Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
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Remember back to the end of the eighties when that Bat logo emerged. Yes folks Batman was back and in a big way. Tim Burton's gothic adaptation of the character was a big box office smash and got even darker with the sequel Batman Returns (which I happen to prefer). But then the franchise moved away from the characters dark origins and became more of an excuse to shift some toys and merchandise around a summer blockbuster. This Joel Schumacher's Batman films were over the top affairs, Batman Forever was serviceable but Batman & Robin really killed the franchise dead. Simply put it was a terrible film full of bizarre decisions, vomit inducing colour schemes and Arnie really hamming it up.
Fortunately the fanbase for the character was still there through various graphic novels and some of the kick ass cartoon versions. It would take a few years for the smell of Batman & Robin to waft away before The Dark Knight could return.
Batman
Begins is everything it's title suggests. It's a re-invention of the character and a case of going back to basics. Momento director Christopher Nolan was charged with bringing some respectability back and from the moment his name was announced you knew the film would be in good hands.
Christian Bale wears the mask this time around to play Bruce Wayne, a multi-millionaire who has been shaped by a traumatic event in his childhood. In this version, Wayne treks through arctic winds to learn ancient ways of combat from the mysterious Ra's Al Ghul. With newfound knowledge Wayne returns to Gotham City to wage war on those who seek to commit crime in a once great city. Batman comes up against a local gangster and a creepy guy nicknamed The Scarecrow and a plot to pollute the city's water with a deadly nerve agent. But Wayne must also contend with keeping his identity secret from those around him.
Simply put, Batman Begins is probably the best Batman film for purists because it goes back to the roots of the character. In this movie Batman doesn't have any fancy gadgets or elaborate utility belts. Everything is real, by this I mean that everything Batman uses is practical. The Batmobile is now a rugged all terrain vehicle. His tools have their origins in military weaponry. But above all else, when Batman fights he gets hurt.
Christian Bale is excellent as Wayne/Batman. He has the charisma to handle the business side but also has the brooding menace needed for the character. Casting Michael Caine as Alfred is also an excellent choice. As a love interest I actually liked Katie Holmes, she's not just a pretty face in the movie. Liam Neeson is also good in a role that offers a twist. Morgan Freeman also adds a bit of weight to a character that could have been played by a mere unknown. I also liked Gary Oldman as Gordon, most peoples vision of Gordon is the one in the 60's TV show. Oldman's version is a more burned out character.
Nolan's film as a real style and flair, it plays like a seventies crime thriller. Naturally there are many big set pieces as this is after all a blockbuster. But it's all exciting stuff, my only gripe is that the film does lack a real colourful villain such as The Joker but these characters are touted for the second instalment.
As it stands, Batman Begins was probably my favourite film of last summer purely because it was a proper film first and a popcorn pleaser second. I can't wait to see another instalment.
-The DVD-
You can buy Batman Begins in two flavours. There is a two-disc special edition with a raft of extras but I don't have the version so I can't really offer opinion on if it's any good.
Instead I have the single disc version, which is available for a reasonable price online.
The film is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen and it looks splendid. As expected, the film is very dark in style and the transfer reproduces this beautifully.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack also kicks much ass. From beginning to end it's a real blockbuster soundtrack with rousing score, rumbling bass and loads of rear action.
Extras wise on this version all you get is the trailer. But if you're not really interested in extras then it's no biggie.
-Finally-
If you're going to re-invent a franchise after a complete failure then you'd better get it right. Thankfully Batman Begins gets a lot right and very little wrong. It all bodes well for the inevitable sequel.
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Production Year: 2008 - Action/Adventure - Director: Christopher Nolan - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Action/Adventure - Director: The Wachowski Brothers - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Monica Bellucci, Jada Pinkett
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Batman Beginsdiscards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader ... more
as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-p...
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Batman Beginsdiscards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader ... more
as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-p...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Just when you though that theBatmanfranchise was dead and buried--certainly after the ... more
abomination that was 1997sBatman&Robin--along comes director Christopher Nolan to brilliantly bring it all back to life with the astonishingly strongBatman Begins.Nol...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Just when you though that theBatmanfranchise was dead and buried--certainly after the ... more
abomination that was 1997sBatman&Robin--along comes director Christopher Nolan to brilliantly bring it all back to life with the astonishingly strongBatman Begins.Nol...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![Batman Begins - 1 Disc Edition [DVD] [2005]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78485357.jpg "Batman Begins - 1 Disc Edition [DVD] [2005]")
Mar 10th, 2006
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![Batman Begins - 2 Disc Edition [DVD] [2005]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78484325.jpg)
