- Film Review
- Reviewed By Stella Papamichael
-
4 out of 5
After the taut little thrillers Memento and Insomnia, director Christopher Nolan spread his wings with the gloriously epic Batman Begins. It's a distinctly classy comic-book yarn and Christian Bale imbues the Caped Crusader with beguiling dignity - even in silly pointy ears. Nolan does away with the hyper-stylised visuals imprinted on the franchise by Tim Burton and the knockabout comedy baddies subsequently employed by Joel Schumacher. Instead, he offers a darker, more gripping psychological portrait of Bruce Wayne and his painful evolution into Batman. Bursts of adrenaline-pumping action relieve all the brooding, although the plot sometimes creaks under the strain of so much going on. It also lacks a truly terrifying villain, but a sterling cast (including Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman) stands persuasively for lofty ideals as a climate of fear threatens to bring down Gotham City. Batman Begins swoops you up and doesn't let go till the end. Nolan's sequel, The Dark Knight, was released in 2008.
Plot Summary
Action fantasy starring Christian Bale. When the wealthy parents of young Bruce Wayne are killed in front of him during a street robbery, the traumatised youth becomes bitter and eaten up with a desire for revenge. After a period in the Far East where he learns disciplined fighting skills and the power to channel his rage from the enigmatic Henri Ducard, the now adult Wayne returns to a Gotham City riddled with corruption and embarks on a crusade to cleanse the metropolis of crime under the guise of "the Batman".
Cast and crew
Cast
- Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Christian Bale
- Alfred the butler
- Michael Caine
- Henri Ducard
- Liam Neeson
- Rachel Dawes
- Katie Holmes
- Detective Sergeant James Gordon
- Gary Oldman
- Dr Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow
- Cillian Murphy
- Carmine Falcone
- Tom Wilkinson
- Richard Earle
- Rutger Hauer
- Ra's al Ghul
- Ken Watanabe
- Lucius Fox
- Morgan Freeman
- Commissioner Loeb
- Colin McFarlane
- Mrs Delane
- Alexandra Bastedo
- Dr Thomas Wayne
- Linus Roache
- Flass
- Mark Boone Junior
- Martha Wayne
- Sara Stewart
- Joe Chill
- Richard Brake
Crew
- Director
- Christopher Nolan
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