Batman Begins

Read time ~5-7 Minutes ** ** *Week 4 of the Nolan odyssey til the odyssey* First revisit in ages and I honestly don't really know what to say. I enjoyed this a hell of a lot more than most people seem to. It has a couple of issues here and there, but for 99% of its runtime it's damn near a perfect Batman film. I went into this rewatch expecting to dislike it. My preconceived thoughts were that I didn't like this version of Bruce Wayne, that Scarecrow sucked, and that the movie was a bit all over the place. Thankfully, basically all of that turned out to be false. Bruce Wayne This is one of the first Batman films that truly treats Bruce Wayne as a damaged human being rather than an untouchable superhero. And that's exactly my kind of thing. I love when characters are vulnerable and grounded. Bruce constantly gets knocked down, loses, and makes emotional mistakes. In that regard, he actually reminds me a lot of Robert Pattinson's Bruce in The Batman, another Batman interpretation I absolutely love. One thing I did find a little goofy though is how much effort Bruce puts into creating the billionaire playboy persona while simultaneously seeming to care very little about hiding his identity as Batman. A strange choice at times idk. What I really loved, however, is how Bruce's entire transformation is driven by his desire to live up to his father. Thomas Wayne isn't just a dead parent used as motivation. His legacy hangs over the entire film. Bruce carries this immense pressure to live up to the man his father was, both as a philanthropist and as a symbol of hope for Gotham. When Bruce returns and sees the city consumed by corruption and decay, it almost feels personal. Gotham wasn't just Thomas Wayne's home, it was his life's work. Bruce views the city's collapse as a failure to protect everything his father stood for. That's what makes his journey so compelling. He isn't becoming Batman because he wants revenge anymore. He's becoming Batman because he wants to preserve a legacy and give Gotham the hope his father believed it could have. Gotham I loved this Gotham. Not quite as much as Matt Reeves' Gotham, but it's still absolutely fantastic. The city feels genuinely dangerous because the corruption reaches all the way to the top. The mob, led by Carmine Falcone, controls the judges, the police department, and city hall. It creates a city where normal law enforcement feels completely powerless, which naturally justifies the existence of someone like Batman. The train system built by Thomas Wayne is also a brilliant narrative device. Originally, it was meant to help save Gotham and provide affordable transportation for ordinary people. But by the time Bruce returns, it's rusted, neglected, and falling apart. Just like Gotham itself. The Wayne family's dream for the city died alongside Thomas and Martha, and the train becomes a physical representation of that failure. I also really appreciate that this was the first Gotham heavily inspired by real cities. It gives everything a raw and grounded atmosphere that still feels unique today. And honestly, without this Gotham, we never get the masterpiece that is Matt Reeves' version years later, so im thankful for that. Mentorship One thing I REALLY loved about Batman Begins is how desperately Bruce searches for father figures. After losing his father at such a young age, that feels like such a realistic reaction. Throughout the film, Bruce looks for guidance in several different men, each representing a different philosophy on justice, power, and morality. Ducard, AKA Ra's al Ghul, provides the physical mentorship Bruce wants after years of aimless wandering. He teaches him discipline, fear, and how to become a symbol. However, he ultimately represents a corrupted version of fatherhood. His lessons are valuable, but his worldview is destructive and wrong, forcing Bruce toward a path he refuses to follow. Lucius Fox represents another side of Thomas Wayne's legacy. He provides Bruce with the tools and resources needed to become Batman, but more importantly he acts as a mentor in professionalism and responsibility. He's a gentle and supportive role model who helps Bruce reconnect with the Wayne side of his identity. And then there's Alfred. While Ducard teaches Bruce how to become a warrior and Fox teaches him how to be professional, Alfred teaches him how to remain human. He is the emotional backbone of the film and arguably Bruce's most important mentor. Alfred constantly challenges Bruce's arrogance, grief, and self destructive habits. More than anyone else, Alfred carries Thomas Wayne's values forward. He's not just Bruce's caretaker. He's the closest thing Bruce has left to a father. Final takeaway I know I now have this above The Dark Knight in my top 50, but don't panic. I'm watching The Dark Knight later today, and there's about a 99% chance that it climbs back above this by the end of the night. Still, I absolutely loved revisiting Batman Begins. What surprised me most is just how much heart the movie has. Beneath all the gadgets, training montages, and superhero spectacle, it's really a story about grief, identity, mentorship, and finding purpose after trauma. I loved most of the villains, even Scarecrow, who completely exceeded my expectations. Maybe that's because I've become a massive Cillian Murphy fan over the years, but I genuinely enjoyed every moment he was on screen. However i fucking hated this Falcone. What Nolan accomplishes here is impressive because it doesn't really feel like the Nolan people often talk about today. It lacks the puzzle structure that many of his later films became known for. Instead, Batman Begins feels surprisingly emotional and character focused. It's grounded, sincere, and deeply invested in Bruce Wayne as a person before it ever cares about Batman as a symbol. And honestly, that's probably why it works so well. Added to lists Top 50 Nolan marathon favorite lines: "It's time my enemies shared my dread." *"-What is that?" *"-Backup." "I'm buying this hotel, and setting some new rules... around the pool area." 10/10 bats