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| Batman Begins | 
| Category: Movie
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  1245 reviews
Sales Rank: 4362
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 141 minutes
ASIN: B0014D6PCO
Theatrical Release Date: June 15, 2005
Release Date: November 7, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
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| Customer Reviews:
 Dazzling, Resurrects A Neglected Hero June 19, 2005
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
"Batman Begins," superbly directed by Christopher Nolan, is a film that works on many levels, but above all, it makes a modern hero relevant again, much like Sam Raimi's spidey flicks. We all knew Batman was awesome, we just needed to realize it again. And no one could have done that better than Christian Bale, who was born to play the Dark Knight. Exuding equal parts menace and wounded heart, he makes Bruce Waynes' familiar fear, anger and rage fresh again. His fear and guilt stemming from his beloved parents murder is palpable and real. At first, Bruce Wayne is in a Chinese prison, on a lifes' quest to understand the criminal mind, and how best to fight them and rid himself of the guilt that has haunted him for years. From this, a mysterious stanger named Ducard (Liam Neeson) plucks him and takes him into the Himlayan Mountains, where he trains Bruce the ways of the League of Shadows, led by the nefarious Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe, given too little screen time). Their goal is to purify the world through by purging it of wickedness. Bruce jets the League when he is faced with the execution of a suspected criminal and makes his way back to Gotham where he seeks redemption by saving the city his father loved, now overrun by gansters and corruption, most of it personified in Carmine Falcone (a commanding Tom Wilkinson). Working with his beloved butler Alfred (a heartfelt Michael Caine) and good cop Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman, in a role that finally gives Gordon something to do), Bruce goes to work to renovate the caverns underneath his house, collects hardware from scientist Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman at his wryest and loosest) and builds a batsuit with which to turn his fear into a weapon against his enemies.
From the beginning, "Batman Begins" is fixated on fear, and how it can move or change a person. One of the main villians is the Scarecrow (a creepy Cillian Murphy) a psychologist who scares the living crap out of people using a toxin that makes the person see what they fear most. And Batman must fight them all by using his skills of manipulation to defeat them. And although director Nolan leans a little too much on the jump cuts and close-up shots, the action scenes are among the brawniest, most bracing and innovate in recent memory, including an amazing car chase feauturing the souped up Batmobile and a climatic monorail fight between Batman and some old enemies from the League of Shadows. But above all, Nolan and fellow screenwriter David Goyer focus on the characters an motivations in the bat story. And even though the ending begs a sequel, the indulgence can be allowed. After all, after resurrecting the Batman franchise in such rousing fashion, who can't wait for the next of Batman?
 Batman is back....fast, fierce and exciting...a winner June 19, 2005
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Batman has been brought back to full life and over powers all the rest except the fist one, because I'm still a fan of the first Batman but this one is purely fun and exciting with satisfaction written all over it. Christian Bale (American Psycho) jumps into the role as Bruce Wayne, who has had a fear of bats all his life. His father Thomas Wayne, played by actor Linus Roache (The Forgotten) and his wife were killed by a thug. Wayne grows up in the hands of Alfred Pennyworth, played superbly by Michael Caine (Get Carter). Years later the thug that killed his parents is found not guilty and is shot coming out of the court room. So, Bruce Wayne turns to the life of crime and ends up in a prison camp where later he meets a man named Henri Ducard, played nicely by Liam Neeson (Kingdom Of Heaven), who tells Bruce Wayne that he can become a "legend". So, Bruce Wayne goes to the temple of Ra's Al Ghul, played by Ken Wantanabe (The Last Samurai), and begins his training but Ra's Al Ghul has devious things in plan which Wayne doesnt want to be apart of, so Wayne fights his way out of there saving Ducard's life. So, Wayne returns from being gone 7 years and his father's company being run by another man, who is played by Rutger Hauer (Sin City). Plus, Gotham City is corrupt all over by the hands of Falcone, played with a overhammed Tom Wilkinson (Rush Hour). Wayne's childhood sweetheart Rachel, played by Katie Holmes (The Gift) is on the verge of getting rid of Falcone and his scum. Enter Dr. Jonathan Crane, played with balls by Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later), who puts on a orangish sack over his face spraying his victims with a powder substance that the victim can see what they fear....his villain name is called The Scarecrow. Soon, Wayne becomes Batman...a very buff Batman with help from his father's friend Lucious Fox, a very groovy Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) and Wayne also has the help from cop Cheif Gordon, played by Gary Oldman (State Of Grace). Soon, Wayne finds out that the baddies are trying to poison the water supply and an old friend is behind it all. Fast, fierce and exciting....much, much better then 1997's Batman and Robin which was a big disappointment with the Batman suit having nipples and Clooney's unconvincing performance. Bale makes his role his own putting a twist on it and he works it out perfectly. Also starring Mark Boone Juinor (Se7en) as Gordon's corrupt partner.
Batman is Back June 19, 2005
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Let me just start by saying that Batman Begins is not only the best Batman movie ever made, it's also the best movie of the year. Batman Begins goes for a really dark gothic look with director Christopher Nolan (Memento) looking deep into the Dark Knight's life before he became a hero. Christian Bale plays Bruce Wayne/Batman and he is absolutly perfect for the role, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce's butler, is played by Michael Caine, Gary Oldman plays Sargent Gordon, Katie Holmes plays Bruce's love interest Rachel, Liam Neelson plays Henri Ducard, the man who trained Bruce while he was in Asia and the science whiz Lucius Fox is played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman. It's been nearly seven years since Bruce Wayne left Gotham City disgusted by the corrupt society. He goes to train with a man by the name of Henri Ducard, and meets the sinister Ra's A Ghaul (Ken Wantabe, The Last Samurai). He must face all of his darkest fears including his parent's death and his fear of bats. After his training is over he heads back to Gotham to restore justice to the people. But as Bruce returns he sees that Gotham is more corrupt then ever and he must strike fear into his enemies, thus the Batman is born. When a mob boss who Batman has apprehanded goes mentally unstable, the Scarecrow is to blame. With a great story with many twists and turns, Batman Begins is defiantly a movie that shouldn't be missed by Bat-Fans and people who are just looking for a great film.
Just to clarify June 19, 2005
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Just to make it clear some other reviews are saying that they dislike this movie and it alters things in the Batman universe and that it all feels a little strange changing or challenging what we already know.
The only problem with this is that the reviews making this kind of idiotic statement are taking the original batman movies (by Tim Burton) as gospel and saying that changes to there earlier series of movies is of putting is simply ridiculous. For example in Batman Begins it is Joe Chill, as in the comics, who killed Bruce Wayne's parents not the Joker. The fact that this movie stays true to the source material should be applauded not question by no nothings who give it 3star reviews for challenging their myopic view of the caped crusader.
I was a huge fan of the first two Tim Burton movies but the time as finally come to relegate them to the third and forth spot as greatest batman movies with Batman Begins edging out the superb Mask Of the Phantasm in to second place.
As a fan of Batman and movies in general if another comic adaptation reaches these heights again I will be very impressed.
The best Batman movie ever made!!!! June 19, 2005
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I loved this movie. "Batman Begins" has done something other movies have failed to do in my opinion, it lived up to it's expectations.!!!!!!
Words can't describe how the good the movie was except it was excellent. I knew this movie was going to be good when I saw the cast list: Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, the question mark seemed to be Christian Bale could he pull of the biggest role of his career? The answer to that movie fans is yes!!!
Bale is somewhat underrated, he's appeared in some good movies and some stinkers but this movie interviews he did for "Batman Begins" on Access Hollywood, I knew he could do He was sincere and serious about making a good impression and he did on them some. He underwent some serious training to get into the role and it definitely shows on screen.Bale did an excellent job!!!
Liam Neeson who I praised on "Kingdom of Heaven" likewise comes through with another memorable but short roles as Ducard, the man who takes Bruce Wayne under his wing and makes him a fighting machine.
With Ducard's help, Bruce Wayne (Bale) is able to come into grips about the murders of his parents, something that was eating away at him and destroying him.Through Ducard and Alfred's (Michael Caine) guidance, we see the origins of the Batman starting to come through until his Metamorphis in Gotham City is complete.
Plotwise the movie title says it "Batman Begins" we see the origins of Batman/Bruce Wayne in detail from childhood to adult as he grows from a child coping with the death of his parents to a man possessed by his own destiny to rid the world evil and battle the demons inside him.
Then comes the real challenge for Wayne as he faces the corruption and violence that is overtaking the city. Sure we've seen this in the other Batman movies but what sets this one apart from the other ones, is the acting, the character development, in Bruce Wayne's growth as a man as he struggles within his demons, the psychological battles he plays with himself.
Enter Katie Holmes who plays Rachel Dawes , Waynes love interest and Batman's love interest, a good girl being caught in some bad company. You know Wayne loves her but he is still dealing with issues, becoming the Batman then provides an avenue for Bruce to get closer to Rachel while protecting her at the same time.
Cilliam Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow, is also excellent, he actually seems like an insignificant foe but once he's alter ego shows on the scree, it's a different story. Ken Watanabe as the other important figure Ra's Al Ghul who aids Wayne's training is good and last but not ;least Morgan Freeman as Luscious Fox who basically gives the first look at the creation that is the Batmobile is excellent.
Director Christopher Nolan not only deserves a pat on the back for his excellent adaptation of the comic book character but a hug from every comic book fan whose been wanting a respectable version of the "Dark Knight" for quite some time.
This movie had heart, it was gritty, it was dramatic, and Batman wasn't a stupid a cartoon cutout like George Clooney's stupid portrayal but he was a man, a real man with real problems and issues, and above you liked it, you really him We sympathized with Bale's portrayal as Wayne, and we cheer as he goes through his whole training until he becomes the Dark Knight and imprints his legacy as the defender of justice and truth.
I can't say anymore about this movie except it's perhaps the best if not the best Batman movie ever made, at the same level if not surpassing the original by Tim Burton.
Go see it now and enjoy!!!!
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