene for Gotham’s destruction via the intoxication of the
city’s water supply with a potent hallucinogenic whereby its effects
will render the society in a paranoid frenzy that will prompt
them to destroy one another until no one remains alive. Unleashing
his fury, Batman races the clock to save Gotham before it’s too
late.
A surprise visit from an old acquaintance proves to be a rather
tedious set back. With only the alliances of his butler, a noble
cop Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Wayne Enterprise’s Tec employee
Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), Batman fights against the good and
the bad to prove his name in a doomed city.
“Batman Begins” is a special effects wonder. Every scene drips
with the brilliance of modern day technology ad its ability to
enhance the visual splendor of a film. The special effects played
an integral role in bringing to life the fantastic imagination
that surrounds the creature of Batman. Detail to setting backdrops
and the tight interwoven connections of storyline and setting
helps solidly connect the film to its sequel predecessors.
The cast was absolutely top notch. From altered accents to vocal
pitch alterations actors like Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and
Tom Wilkinson shine in their roles. Morgan Freeman brings a witty
banter and lighthearted relief to the serious content of the film
and Katie Holmes plays the fragile idealist to a “T”. Liam Neeson
also did a remarkable job with his character whose ambiguity was
central to the film’s surprising elements.
Perhaps what is most interesting about “Batman Begins” is the
humanity of the characters. In Bruce the audience sees the clear
struggle of a man attempting to become something more. In the
sequels Bruce Wayne is comfortable with his role as Batman, but
this film brilliantly conveys that lingering tension of a man
conflicted by his double persona. Moreover, whereas the sequels’
villains tended to be mystified and mythical, the villains in
this film are much more psychological based and grounded in reality.
As opposed to frightening the audience with visual displays of
the villains uncanny ‘being” (The Joker, The Riddler, The Penguin,
Ice Man), the villains of “Batman Begins” torture the psyche by
literally plunging into the primal fears of man and allowing him
to invoke his own nightmares.
Some of the best scenes involve Bruce’s transformation from man
to creature. A lot of attention went into depicting the physical
and psychological transformation that his character underwent
to completely immerse himself in the new role of city hero. These
scenes are also fundamental in depicting the strengthening of
the bond between Alfred and Bruce Wayne that plays a central role
in all of the sequels.
In short, if you haven’t seen it yet, see it. If you haven’t
seen the others, it is of no importance. The film is designed
to predate the others in content and brilliantly sets up the transition
to the following film, “Batman” starring Michael Keaton and Jack
Nicholson. Whereas the following sequels had a tendency to wane
in content development from time to time, “Batman Begins” emerges
as a solid prequel that does justice to the lasting reputation
of the story of Batman and all his mythical crime fighting scenarios.
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BATMAN
BEGINS... THE ACTION REVIEW 
