An Honorable Beginning
Batman Begins
Cast: Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson
Director: Christopher Nolan
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And so it begins... packed with story and balance between dialogue and action, this latest iteration "starts" the series off with a bang.
When we first meet Bruce Wayne (Bale) he is far from Gothum and rotting in a dirty prison. He also takes on a handful of thugs, apparently just for kicks. Well, this sorry state of affairs is brought to a halt when the mysterious Ducard (Neeson) pays a visit and springs the young millionaire from the joint. He gives Bruce a puzzle he can't refuse, and soon he is high atop the mountaintop learning how to be a silent killer.
The training comes to a halt when Bruce learns something disagreeable, and he hastens back to Gothum. He is met by Alfred (Caine), loyal even after all these years. Bruce then, for reasons of his own, takes up the fight against crime, sometimes against the wishes of his old friend (Holmes), who is now assistant DA.
The story, after some backtracking into Bruce's past, moves along briskly, detailing a threat to the entire City. Batman to the rescue! The motivation for said chaos may be a bit batty (of course the main bad guy is certainly insane), but the movie doesn't really need a solid plot to move from one action scene to another. It does better than most, certainly.
Overall this a solid number, with Bale doing a fine job as the brooding hero. Both Caine and Morgan Freeman lend a touch of gravitas, and Neeson always shines as a strong but introspective force. This is a good find for all Batman fans, and darn good for just action-loving folks.
Batman Begins In The News
No Oscar Hope For Batman Installment - October 2005 |
