The Dark Knight’s Quest in Batman Begins
The Most recent Batman film got me recalling and reviewing past adaptations. My favorite live action Batman (for those loyal Batman fanatics out there we all know Kevin Conroy will always hold a place among the greats as does Mark Hamill’s Joker), is Christian Bale. Batman Begins was a great movie for many reasons, but there were some things unique to the Christopher Nolan series about this portrayal that made it my favorite. How was this Batman different from other depictions going all the way back to Michael Keaton or even Batman the Animated series? I greatly enjoyed Robert Pattinson’s Batman, but there were a couple reasons it still didn't stand as the best in my mind. The flaws it fell prey to are ones that the Christopher Nolan series gave a satisfactory solution to. Let’s dive in.
Darkness with just enough Light:
Any avid slightly obsessive Batman fan knows the world of Gotham isn't supposed to be bright and happy. If I turn on a Batman movie and see more than ten minutes of sunshine total, then you’ve already done your job wrong. However, the 2022 Batman took this to an extreme extent, showcasing all kinds of darkness and depravity in Gotham. I thought it was well done, but I wouldn't write every Batman movie that way for fear of isolating more sensitive viewers. The Christopher Nolan series had the perfect balance in my mind of disturbing images, violence, depravity, and yet leaving the viewer with some renewed faith in good by the end.
For a movie as dark as Batman to be effective and even encouraging, good has to be getting its tail kicked 90% of the way while our hero strives against the odds. I preferred this Batman to others because more than ever I can see our virtuous main character combating evil and not falling prey to corruption. In a world as bleak as Gotham, we need our hero to stand firm in what he believes to be right.
I have mostly praise for the 2022 Batman, but I didn't leave the theater as encouraged as I did for the Christopher Nolan films. The same goes for Michael Keaton’s Batman–he did a good job, but the movie on a whole left me more entertained than inspired. Great hero films can do both.
It’s not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you:
Bless the 2022 Batman’s little heart for pummeling violent offenders and scaring the criminal element out of their skin, I truly mean that. However–the character of Batman is about more than vengeance. Punisher is a character beyond believing in a better world, he exists to Punish the wicked justly and fairly according to their crimes. Batman conversely is about something else. Batman represents justice, and the inability to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing because of a personal loss he experienced. But, I’ve never seen his motives delved into quite so deeply and concisely as in the Christopher Nolan series and particularly this film.
Look at Pattinson’s Batman:
The 2022 Batman is portrayed as traumatized, unhinged, and suffering an insatiable desire to punish the criminal element even at the cost of his public image, health, and relationship with other human beings. It seems more like something he doesn't have a choice in, and even something he hasn't thought through.
We aren't really told or shown how Bruce Wayne came to be Batman (other than his parents passing), only that he is and he can’t do much else.
Look at Christian Bale’s Batman:
Bruce Wayne suffers the loss of his parents as a child and shuts people out completely. He’s even going to throw his own life and freedom away to end the life of his parents' killer. It takes a slap from his childhood friend, Rachel Dawes, to make him see he’s thinking selfishly and ending one man's life wouldn't solve his, or Gotham’s, problems.
Bruce loses his title and lives in poverty far from Gotham, hiding until he meets the league of assassins. They train him; and ultimately, he rejects their teaching because they ask him to become an executioner.
Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham planning to use his newly acquired skills and understanding to fight injustice and protect the innocent. He creates the image of a Bat for himself so that the wicked can be afraid and dismayed from committing crimes against the people of Gotham.
None of this sounds like the unhinged actions of a violent traumatized person, rather the valiant mission of someone hoping to defend a city which they know from personal experience is wrought with wrongdoing. Rachels’ words to Bruce, which are much like the theme/tagline of this film, “It’s not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you,” are reiterated back to her by Batman later in the film.
Why?
Because in this version Bruce Wayne actually believes, and is confident, his mission is good and his service justified. Bruce wants to do right by his parents and right by Rachel, that’s why he reveals his identity to her in the climax of the film. He has no question if he’s become too much like the evil men in the city, or if he’s a monster by fighting criminals. I found that aspect of the 2022 Batman the most annoying thing in the film.
Batman is without a doubt the hero:
There’s no question in this adaptation if Batman is the good guy or the bad guy. Gordon is grateful when he shows up on the scene, Rachel is grateful someone is fighting back, bad men like Falcone are put away and no one complains (except scarecrow and we all know he’s a psychopath). The inner conflict in Christian Bale’s, Bruce Wayne, isn't “Am I too much like the men I’m fighting?”
But rather, “Am I doing enough to stop these bad men and protect this city?”
We see this when he feels guilty about Rachel believing he actually is the useless playboy he pretends to be. Because Bruce Wayne is on a mission (like his parents were) to better the city, but he’s doing it differently.
From the beginning of the film when he abandoned his desires for revenge and embraced suffering so he could acquire skills to fight injustice, we see Bruce Wayne fighting for a just cause.
Batman wants enemies of good to be afraid, but he does it to pursue a righteous end: protecting the lives of the innocent and saving Gotham. Christian Bale’s, Batman, never has to question if he’s like the men he fights because he decides at the beginning of the film he won’t execute men, only deliver them to the law. That’s his conviction, and in doing such he can remain on good terms with the Police. The issue of Batman being viewed as the bad guy doesn't come up until the second film, and we, as the audience, know it's a lie. Batman is selfless enough to let the city think he’s the bad guy so they can believe in something better (but the Dark Knight is another article all together). Christian Bale's, Batman, showcases Batman as a selfless servant of justice on a noble mission, we don’t see this as much with the animated versions or the other films.
I’m not sure they thought the romance through…but it could have been worse:
For better or worse I have to mention the requisite love interest. Partially because the romance was one of my only criticisms in this film. Still, I can’t completely disregard it because the role of Rachel is an important one in the story line and leads to memorable sequences in the series. My favorite live action Batman love interest is Zoe Kravitz,’ Catwoman. There are those that disagree, and that's perfectly fine…they’re wrong, but it's happened before.
However, while Rachel Dawes isn’t a phenomenal love interest, she’s not a terrible character. There is an essence of charm in writing when we make an exceptional hero (or heroine) fall helplessly in love with an average person. It makes the love interest relatable to the average person, while still giving them redeeming qualities. It happens all the time:
Spiderman loves the girl next door, Mary Jane.
Edward Cullen loves average teenage girl, Bella Swan.
Disney’s Hercules loves, Megara, a jaded woman with poor taste in men.
Superman loves, Lois Lane, a loud mouthed no nonsense reporter.
Rachel could have been done better, but she has aspects as a character I like compared to most other Batman love interests. Granted, she didn't have a high bar to reach with the past leading ladies:
Vicki Vale 1989 (not a terribly deep relationship–they break up shortly after they hook up).
Dr. Chase 1995 (Do I really need to go into why this so called romance was stupid?)
Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman 1992 (the best of the lot hands down–but I have my issues with the movie). I liked Pfeiffer's character much more than Rachel, but I didn't buy Batman’s affection for her as being sincere for other reasons.
What most of the Batman love interests boil down to is a woman with little to no personality and few redeeming qualities (Vicki, Dr. Chase, and that woman no one remembers from Batman and Robin). Aspects I appreciated about the relationship between Batman and Rachel Dawes:
She’s Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend.
And while I may not agree with all her character’s perspectives, she plays a pivotal role in waking up young Bruce Wayne to a more responsible worldview.
The relationship (or at least feelings Bruce Wayne has for her) seem more genuine in this film than others. Bruce spends seven years away from Rachel and when he returns to Gotham she’s the first person he thinks to protect.
Rachel is also a good person in a sea of very corrupt people. She can’t be bought by the criminal underworld, and she tries to do what's right even when it puts her at risk.
What I didn't appreciate about this couple, is that Batman's attachment to her seems to be far greater than hers to him. Even by the second film Bruce is still in love with Rachel and she’s still in the decision making process. Also, as a character, while she’s not a bad person, Rachel isn't as compelling as Batman. If she deeply loved him I could forgive her not having much weight as a character, but it doesn't look like she does. For those that disagree, go back and watch the ending kiss scene. It’s not good folks. An argument could be made that Christian Bale doesn't act romance well. However, as a stoic orphan who fights criminals by night, he has an explanation for not being able to express his emotions well. What's Rachel’s excuse?
A Deeper Origin story:
Batman the Animated series does a good job of setting up the backstory. The 1989 film does a decent job as well. But I haven’t seen any give me as much insight into the character of Bruce Wayne’s parents, the nature of their murder in relation to the city, and what exactly drove the orphan to become Batman till this film.
In this movie, Bruce Wayne’s parents were good people trying to better the city, but perhaps his father was a little too idealistic. It gives us a reason to see and understand why Bruce wants to save Gotham–his family had the same mission.
Bruce considers taking up revenge, but abandoning it for justice.
We learn exactly how Bruce acquired the skills of Batman and what made him choose bats as a method of fear.
Batman Begins answered a lot of questions and curiosities for me in a satisfying way I hadn't seen done before. Christian Bale gives the character more heart and clear nobility in his motives then other versions, and the films are just despairing enough without leaving the audience discouraged or hopeless. This is still my favorite film in the series because it lays the groundwork for the heart of the character and leaves the viewer inspired by the example Batman is setting. Batman isn’t a violent madman in a costume, he’s a hero subjecting himself to isolation, and even danger, in order to save his city.
-Jubilee