Batman Begins - Review

“It's not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me.” – A review of Batman Begins. 

Nowadays, if a new superhero film is announced, the excitement and trepidation is palpable. They’re not just mainstream, they have taken cinema by storm, and they attract some of the biggest actors in Hollywood. Take it from me, an ex-cinema employee, who still to this day gets a little stressed when I hear certain theme music from certain superhero films.

There was a time before this though, a time when superhero films were just for comic book nerds, and I really do believe one film in particular was a turning point for the genre. Batman Begins steered superhero movies away from light-heartedness and towards something much darker, and I am so glad it did.

Released in 2005, Batman Begins starred Christian Bale and was directed by the legendary Christopher Nolan. The film is gritty, focusses more on realism than previous adaptions, and has a true psychological depth to it. The film follows Bruce Wayne’s journey from his tragic childhood to becoming the iconic masked vigilante Batman, and does so whilst exploring themes such as justice, fear and responsibility.

Something I love about this film is how believable and emotional Bruce’s journey is. He isn’t fearless; in fact, a lot of this film focusses on his struggles with confronting his fears. From his training to his efforts to save Gotham from evil and corruption, his motivations are believable, and he is a genuinely morally complex hero to root for.

The film boasts an impressive cast too. Christian Bale is a phenomenal Batman, portraying him with a sense of conviction but also of vulnerability. Other incredible cast members include Michael Caine as Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordan and Liam Neeson as Ra’s al Ghul. The chemistry between the cast is incredible and unsurprisingly for such a talented roster, each actor brings so much gravitas and depth to their performances.

Gotham City itself is everything you’d hope it would be. Shadowy colour palettes and moody lighting help to create the bleak sprawl and creates a sense of realism and unease. I really enjoy the focus on practical effects in the city, leaning away from what you would have typically expected from superhero movies at the time, and I love the intensity of action sequences throughout. The score, by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, is orchestral and brooding, perfectly complementing the dark mood of the film overall.

This isn’t just a film for comic book nerds (no shade, I am one). Batman Begins is stylish, heartfelt, broody and intelligent; it really grounds the superhero elements in some very psychological and realistic issues. The performances are fantastic, the cinematography is perfect, and whilst there have been many Batman adaptions over the years, this one was a true turning point for the Batman universe. If you somehow missed it at the time and would like to witness a brilliant, captivating take on the infamous vigilante, I cannot recommend this film enough.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

Share Article: