The Birth of a Legend

I admit it- after the spectacular suckfest that was Batman and Robin, I had difficulty getting my enthusiasm up for the latest attempt to adapt the Batman comic franchise to the screen. It was much easier to get excited about Spiderman, or the theoretical Superman projects that make the rounds. Maybe it's because I identify more with Bruce Wayne's not-quite-healthy brooding vigilantism than Peter Parker's wisecracking wallcrawler or Clark Kent's relentless optimism. Whatever the case, despite glowing reports from everyone who'd already seen it, I approached Batman Begins with the mantra "Please, please let them get it right this time."

Mr. Nolan, I apologize. After Memento, which left me seriously freaked out for days, I should have known better. If anyone could direct a proper Batman film, it was you. Mea culpa.

If you haven't already seen this movie, please skip the rest of this review and go directly to the theatre of your choice for the first available showing. I don't want to have to worry about blowing things for you, and I estimate you have about ten minutes before someone else, bubbling over with the euphoria this movie creates, does so accidentally. Get going! I mean it!

There is so much to like about this movie. Despite the large cast, you felt that every character was present in all their dramatic complexities. All our favorite supporting cast was there: Alfred, Jim Gordon, even Lucius Fox. I have to admit I got a particular thrill out of Morgan Freeman's Lucius, a particular favorite of mine from the comic books who, IMNSHO, never got the level of treatment he deserves. And Cilian Murphy's Scarecrow was creepy and interesting enough to have been a full villain, not just a second stringer. The sets and cinematography were masterfully done. All in all, this stands so far beyond the previous films that it seems churlish to even have any complaints.

I do, though. It's a small thing, really, but everything else about this movie was so spot on that my perceived flaw seems much larger by comparison. At the very end of the final battle, Batman utters the line, "I won't kill you. But that doesn't mean I have to save you." Huh? We're talking about Batman, a man completely obsessed with saving lives. Admittedly, the villain wasn't incapacitated, and we have every reason to believe he will make it out of this alive and just as dangerous to our hero as before. However, the implication of the line is that Batman does not care if the villain lives or dies. There were no other players on the scene who needed his assistance to escape. The idea that Batman would not attempt to aid the villain was, in my opinion, ridiculous. If the rest of the movie hadn't been so darn perfect, I might not even have noticed. As it was, it was the single glaring error in an otherwise flawless outing, and it stood out like the first scratch on a new car.

Obviously, the only way to rectify this is to bring the entire team back for a second movie, even better than the first. I know you can do it, Mr. Nolan.

Today's recommended song: Bonnie Tyler's I Need a Hero. Enough said. Still a classic. If you want a twist, go listen to the Shrek 2 version.