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As a child, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is deeply traumatized by experiences like falling into a
well filled with bats, and the killing of his wealthy philanthropic parents before his very eyes. He grows up to be a disenchanted person without ideals, living the
meaningless existence of a dissolute billionaire playboy. He wanders around Asia seeking to know about justice and other issues pertinent to him. He is rescued from
prison by a mysterious Ducard (Liam Neeson) who teaches him to grapple with his fears, anger and insecurities as well as his guilt over the death of his parents. He also
trains Bruce to be a fearless and skilled fighter. However, they part ways when Bruce realizes that the ultimate aim for the training is the destruction of GothamCity, the
recipient of his parents' generosity. After seven years of absence, Bruce returns to GothamCity a changed man. With the help of Alfred (Michael Caine) his family's
faithful butler as well as Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a high tech weapons expert, Bruce forms his alter ego Batman to set things right in GothamCity.
Batman Begins provides a prequel to all the other Batman films and TV series earlier adapted from the DC Comics which started the Batman legend in 1939. In this present and best version, Director Christopher Nolan and scriptwriter David Goyer have revitalized the Batman story by emphasizing the formative influences on the super hero, thus giving it some psychological depth. While this great American cultural icon is reinvigorated, he remains a human being with no super powers unlike other comics heroes, for instance,
Spiderman. Armed with high tech gizmos including a specially designed batmobile, Bruce Wayne/Batman with his intelligence, drive, commitment and fighting skills,
becomes the formidable crusader, crime-buster, defender and savior. Christian Bale with his stunning physique and bearing makes an impressive Batman. His fight scenes, all
in the dark, are made exciting by quick editing of a flurry of images, interesting camera angles and some special effects. The cast is a roll call of gifted character actors
who give their best. The photography captures awesome spectacular icescape among mountain ranges. The gradual crescendos of the full orchestra as well as other sound
effects add to the momentum and help build ambiance.
In giving the Batman legend a new approach, the makers of Batman Begins
have invested the film not only with action and super-heroics but also with some food for thought. Like differentiating between justice and revenge (which Rachel does when Bruce takes the law in his hands to kill his parents' murderer). Then there is the idea of the kind of mask one chooses to put on for the world to see. Batman wears a mask. Scarecrow has one, too. Most of us have masks. There is also the notion that our character is defined not by what we say but by what we do which may not synchronize always. There are heartwarming values like loyalty as practiced by the family's butler and the company's high tech man; a cop's honesty in the midst of the corruption among the police; the alertness and the courage to speak out on what is wrong or dubious as shown by the Asst. District Attorney; compassion which Bruce chooses at all cost. Negative values are evident in the dissolute ways of the rich and the distorted thinking of Ducard to destroy a whole city because of its wickedness.
(Date Reviewed: 17 June 2005)
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