Thursday, July 21, 2005

Batman Begins

Batman Begins. US (c) 2005 Patalex III. A Warner Bros. release. P: Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Larry Franco. D: Christopher Nolan. SC: Nolan, David S. Goyer - story Goyer - based on DC Comics characters - Batman created by Bob Kane. DP: Wally Pfister - Technicolor - Panavision anamorphic scope 2,35:1. PD: Nathan Crowley. M: Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard. "Folletto!... folletto!" from Mefistofele (Arrigo Boito). ED: Lee Smith. Starring Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred), Liam Neeson (Ducard), Katie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon), Cillian Murphy (Dr. Jonathan Crane, director of Arkham Asylum), Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone), Rutger Hauer (Earle), Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe), Mark Boone, Jr. (Flass), Linus Roache (Thomas Wayne), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox). 140'. A Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland release with Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Timo Porri / Hannele Vahtera. Viewed at Kinopalatsi 2, Helsinki, 21 July 2005. The fifth film in the current Batman cycle started 16 years ago by Tim Burton. So far Batman Returns has been the best of them, even the best fantasy adventure of all time, but this is a great contender. Nolan and his team have really spent a lot of imagination and energy, and it shows. Most importantly this is not a CGI spectacle, but a character-based fantasy adventure like Batman Returns, and the ensemble cast is the best besides Batman Returns, Christian Bale the all-time best Batman. Throughout, the film is interestingly cast against type, with good results. Morally, this film is also above the usual standard of superhero tales. The basic stand is about Wayne's growing above vigilante attitudes, and this education with his childhood girlfriend is even more important than the ninja skills and the special weaponry that are detailed during the picture. "Justice is more than revenge". "A person should be judged by his action, not by what is hidden inside." "No, this is the mask" (referring to Bruce's "normal" face). "Maybe then I'll see him again". Of the Batman directors, Burton is still the best in fantasy, but in exploring the myth Nolan is at least as profound.

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