I managed to get aa secondhand copy of the Dark Knight trilogy at the weekend and I was reminded of this review from when the first film was released. As well as reviewing music – both live and recorded – I also quite enjoy writing about films. So I might dig out a few of the cuttings.

Review: Batman Begins (12A)

I CAN remember as a kid watching endless reruns of the Batman TV series which was, to say the least, quite camp.

And then in 1989 came the ultra-hyped movie version of the pointy-eared caped crusader.

It was a successful version of The Dark Knight Returns – very dark, very Gothic and a successful blend of the look of the 1940s, with modern technology. Then, as the series progressed, the films got progressively worse.

But – holy prequels, Batman! – the bat is back.

Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) still blames himself for the death of his parents, and decides to go travelling, to find himself – as you do.

And, because he has vowed to wreak vengeance on all criminals, he is recruited in the Himalayas and trained as a ninja assassin by the League of Shadows, led by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson).

But he rejects Ducard’s methods and returns to Gotham City to clean it up. The city is tearing itself apart, all bright and shiny by day, dark and dangerous by night, overrun by gangs and ruled by the criminal underworld.

We see the early stages of his development into the caped crusader, the origins of the bat cave and where he got all his gadgets – prototypes from his father’s company.

In his youth he was terrorised by bats, and he decides it is the perfect animal alter ego to put fear in the hearts of his enemies, including mob boss Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), who is sinister and has a pretty convincing New York accent.

But he is not alone. He does have allies, including the only honest cop in Gotham, Lt Gordon (Gary Oldman), childhood sweetheart and assistant DA Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), as well as Wayne Enterprises R&D man Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman).

Special mention must go to the family retainer, the faithful butler Alfred (Sir Michael Caine), who tries to keep our hero on the right track with his English charm and dry wit. Definitely a nod to the original TV series and comic books.

There are no over-the-top villains, the emphasis instead is on Falcone and the creepy Dr Jonathan ‘the Scarecrow’ Crane (Cillian Murphy), who we first saw in 28 Days Later.

Needless to say there is a sinister plot to destroy Gotham and only one man, who coincidentally masquerades as a bat, can possibly save it.

Batman Begins is wonderfully dark and convincingly fills in the back-story of the franchise. Bale breathes new life into the character, and makes it his own.

He plays the role with wit and a wry smile, and it was good to see where the story began.

Bale successfully handled the transformation from angry young man to focused avenger.

The whole feel of the film is perfect, the best in the franchise so far – wonderfully dark and oppressing.

You truly get the feeling only one man can save the city once he has confronted his demons.

I can see a rapid climb up the career ladder for Lt Gordon, not to mention a subtle indic-
ation of future, better-known arch-enemies to battle the Batman.

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Thursday, June 23, 2005.