Neeson Month - MIni Review: Batman Begins

It’s Neeson Month

So, let’s talk about Batman. Batman is my favourite DC character, in case the fact that reviewed stuff with him in it more often than more-or-less anything isn’t a clear indication. And I think the Dark Knight is the best live action Batman movie. Combining all the elements I love about the character, reasonably grounded with emotional gut-punches to boot. The Dark Knight Rises that came after I also enjoy, in spite of its many flaws (plug) but today we’re going to be talking about Batman Begins, the one I like the least of the 3.

Released in 2005, this movie was a critical success with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though its profit was modest, I suspect possibly by fans reluctant to watch a reboot after the disaster that was Batman and Robin, the movie did make a modest profit and paved the way for a series that grossed over $2bn overall

So why is this movie my least favourite movie of the Dark Knight Trilogy, here are my thoughts.

So the overall plot of the movie revolves around Bruce Wayne coping with the death of his parents and going through a journey trying to understand the criminal mind, this path leads him to Liam Neeson, playing Henri Ducard… or is it Ra’s al Ghul? They train but when Bruce discovers what the League of Shadows (because League of Assassins didn’t focus-test well) are up to, he quits and burns the place down.

So… you might notice a problem with this first part of my summary. Batman isn’t in it. It’s almost an hour before Batman appears on screen. I get the focus on Bruce’s training as Batman, especially since it also introduces our villain but they could’ve intercut it with some Batman action.

Anyway, after another age and a half is spent introducing us to all the supporting cast, Alfred, Gordon, Lucius Fox, Rachel, Falcone, the Scarecrow, Loeb, Flass, that kid played by King Joffrey and no sign of Harvey Dent whatsoever, we find out that Ra’s al Ghul is continuing his plans to destroy Gotham believing it to be lost to corruption and beyond saving. It’s up to Bruce to use his equipment to become Batman and save the city.

OK, let’s start with Ra’s al Ghul, Neeson’s character. In an attempt to ground this movie further, they don’t mention the Lazarus pit at all, nor does he have any memorable associates like he does in the comics. There aren’t necessarily bad changes if you’re looking to do something more realistic. But Neeson does not make Ra’s al Ghul intimidating, I think it may be down to the action in this movie. Ra’s al Ghul and Batman are supposed to be physical equals with a great deal of respect for one another even if they don’t agree on methods. Ra’s here is not that impressive in the action, Neeson can do fighting but it’s more a brawl style than the more technical stuff that Ra’s can do.

Speaking of the action, of course, it’s nigh incomprehensible at points. Look, I know there needs to be editing in a fight sequence, otherwise you end up with the stupid sh*t from The Last Airbender but cuts can be used more sparingly than once every two seconds. In addition, we have shaky-cam just to make things even harder to follow.

I do find it a tad convenient that Lucius Fox just happened to have all the equipment Batman needs to get started, mask notwithstanding. But then I suppose I’d rather not wait even longer for Batman to show. It’s for the 5 or 6 people who actually give a sh*t where Batman got his original costume from.

I can see the influence of Batman: Year One what with the corrupt city, Flass and Commissioner Loeb, and the scene with the SWAT team storming a building and Batman using a swarm of Bats to escape. Rather missing the important part of that scene, Batman actually fighting them and getting beaten down in his early days.

They do gloss over the whole Bruce Wayne is dead thing, having watched Iron Fist I think that might be for the best.

Michael Caine is awesome as Alfred, Morgan Freeman

He's great as Lucius Fox, and despite the incredibly stupid Batman voice, I like Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Oh, and the mantra for this movie “Why do we fall? So, we can learn to pick ourselves up” is an incredibly stupid one in the context of actual falling, when it was first used. Also, Batman killed Ra’s, I’m sorry but “I’m not going to kill you, but that doesn’t mean I have to save you” is not Batman, but this Batman killed several assassins and likely a few others along the way anyway.

It’s still a good movie, but a few niggles prevent me from rating it as highly as others

Rating 65/100