Batman Begins (2005)

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers (WGA):

Bob Kane (characters)
David S. Goyer (story)

Release Date:

15 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

The story of how Bruce Wayne became what he was destined to be: Batman.

Plot Keywords:

Batman | Gotham | Fear | Bat | Ninja

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 38 nominations

Cast

Christian Bale	...	Bruce Wayne / Batman
Michael Caine	...	Alfred
Liam Neeson	...	Henri Ducard
Katie Holmes	...	Rachel Dawes
Gary Oldman	...	Jim Gordon
Cillian Murphy	...	Dr. Jonathan Crane
Tom Wilkinson	...	Carmine Falcone
Rutger Hauer	...	Earle
Ken Watanabe	...	Ra's Al Ghul
Mark Boone Junior	...	Flass
Linus Roache	...	Thomas Wayne
Morgan Freeman	...	Lucius Fox
Larry Holden	...	Finch
Gerard Murphy	...	Judge Faden
Colin McFarlane	...	Loeb

Also Known As:

Batman 5 (USA) (working title)
Batman Begins: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
Batman: Intimidation (USA) (original script title)
The Intimidation Game (USA) (fake working title)
Batman inicia (Argentina) (Panama) (Venezuela) [es]
Бэтмен: Начало (Russia) [ru]
Batman - El inicio (Venezuela) [es]
Batman - Pocetak (Croatia) [hr]
Batman - Poczatek (Poland) [pl]
Batman Begins (Brazil) [pt]
Batman Begins (Italy) [it]
Batman Begins (France) [fr]
Batman Begins (Greece) [el]
Batman Begins (Germany) [de]
Batman Begins (Spain) [es]
Batman alustab (Estonia) [et]
Batman basliyor (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Batman comienza (Dominican Republic) [es]
Batman zacíná (Czech Republic) [cs]
Batman zacína (Slovakia) [sk]
Batman: El comienzo (Venezuela) [es]
Batman: Le commencement (Canada: French title) [fr]
Betmen pocinje (Serbia) [sr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements.

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Indonesia:Dewasa | Taiwan:PG-12 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | India:UA | Malaysia:U | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | Chile:Y7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Denmark:11 | South Korea:12 | South Africa:13V | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12A | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:10 | Greece:K-13 | Philippines:G | New Zealand:M | Czech Republic:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:12 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The 2006 Forbes Fictional 15 ranks Bruce Wayne as the 7th richest fictional character with a net worth of approximately $6.8 billion.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of tree branches over the water well young Bruce falls in changes. The branches look one way (from the bottom looking up) when Rachel calls down, but it appears to be a different tree when Thomas Wayne lowers himself to rescue Bruce.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bruce Wayne - age 8: Rachel, let me see! Can I see?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Night Job (2009) (V)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday To You

A darker, stormier knight.

Christopher Nolan (and cast) have pulled off what I hadn't dared to dream - a Batman every bit as good as Burton/Keaton's vision - and eradicated the camp, feverish memories of Clooney, Kilmer and (cough..) O'Donnell.

The story is as good an origin story as you'll find - covering all the major (true-to-the-comic) events, and not wasting ages on them. We see Wayne's all-important training period (previously ignored), and his connection to the Tibetan shadow-ninja clan led by Ra's Al Ghul. We see Bruce come up with ideas for his symbol, his costume, his gadgets, his car, his cave - IT ALL FITS SO PERFECTLY.

That's not all - Liam Neeson is perfect (as ever, when Lucas isn't writing his lines), Batman's first mad nemesis (the Scarecrow) is genuinely frightening; with some outstandingly scary 'fear' effects.. Gary Oldman looks just like a young Commissioner Gordon (and doesn't dominate), Morgan Freeman and Rutger Hauer give solid heavyweight support to the boardroom machinations at Wayne Enterprizes. I love Michael Gough(?) but Michael Caine is great as Alfred. It's only Katie Holmes who didn't ring true for me - not because of her performance, but simply because she looks all of 15 years old (sorry Katie). I am always blown away by Christian Bale, and this is no exception.

The fights are great, the Bat-gadgets all there, the car is amazing, the plot is thorough and exciting, Gotham looks great, Batman really is frightening & menacing (and lethal!).. And the scenes with the bats themselves FINALLY get across the idea of how scary they can be.

There is some humour, but it's fairly dry. The soundtrack, like all the best original soundtracks, is excellent - you hardly know it's there, but the emotions of the scene are enhanced and boosted. For the most part this is a serious Batman film, with plenty for long-time fans. This NEW Batman is one I'd like to see again. Bravo Mr Nolan, bravo.