Fear Itself (#18: Batman Begins)

Confession: I have never read Batman: Year One (trivia! Darren Aronofsky, he of Black Swan fame, was at one point supposed to direct an adaptation of that book). Thus, I have no idea how much our eighteenth film, Batman Begins, differs from Frank Miller's version of how Bruce Wayne came to be Batman. I apologize, Constant Reader. This review will therefore be lacking in comic nerdom.

 

But anyway. How did Batman become Batman? Yeah, we all know his parents got shot in front of him and that's enough to piss anyone enough to turn them into a borderline psychotic crimefighter, but still, you got to get all those wonderful toys somewhere, right? And the know-how to use 'em?

 

Ken Watanabe as Ra's al Ghul

#18: Batman Begins

 

Christopher Nolan gives us a terrific answer: the League of Shadows. Run by Ra's al Ghul (fans of Batman the Animated Series will sorely be disappointed by no Lazarus Pits!) and his trusty second-hand Ducard (Liam Neeson), the League pulls Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) out of a hellhole of an Asian prison and sends him on quest for a special blue flower. Having obtained that flower, Wayne is permitted to train with the League of Shadows, learn how to be (essentially) a ninja vigilante, acknowledge and master his fear, and begin to appreciate the value of theatricality. Without spoiling anything (but really, who am I spoiling it for?), Wayne grows disenchanted with the League of Shadows ethos, returns to Gotham, "borrows" some very useful prototypes which would otherwise be gathering dust at Wayne Enterpries, and adopts the visage of his greatest fear to become the Batman. Battling first ordinary criminals like gangster Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson (an inspired bit of out-of-left-field casting)), Batman is soon confronted with literal insanity in the form of the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy):

 

You wanna see my mask?

Not without its funny moments, but lacking much of the humor of Burton's duology (that's like trilogy but with only two, right?), Batman Begins is undoubtedly a grimmer take on the Batman legacy. In many respects, its more horror than action film, which is thematically coherent with the central idea of fear as driving force in the life of our protoganist and the city he loves. For your run-of-the-mill viewer Scarecrow and Ra's al Ghul aren't at the top of the rogue's gallery of Batman's villians, but they make perfect sense with the theme and ideas Nolan is playing with here. (Not to mention the central role both will play in Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.) 

 

Although Bale is no Keaton (or as I call him, MICHAEL F'IN' KEATON), his sullen, humorless-unless-its-for-show Wayne (admittedly) makes more character sense, especially with the mood and atmosphere Nolan is going for. (Or "for which Nolan is going," for the grammar sticklers). He's capably supported by Michael Caine (Alfred), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), and man-of-many-faces Gary Oldman (Gordon). (I'm forbidden by hometown loyalty to comment on fellow Toledoan Katie Holmes' performance, but let's just say Maggie Gyllenhaal).

 

I'd say more, but I'd rather watch our next movie: THE DARK KNIGHT.

 

Final verdict: KEEPER.