My Review of BATMAN BEGINS

[Gotham Knight]

Holy switch up! Weren’t we promised a Mask of the Phantasm Review? Indeed, however the explanation for this change of plans is that I’m having a slightly difficult time locating my copy of MOTP, so for the moment my fellow Batman fans will have to settle with my review of BATMAN BEGINS.  It’s a tad shorter you might notice than my others.

I know your thinking that as a Burton Batman Fan (I proclaim often my beliefs that the Burton’s contributions are the best film representations of Batman and stand pretty high in the genre) that I am biased. That may be true, but I’ll leave that judgment up to you. However, you’ll see no bashing here. I have little respect for those that repeatedly bash any of the Bat films without at least some coherency or some kind of rounded opinion (except maybe where Batman & Robin is concerned. I won’t hold a bash of that film against anyone.) I can’t stand anyone from either camp that claims to have a monopoly on Batman or the frequent flamers who state proudly, “You have to like ENTER BATMAN FILM HERE to be a TRUE Batman fan.” That said, shall we begin, forgive the pun?

Almost since BATMAN BEGINS shot out onto theater screens, I’ve gone between liking and loathing the film, unable to quite put my fingers on some hidden troublesome aspect about it I didn’t care for. Ultimately, I have to say I have mixed feelings. I have to say I’d be lying if some moments in the film have me gleaming or getting pumped up.

BATMAN BEGINS has a masterful way with story telling. The shockingly authentic way in which goes through the life of Mr. Wayne is astonishing and worth much praises. People like Gordon and Alfred are given the attention they’ve so richly deserved since the first film failed to do so in 89. Oldman, a chameleon as always brings a dimension to Gordon I don’t think anyone else could. Michael Caine is without flaw. Liam Neeson, in my view, provides the artistic backbone of the film.

Christian Bale, however, while probably being the best representation of Bruce Wayne according to comic book lore, fails to impress me as Batman. Having one snarl plastered on his face as he growls, loudly at everyone quite frankly had me holding back involuntary giggles. It works great against enemies, I dug it when the situation called for it, like when he interrogates Flask, however when he grows at Holmes about rattling the CAAGGESS, the giggles return.

I’ll admit I disagreed with the morally uncorrupted, overly idealistic Batman, being a fan of a more disturbed neurotic character (calling Mr. Keaton). I have to say at times it jarred me when he started on about “Gotham can be SAVED.” I’ve always felt like Bale’s Batman was and is far too consumed with the lofty concepts of justice that failed him to represent a realistic portrayal of the Dark Knight. It ISN’T WRONG, but not more realistic than the Burton films in terms of portrayal. He just sometimes felt like an idealist, when its quite clear Batman has always been a realist.  Seeing a truly traumatized man slowly walk back up the path of sanity, tripping up now and again, giving in to that human characteristic that is revenge, proving it was not a easy task by any means fit better to me as a character study of people shattered by terrible life altering events. And another the thing the Burton films did for me personally that Begins didn’t was establish that there is an American Dream, Superman, and an American Truth, Batman (Thank you Bryan Edward Hill for an epic quote,)* Consider the metaphor. Realistically, the differences between those two men are deeper than the fact one has powers and one does not.  And quite frankly, I got a pretty big Superman vibe from Begins’ Bat sometimes.

Batman was created as the antithesis of Superman. Think about it. 

It must be said that Begins does stay true to the comic lore of his rebirth of the 80’s and, forgive me for sounding like Martha Stewart, that’s a good thing too. Thus, no points lost on his portrayal despite my slight disagreement with it.

Visually stunning, sleek and powerful, it is a great Batman film. However, the film finally begins to lose points with me on a singularly important aspect.

BATMAN BEGINS is an over methodical and overly explicit film. I would have fallen in love with it if not for this folly. It can’t seem to go more than twenty minutes without letting me know in vivid dialogue the exact status of character development in a very long-winded speech. There are so many Bat rants in this film they all begin to sound monotonous and the same. It hammers its points about self-realization and fear over and over and over…

….and over again.

I’m anxious to see what THE DARK KNIGHT holds, however until then, the Nolan franchise is number two in my book, or number three if you count the epic animated series. (I promised Phantasm, I’ll give you Phantasm!!)

In the end to be a true batman fan, at the very least, you should APPRECIATE this film, even if it isn’t top of your list.

Final Verdict

B+

Fin.


*"Superman is the American Dream. Batman is the American Truth." Bryan Edward Hill.

[Darth Vader]

Great review. Guess that's enough to hold us over for MOTP.

The only part I'm in disagreement about is the perceived flawnessness of BB's Alfred. I don't know what it is with people, but they find it hard to criticize anything Michael Caine's in... he's a superb actor, and played the part he needed to in Batman Begins, but my gripe lies in the interpretation itself.

I think Batfans can all agree in unison though: Gary Oldman IS Gordon.

[shadowbat69]

I good review, I always enjoy reading them.