Christopher Nolan reboots the Batman franchise with a darker tone, in a story that tells how Bruce Wayne became the mysterious vigilante and battles villains Scarecrow and Ra’s al Ghul to save Gotham City.
The Plot (spoilers):
8-year-old Bruce Wayne (Gus Lewis) and Rachael Dawes (Emma Lockhart) are playing in the gardens of Wayne Manor, having found an old arrowhead, when Bruce falls down an abandoned well full of bats. We then see Bruce (Christian Bale) wake up as an adult in a Chinese prison. He gets in a fight and takes down a number of prisoners before the guards stop the fight.
Bruce Wayne in prison
Bruce is taken to a cell, where he is visited by a man named Ducard (Liam Neeson), who says he speaks for a Ra’s al Ghul, who offers Bruce a path fighting injustice as part of the League of Shadows. He tells Bruce that he will be released and if he wants to follow Ra’s al Ghul he is to pick a rare blue flower and carry it to the top of the mountain.
Ducard meets Bruce
Bruce follows Ducard’s instructions and comes to a large monastery-like base on the side of a snowy mountain slope, where he finds a bald Asian man, apparently Ra’s al Ghul (Ken Watanabe), who asks Bruce (with Ducard translating) what he is seeking. Bruce says he is seeking the means to fight injustice and to turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He presents the blue flower to Ducard. Ducard asks the exhausted Bruce is he is ready to begin and fights him. Ducard defeats Bruce and sees he is afraid, but not of him.
Ra's al Ghul?
We see Bruce as a boy again in the well. His father (Linus Roache) descends into the well by a rope and rescues him. Their butler Alfred (Michael Caine) notes that Bruce took quite a fall, and Bruce’s father says “And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Later we see Bruce in bed and his father comes in, noticing that Bruce is still afraid of bats. He says that the bats were more afraid of him. The Wayne family goes to the opera, taking the new elevated monorail train that Wayne Enterprises built for the city to help the people during the recession. At the opera, the performance reminds Bruce of the bats, and he wants to leave. Outside the theater, the family is held up by a gunman (Richard Brake) who demands their wallets and jewelry. They cooperate, but the nervous robber misinterprets a move by Bruce’s father and panics, shooting both Waynes. At the police station, Bruce meets Officer Gordon (Gary Oldman). Commissioner Loeb (Colin MacFarlane) comes in and says they caught the robber. After the funeral, the chairman of Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Earle (Rutger Hauer), says that the company will be waiting for him when he grows up. Bruce admits to Alfred that he feels guilty for his parents’ death, because he wanted to leave the opera early. Alfred tells him that the robber alone is responsible.
Ducard asks Bruce if he still feels guilty, and Bruce says his anger outweighs his guilt. Ducard trains Bruce, not just physically but also mentally to confront his guilt, and in the use of explosive powders, and tells Bruce that his father was responsible for his parents’ death because he failed to act. Ducard reveals that he once had a wife who was taken from him, and his anger almost destroyed him. Bruce asks what stopped it and Ducard says vengeance. Bruce says that’s no help to him. Ducard asks why.
A slightly younger Bruce is walking through Wayne Manor with Alfred. All the furniture is covered with white sheets and Alfred asks Bruce if he will be going back to Princeton after the hearing or staying in Gotham City for a while. Bruce says he isn’t going back. Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), who now works in the district attorney’s office, takes Bruce to the hearing, where the killer of Bruce’s parents, Joe Chill, will be granted parole for providing information about crime-boss Carmine Falcone, whom he shared a cell with. Rachel tries to talk Bruce out of going. At the hearing, a disgusted Bruce walks out. Outside the courtroom, he pulls small revolver from his pocket and hides it up his sleeve, but before he has a chance to shoot Chill, a woman runs up to him, yells “Falcone says hi” and fatally shoots him herself. On the way back, Rachel tells Bruce that Falcone is flooding the streets with crime and drugs. When Bruce reveals he was going to shoot Chill, Rachel tells him his father would be ashamed of him and throws him out of the car. Bruce goes to confront Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), to show him he’s not afraid, but Falcone points out that it’s only because Bruce thinks he has nothing to lose and mentions Rachel and Alfred. Falcone tells him that he can’t understand the criminal world and says “you always fear what you don’t understand.” Bruce throws away his ID and trades coats with a homeless man, and runs off to explore the criminal world, and his crimes had eventually led him to the prison where Ducard found him.
To help Bruce conquer his inner fears, Ducard has him breathe in a hallucinogen and fight him among a group of identically-dressed men and open a box full of bats. Bruce passes this test, impressing Ra’s al Ghul. Bruce is offered membership into the League of Shadows, but there is one final test. Bruce must execute a murderer that the League captured. Bruce refuses, saying the man must have a trial. Ra’s al Ghul reveals that Gotham has become too corrupt and must be destroyed. Bruce is willing to go back to Gotham to fight criminals but will not kill them. Ducard says there is no turning back. Bruce attacks Ra’s al Ghul and sets off the League’s supply of explosive powder. As the building burns and collapses, Ra’s al Ghul is killed, and Bruce gets the unconscious Ducard to safety. Bruce leaves Ducard at a village and calls Alfred, who picks him up in a private jet.
Ducard and Bruce ready for Bruce's final test
On the plane, Bruce tells Alfred his plan to become a dramatic example to the people as a symbol to fight the criminal underworld. Alfred realizes that this persona is to protect others, like Rachel and himself. Alfred reveals that since Bruce had been missing for seven years, he had been declared dead by Mr. Earle to liquidate Bruce’s shares so he could take the company public. Bruce’s will left everything to Alfred, so Alfred got the profits.
Rachel confronts Dr. Crane (Cillian Murphy), who has had three of Falcone’s men declared insane and moved to his asylum. She suspects him of being corrupt. Her boss tells her to be careful.
At Wayne Manor, Bruce sees a bat and is reminded of the well, which he explores and discovers an expansive cave full of bats.
Dr. Crane goes to Falcone about Rachel. He mentions shipments, and mentions that the person he is working for will be coming to Gotham, which concerns Falcone.
Bruce goes to Wayne Enterprises to see Mr. Earle about a job. Bruce says that he’d like to work in Applied Sciences. Bruce goes there and meets Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), who reveals he was on the board when Bruce’s father was still alive and designed the elevated train. Earle sent him to Applied Sciences to get him out of the way. Fox shows Bruce a prototype grappling gun and a bulletproof survival suit, which Bruce borrows for “spelunking.” In the cave, Alfred helps Bruce set up lights and they discover an elevator to Wayne Manor and a large opening to the cave behind a waterfall. Bruce paints the survival suit black, and he and Alfred order the other components for his costume from various sources through dummy corporations.
Lucius Fox shows Bruce around
Sergeant Gordon’s partner Flass (Mark Boone Junior) is corrupt, but Gordon isn’t. Gordon isn’t a rat though. Gordon’s partner drops him off at the station. In his office, Bruce whispers to Gordon and wants to know why no one stops Falcone’s weekly shipments of drugs. Gordon says they need leverage on the judge Falcone bribes and a DA who will prosecute. Bruce mentions Rachel’s name and runs off, having to jump from a roof to a fire escape and injuring himself. He goes back to Fox and asks about lightweight fabrics. Fox shows him “memory cloth” which turns rigid when a current is applied. Bruce then notices a military vehicle called the Tumbler. As they test-drive it around the facility, Fox explains it was designed as a bridging vehicle and is capable of a rampless jump. Bruce asks if it comes in black.
The Tumbler
Flass meets with Falcone, who says he needs him at the docks Thrusday so there’s no trouble with the last shipment. Gordon’s partner has heard that Falcone wants Rachel taken care of for the right price. Bruce overhears their conversation.
Bruce assembles his costume. Alfred asks “why bats?” and Bruce says bats frighten him and he wants his enemies to share his dread.
At the docks, Flass shows up and sees Falcone’s men unloading stuffed animals filled with drugs. He joins Falcone in his car. Falcone says that the stuffed bears go to the dealers while the stuffed rabbits go to a man in the Narrows. Falcone doesn’t say what the difference is. Bruce, in costume, begins taking out Falcone’s men. When they notice something’s going on, Gordon’s partner tells Falcone to leave and goes himself, but Falcone discovers his driver is knocked out. Bruce captures Falcone and identifies himself: “I’m Batman.”
"I'm Batman"
Rachel is ambushed as she gets off the elevated train but is saved by Batman. Batman gives her some photos and disappears. Meanwhile, Gordon and the police find Falcone and his men tied up at the docks with the drugs. The next day, Batman makes the front page of the paper, and Commissioner Loeb wants him stopped. Gordon points out that he did help, but Loeb says no one can take the law into their own hands.
Mr. Earle is notified that a prototype microwave emitter that can vaporize an enemy’s water supply was stolen from a Wayne Enterprises cargo ship. Bruce goes out for night on the town, playing the part of a millionaire. He runs into Rachel and tries to tell him that how he’s acting isn’t really who he is inside, but she says its not who he is underneath, but what he does that defines him.
Dr. Crane is brought to Falcone, who is in jail and claiming insanity. Falcone wants a better deal from the person Crane is working for. Crane puts on a scarecrow mask and sprays Falcone with hallucinogen. Falcone starts screaming in terror, and Crane has him moved to the asylum.
Dr. Crane shows Falcone his mask
Batman asks Gordon about his partner and the drugs, but Gordon doesn’t know much. Batman goes after his partner, who reveals that there was something hidden in the other drugs and went to a guy in the Narrows for a couple days before going to the dealers.
Rachel’s boss goes to the port, demanding to know what is in a container of Falcone’s that came in on a ship but wasn’t on the ship’s manifest. He discovers the microwave emitter, but is killed by the guards.
In the Narrows, Batman tracks the drugs to a run-down apartment. While he’s there, Crane and a couple thugs come in to burn it down to destroy the evidence. Batman takes out the thugs, but Crane sprays him with the hallucinogen and then with alcohol and sets him on fire. Batman leaps out of a window into a puddle, puts himself out, get to a safe rooftop and calls Alfred for help. Alfred brings him home.
Bruce wakes up two days later, on his birthday. He reveals that the hallucinogen was a more potent form of the one from the League of Shadows. Fox comes in, as Alfred called him for help, and says that he mixed an antidote. Bruce asks if he can make more, and Fox says he’ll bring what he can. In the meantime the antidote will protect Bruce. Rachel drops by to give Bruce his birthday present (the arrowhead they found as children) as she can’t come to the party that night. While there, she learns that Crane moved Falcone to the asylum and Bruce realizes she’s going there. Bruce disguises himself as Batman to go after her. Meanwhile Mr. Earle goes to visit Fox asking about the microwave emitter and wants all the information about it. When Fox asks if they lost one, Earle says he’s shutting down the department and firing him.
Rachel confronts Crane at Arkham Asylum. He takes her to the basement, revealing that that he was dumping the hallucinogen into the water supply and sprays her with a concentrated form of the hallucinogen that will eventually destroy her mind.
Going down...
Batman shown up, fights off Crane’s men, and sprays him with his own drugs. Crane reveals that he is working for Ra’s al Ghul, but Batman says al Ghul is dead. The police then arrive, but are afraid to go after Batman without the SWAT team, but Gordon goes in.
Sergeant Gordon
Batman tells Gordon about Crane’s plan. With help from Gordon and some bats that he signals with a sonar device, Batman gets Rachel to his car and escapes in an elaborate chase through the city and back to the cave, where he gives her the antidote and two more doses to give to Gordon before sedating her. The guests for Bruce’s birthday party have already arrived at Wayne Manor, so Bruce has Alfred take Rachel home. Meanwhile, Gordon has the water tested and finds that there is so much of the drug in the water that its too late to do anything, but they haven’t noticed because the drug had to be absorbed through the lungs.
Batman flees police in the Tumber to save Rachel
At Bruce’s party, Earle tells him that the stock offering went well, with funds and brokerages buying. Fox is there, and asks what would happen if the drug was released in the water supply, and Fox tells Bruce about the missing microwave emitter. Bruce tells Fox to go make as much of the antidote as he can. Then another guest introduces Bruce to a man named Ra’s al Ghul. He is a bald Asian man, but not the same one as before. Then Bruce sees Ducard is there as well. Bruce realizes that Ducard is the real Ra’s al Ghul. Bruce pretends to be drunk and insulted by his guests and gets them all to leave. Ra’s al Ghul describes his plan to destroy Gotham, using the hallucinogen which comes from the blue flowers, which they will release throughout the city and let the city destroy itself through fear. He reveals that Gotham’s depression was caused by the League of Shadows, but charitable work by Bruce’s father kept it from completely destroying the city. Ra’s al Ghul and his men set Wayne Manor on fire and leave Bruce for dead, with Ra’s al Ghul saying he is returning the favor for Bruce saving him earlier. Meanwhile, agents of the League of Shadows release Crane and other convicts from prison and the inmates of Arkham Asylum into the Narrows. Rachel wakes up and takes the antidotes to find Gordon.
Ducard tells Bruce his plan
Alfred returns to find Wayne Manor in flames. He knocks out a guard from the League of Shadows with a golf club and goes in to rescue Bruce. They escape down the elevator shaft as the house burns to the ground. Bruce feels like he’s failed to save Gotham, but after being reminded of his father’s words by Alfred, Bruce goes after Ra’s al Ghul as Batman.
Wayne Manor in flames
The entire police force has been dispatched to the Narrows to round up the prisoners and convicts. Rachel goes into the Narrows and finds Gordon. She delivers the toxin but isn’t able to get out of the Narrows before the bridges are raised. She sees Ra’s al Ghul and his men as they activate the microwave emitter, which vaporizes the water in the mains under the Narrows and releases the drug. Gordon injects himself with the antidote, as the rest of the people in the Narrows fall into hallucinogen-induced panic and fear. Rachel tries to help a young boy who’s been separated from his parents.
Batman gets to the Narrows in the Tumbler and finds Gordon. He tells him that the plan must be to load the microwave emitter onto the elevated train and take it to Wayne Tower. Under Wayne Tower is the main hub of the water system, and if the emitter gets there the entire system’s water supply will be vaporized and the entire city will be drugged. Batman says he’s going to try to stop them but might need Gordon’s help. He has Gordon take the Tumbler.
Dr. Crane, on horseback and wearing his mask, discovers Rachel and the boy. Rachel recognizes him a Crane, but he corrects her, calling himself Scarecrow. Rachel shoots him with her taser and he rides off, but then she and the boy are surrounded by other panicking residents. Batman rescues Rachel and the boy, revealing his identity to Rachel by saying “it’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me,” then goes after Ra’s al Ghul. Ra’s al Ghul leaves 4 of his men to fight Batman as he leaves on the train. Batman defeats Ra’s al Ghul’s men but ends up surrounded by panicking civilians. He uses his grappling gun to grab onto the moving elevated train and escape. Meanwhile, Gordon takes the Tumbler back to downtown Gotham toward Wayne Tower.
Onboard the train, Batman fights Ra’s al Ghul. In the process of the fight, Batman smashes the trains controls. Meanwhile in front of Wayne Tower, Gordon uses the Tumbler’s weapons to destroy one of the elevated train’s towers to cause the tracks to collapse. Ra’s al Ghul tells Batman that he’s just an ordinary man in a cape and that why he couldn’t fight injustice and why he can’t stop the train. Batman replies “who said anything about stopping it” and Ra’s al Ghul realizes Batman smashed the controls. Gordon fires the last shot to cause the tracks to collapse. Batman gets the upper hand on Ra’s al Ghul, who asks him if he’s finally learned to do what’s necessary. Batman replies that he’s not going to kill him, but he doesn’t have to save him. Batman uses his explosives to separate the rear of the train and escape, while the rest of the train and Ra’s al Ghul plummet of the end of the track and into a parking garage, where the train explodes, destroying the microwave generator and killing R’as al Ghul.
The next day, Mr. Earle arrives at the board room in Wayne Tower to find Lucius Fox meeting with the board. Fox tells Earle that he got another job…his. Meanwhile, Bruce is riding in his car, where Alfred shows him the paper, covering Batman’s heroism and the fire at Wayne manor (which the paper reports was accidentally set by a drunken Bruce) when Earle angrily calls him. Bruce reveals that HE bought most of the Wayne Enterprises stock, through various charitable organizations and trusts. At the remains of Wayne Manor, Bruce is rebuilding when Rachel shows up and they apologize to each other. Rachel reveals she has feelings for Bruce and kisses him, but says that Bruce Wayne never came back and is now just a mask for Batman, and maybe when Gotham no longer needs Batman she’ll see him again. But she tells him that his father would be proud of him and so is she.
Rachel kisses Bruce
Bruce says he is going to rebuild Wayne Manor just as it was, and Alfred suggests that it might be a good opportunity to improve the foundations.
Bruce and Alfred discuss Wayne Manor's future
At night, Gordon, now a Lieutenant, waits with the new bat-signal for Batman, and tells him about a new villain with a taste for theatrics, who leaves a calling card: a joker playing card. Batman says he’ll look into it. Gordon says that he never said thank you, and Batman replies that he’ll never have to.
My Review:
When this film was released, it was easily the best Batman film ever made. Since then, its sequel, The Dark Knight, may have surpassed it, but there are a lot of aspects of Batman Begins that I really like. First off, I’m a fan of origin stories, so seeing how Bruce Wayne first becomes Batman is exciting for me, although the first time I saw it, the way the beginning of the film jumps around with flashbacks was a little confusing. It took a second viewing to fully understand. I also like the art deco look of Gotham City as seen in this film. It was easily the most realistic Gotham of any of the Batman films at the time. The Dark Knight made Gotham even more realistic and modern, with the use of Chicago even more apparent, but I like the fantastic elements of Batman Begins’ Gotham, with Wayne Tower at the center of the city and the monorail train system. They make Gotham seem a little exotic, which I like. Batman Begins features villains not seen before on film, which worked well. Ra’s al Ghul and Scarecrow are two of the more subdued villains in the Batman franchise and they work well in an origin story. Dr. Crane using his Scarecrow persona just to induce fear into the victims of his hallucinogen worked well and made him believable. The twist about Ducard being Ra’s al Ghul, while not entirely a surprise, also works well. All of the casting is excellent; I think everyone in this film was perfect for their character, and they all work so well together that no single performance stands out. Visually the film is impressive. In addition to the action scenes and explosions, there are some more unique special effects related to the view of those under Crane’s hallucinogen and huge colonies of flying bats that are particularly noteworthy. One weak spot in the effects is the chase scene involving the Tumbler driving on rooftops. It seems unlikely that most of the roofs shown could support the force of a vehicle as large as the armored Tumbler landing on them. This is most disconcerting when it involves a building with a peaked roof. A scene where the Tumbler “disappears” using sonar also doesn’t quite work. I also don’t understand why the Tumbler has to move its driver into a prone position to fire weapons. None of these problems distract from the excellent story, however.
Overall, Batman Begins is an excellent superhero story.
