Batman Begins does what the previous two Batman movies couldn't do. That is to present a coherent, entertaining story. With Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, Joel Schumacher, who also directed the underrated Falling Down, turned the Batman movies into a paraody of what Tim Burton had created earlier with Batman and Batman Returns. Eight long years after Shumacher almost killed the franchise, Christopher Nolan gets it back on track for Warner Brothers.
Batman Begins gets it almost entirely right and exceeds expectations in the process. It's a well-made, tightly woven story that explains why Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. Christian Bale handles the dual role of Batman/Bruce Wayne masterfully. The supporting cast is also extremely strong, led by Michael Caine who plays Alfred the Butler. It also includes Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman.
The story starts with Bruce Wayne in a prison in an unnamed country. His underlying story is quickly told using flashbacks of a young Bruce Wayne. These flashbacks concisley explain two key elements: why do bats play an important role in his life (important enough for him to choose to mimic them) and why does Bruce consider crime and injustice something that must be dealt with in an almost vigilante fashion. From here, we learn much of Bruce Waynes backstory (missing not only from the comics, but the earlier movies as well). He is trained by Ducard (Liam Neeson) to be a part of an organization that has existed for thousands of years called the League of Shadows. This organizations job is to destroy injustice and corruption through any means necessary. Sounds like something you might want to be involved with, eh? But, then again, appearances can be deceiving.
Soon after realizing the true forces behind this shadowy organization, Bruce heads back to Gotham after 7 years away. He meets up with Morgan Freeman, playing Lucius Fox, who just so happens to have a vast array of prototype military weapons at his disposal as an engineer at Wayne Enterprises. This provides his basis for the many bat-toys used throughout the movie.
He also meets up again with Rachel, played by Katie Holmes, who becomes a love interest through a vastly under developed story line. We assume he's in love with her because they were childhood friends. However, we never truly understand the connection between the two. Another comic book series (namely Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2) handles this aspect of a comic story much better.
Suffice to say, a great evil threatens Gotham and Batman must save the day. It will ruin nothing to say that he does. However, the joy in the story is getting there. First by learning the backstory behind Batman and then following the twists and turns of the story as it leads us towards its climax.
Cillian Murphy desrves special mention as Dr. Jonathan Crane. His character was a favorite of mine throughout the film. Equally parts scary and slimey. Murphey plays it perfectly.
Though not as good overall as Spider-Man 2, Batman Begins does do one thing better then the webslinger. The effects rely less on CGI and more on actual people performing the stunts. However, some of the action scenes are filmed in such a way that it is hard to follow what is going on. This is something Spider-Man 2 didn't suffer from.
DC Comics, Warner Brothers and Christopher Nolan should be proud of the movie they have made. It is an exciting, well-told and well executed movie. The bad memories left behind by the horrible twin neonofific movies in the mid 90's are but a memory now. The movie ends on a perfect note drawing upon the calling card of one of Batman's greatest enemies and opening the door to a potentially dynamic Batman Continues.