After the box-office disappointment of Batman and Robin (1997), it would take years from another Batman movie to reach the big screen. There were other attempts including Joel Schumacher's proposed third Batman film, Batman Unchained and a 2002 proposal by Joss Whedon, who would later direct superhero movies with The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Eventually the reigns were handed to director/writer Christopher Nolan (then best known for his psychological thriller Memento (2000)) and his co-writer David S. Goyer. Goyer had previously been a writer on the Marvel movies, Blade (1998), Blade II (2002), Blade: Trinity (2004). He would go on to be a writer for such superhero movies as The Dark Knight (2008), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The two decide to take a completely different approach than the previous Batman films. Nolan felt that the previous Batman movies were very stylish but lacked a real emotional connection. Inspired by Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie, Nolan decided to make a film that was first and foremost a drama and second a superhero movie. Nolan and Goyer also decided to make this film much more grounded in reality and less fantastical than previous Batman movies. Rather than your typical superhero, they approached the character as more of a masked vigilante that could exist in our world.
The role of Batman was given to Christian Bale, who had already proven the depth of his acting abilities in such films as Empire of the Sun (1987), American Psycho (2000) and The Machinist (2004). The villain Ra's al Ghul was played by Liam Neeson (who always makes ever movie he is in better), before he had reinvited himself as an action star with Taken (2008). At this time, he was known as versatile and highly respected actor with a filmography that included Husbands and Wives (1992), Schindler's List (1993), Les Misérables (1998), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Love Actually (2003) and Kinsey (2004). The other villain, The Scarecrow was played by Cillian Murphy. Murphy would also appear in the Nolan films Inception (2010), Dunkirk (2017) and Oppenheimer (2023). For the last of these he would win the Academy Award for Best Actor. This movie's star-studded cast also included such names as Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman.
This film tells Batman's origin story. About how a young Bruce Wayne lost his parents, how as a young adult he trained under Ra's al Ghul and the League of Shadows and dons his Batman costume for the first time. He confronts the killer of his parents and the corruption that has overcome Gotham. However, he has more trouble than he bargained for when the League of Shadows descends upon Gotham and The Scarecrow unleashes his fear toxin upon the city.
In my opinion this is the best of the live action Batman movies. That is because more than any other live action Batman film, this one really delves into who Batman is and what it means to be Batman. Though this film has villains and action scenes, it is first and foremost a character study of Bruce Wayne. Though Batman was cool, and Bruce was likable in the previous live action Batman films, with this movie we know him much better than we did in the previous films. With this movie we connect to and understand this character. We feel for him on a deep emotional level. At the same time, we understand why he wears a mask and how as Batman he can mean much more to people than he ever could as Bruce Wayne. So not only is this movie a great exploration into who Batman is as a person but everything the character has come to mean to people. More than any other live action Batman movie, this one reminds me of why I love this character so much.
On top of this the film still manages to have great action sequences (though sometimes the camera can move around too much), visuals (scenes using the fear toxin) and humor. It also does a great job delving into some of the supporting characters as well. Also while Gotham is not as fantastical as it is in the Burton films, it still has a great sense of atmosphere that really works.
My biggest problem though is the Scarecrow's exit from the movie feels very anti-climactic to me.
The movie was a box-office and critical success and of course this would lead to more Batman films to follow.
The role of Batman was given to Christian Bale, who had already proven the depth of his acting abilities in such films as Empire of the Sun (1987), American Psycho (2000) and The Machinist (2004). The villain Ra's al Ghul was played by Liam Neeson (who always makes ever movie he is in better), before he had reinvited himself as an action star with Taken (2008). At this time, he was known as versatile and highly respected actor with a filmography that included Husbands and Wives (1992), Schindler's List (1993), Les Misérables (1998), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Love Actually (2003) and Kinsey (2004). The other villain, The Scarecrow was played by Cillian Murphy. Murphy would also appear in the Nolan films Inception (2010), Dunkirk (2017) and Oppenheimer (2023). For the last of these he would win the Academy Award for Best Actor. This movie's star-studded cast also included such names as Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman.
This film tells Batman's origin story. About how a young Bruce Wayne lost his parents, how as a young adult he trained under Ra's al Ghul and the League of Shadows and dons his Batman costume for the first time. He confronts the killer of his parents and the corruption that has overcome Gotham. However, he has more trouble than he bargained for when the League of Shadows descends upon Gotham and The Scarecrow unleashes his fear toxin upon the city.
In my opinion this is the best of the live action Batman movies. That is because more than any other live action Batman film, this one really delves into who Batman is and what it means to be Batman. Though this film has villains and action scenes, it is first and foremost a character study of Bruce Wayne. Though Batman was cool, and Bruce was likable in the previous live action Batman films, with this movie we know him much better than we did in the previous films. With this movie we connect to and understand this character. We feel for him on a deep emotional level. At the same time, we understand why he wears a mask and how as Batman he can mean much more to people than he ever could as Bruce Wayne. So not only is this movie a great exploration into who Batman is as a person but everything the character has come to mean to people. More than any other live action Batman movie, this one reminds me of why I love this character so much.
On top of this the film still manages to have great action sequences (though sometimes the camera can move around too much), visuals (scenes using the fear toxin) and humor. It also does a great job delving into some of the supporting characters as well. Also while Gotham is not as fantastical as it is in the Burton films, it still has a great sense of atmosphere that really works.
My biggest problem though is the Scarecrow's exit from the movie feels very anti-climactic to me.
The movie was a box-office and critical success and of course this would lead to more Batman films to follow.
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