WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
June 20, 2005
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: 'Batman Begins': Eye-Darting, Feet-Shimmering, Duck
Before You're Mowed Down, Bungee-Jumping Adrenalin Rush
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Columnist
Huntington (HNN) -- Whether looking upward, plunging downward, or shifting
your eyes from side to side as your feet seem to shimmer from sub-woofer
vibrations, "Batman Begins" accomplishes what few movies have ever done ---
pulling you into the screen for a bungee jumping adrenalin rush that keeps
on thrilling scene after scene after scene.
In fact, the Dark Knight's resurrection adds a potentially immortal phrase
to cinema lore --- "I gotta get me one of those" --- joins "Make My Day" and
"I'll Be Back."
Moreover, if you need a little symbolism to toggle your cranial cavity,
Wayne Manor has a stately, mysterious "Citizen Kane" resonance that somehow
blends with Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah themes.
Most of all, "Batman Begins" has a teasing, intense, and empathy invoking
story which coordinates excellently with the special effects circus.
For neophytes of this comic book creation, the fabulously wealthy Wayne
family dies at the hands of a street bandit, leaving their son, Bruce, an
orphan growing up on the privileged sunny side of Gotham City streets.
However, the young Wayne carries with him both fear and blame --- a fear of
bats stemming from a youthful fall into a well and he blames himself for his
parents' death since he had a nightmarish flashback during the performance.
As Bruce matures, these two albatross-esque weights smother his sense of
self-worth and self-confidence. He champions "seeking justice," yet knows
that the criminal kingpin has carried a union president, two cops and a
judge to the Dark Side. Wayne succumbs to petty criminal behavior before
rescued from prison by an unknown ninja instructing him to follow signs to
the top of a mountain. At the icy and snowy fortress, Wayne receives
exemplary physical training, but at graduation, he must decide just which
master to serve.
Historically, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939);
however, a pulp fiction and radio hero, The Shadow (1931), bears striking
similarity to Batman. This movie places greater emphasis on Batman's ability
to drop in and out of sight in darkness that coincides with "The Shadow's"
ability to "cloud men's minds so they cannot see him." From here the
parallels fork, as Batman becomes a crime fighter with many gadgets in his
utility belt, which, for instance, permits him to 'fly' through the aid of
ropes and perform incredible gymnastics.
As if to toast the possible intertwining of the two heroes, the newest flick
has him trained by a mysterious organization in China known as "The League
of Shadows." Previously on screen in campy frolics or mostly imaginative,
yet upbeat adventures, the newest Caped Crusader (Christian Bale) returns
with touches of dark film noir and with a murky, troubled persona in much
the same vein as Peter Parker.of "Spiderman."
Whatever the similarities, "Batman Begins" spawns its own universe. While
the leaps and bounds (with accompanying daring camera point of view
perspectives) out-awesome Spidey, "Begins" has so many visual wonderments
that draw you into the screen that you rapidly forgive any crossover.
Morphing masks and reality, the production receives strong anchoring in the
form of supporting characters Michael Caine (Alfred) and Morgan Freeman
(Lucius Fox), whose presence keep the film's feet firmly glued in potential
practicality, rather than far-fetched fantasy. Both exemplify the kind of
stability of James Bond's M, Q or Miss Moneypenny.
Fledgling "Batman" director Christopher ("Insomnia," "Memento") Nolan has
cut his teeth on psychological police work, not special effects, deliver pay
dirt. Here, Nolan has deftly combined the two with a crafty, jerky precision
that invigorates viewers with all phases of the production. Hey, I mean do
your concession and rest room rituals before the WB logo starts, you might
find yourself tightly crossing your legs hoping that the excitement ends
before you have to race in a nick of time for nature relief.
Flirting along ever so delicately with cinematic activism, "Batman Begins"
sounds a bat signal of hope for panic disorder suffers and other crime
victims : To manipulate fear in others (and fight for justice), you must
master your own. Bruce Wayne conquers his terror by adopting the qualities
of the creature that he fears the most.
But you don't have to be phobic or a victim of injustice to cheer the Caped
Crusader swinging, punching and ratcheting down the bad guys, particularly
those Bat-tank mobile scenes in which you might duck as those five sizes too
big Goodyears crunch everything in their path.
