Batman Begins & The Dark Knight

When Tim Burton was named to direct Batman in 1989, comic book fans, and followers of the Bat went wild.  They lost some of their fervor when Michael Keaton was announced to play the costumed hero; but, regained it when Jack Nicholson claimed the role of their favorite villain the Joker.  There were some mixed reviews but in the end those in favor seemed to win the day.  Burton produced a film that, for the time and generation, was suitably dark, held reasonably well to the already established story lines and in general created an entertaining movie.  In the end Keaton's naysayers re-nagged their doubts and, as expected, Nicholson's Joker stole the show.  It was a Hollywood blockbuster and a promising start to a potentially long lasting franchise.  In 1995 Joel Schumacher grabbed the reins of the franchise and began the downward spiral into comic book ridiculousness with Batman Forever.   In 1997 he put the final nail in the proverbially coffin with  Batman and Robin and laid the franchise to rest.  Dark Knight fans, old and new alike, were disappointed and dismayed, they needed a hero to lift their hopes; enter Christopher Nolan.

It is widely accepted that Nolan's two films are without question the best adaptations of creator Bob Kane's Batman to date; but, what makes these films so great?  When Christopher Nolan seated himself in the directors chair he claimed he would return the Dark Knight to his roots and hold true to the character.  In order to do that he needed not only to get the character right but all the elements that surround and support the character.  His vision for Gotham as a dual layered hell captures the ever present and ominous city depicted in the comic books.  On the lower level is old Gotham, an area ruled by crime bosses and overrun by criminals preying on the poor and weak who live there.  Sitting literally on top of and casting old Gotham into shadow is new Gotham, where skyscrapers and money rule.  Yet for all its glitter Nolan makes it just as seedy with corporate take overs and high power crimes.  With crime as its life blood Nolan's Gotham comes to life and sets the stage for the cast of supporting characters that make Batman such a complex and interesting character. 

Batman's supporting characters keep him from becoming a simple vigilante by showing the audience the character's inner struggle.  Alfred Pennyworth, played by Michael Caine, is the ever present butler who goes beyond his duties demonstrating undying devotion, compassion and love for his master.  He is the individual who knows all Bruce Wayne's secrets, is there to help the boy overcome his parents death, present for his return after his training, comes to his aid when he is injured, but most of all Alfred is the voice of reason that keeps Batman sane.  Michael Caine brings this role to life with dry humor and a compassion playing both qualities with subtly, calm gestures and an understated voice.  Through Michael Caine's portrayal of Alfred we see where Batman learns to question his crusade; is it simple vengeance or a devotion to saving and helping with his version of compassion?  Commissioner Gordon is the quintessential officer of the law.  Played by Gary Oldman, we see a man who goes to any lengths to uphold the law and get his man; provided he does it by the book.  He sacrifices his family and reluctantly turns his back on Batman because that is what is necessary for the greater good.  Oldman's portrayal presents a humble and kind hearted man who easily demonstrates the hero Batman works to be.  Lucius Fox is an additional character who provides a voice of reason and caution to Batman's approach to justice.  Portrayed by Morgan Freeman, Fox becomes a light hearted, jovial and easy going individual all the while retaining a commanding voice of reason.  When he threatens to leave because Batman wants to use technology that violates the average citizen's privacy we get to hear the solid voice that keeps Batman from sinking as low as the criminals he aims to stop.  In addition to this role Lucius is the man responsible for supplying all the gadgets which Batman is so well known for.  A character unto itself the infamous Bat belt is one element that can easily destroy the story's believability; however, with scenes of Wayne working on the costume, and Lucius and Wayne discussing how things work Nolan makes all this high tech gadgetry a plausible and acceptable part of the story. Of course all these elements are necessary to offset Batman's darkest side which is revealed through his villains. 

The villains are the antithesis of our hero and show us what he could become without the influence of the above characters.  Through the course of the two films we are introduced to a host of bad guys all played very adeptly by a stellar cast including Liam Neeson (Henri Ducard), Kenwatanabe (Ra's Al Ghul), Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow), Aron Eckhart (Two Face) and the critically acclaimed Heath Ledger in the role of the Joker.  These portrayals are so wonderful because they are not the caricatures of 60's television show but real people with desires and wants which happen to be on the wrong side of morality and the law.  All these actors do a brilliant job; however, Eckhart's Two Face and Ledger's Joker deserve some special attention.  As Harvey Dent we see a man passionate about his love but more passionate for his work.  Eckhart shows us this passion as he debates heros in the restaurant and eventually takes the fall for Batman. But what makes his portrayal is the transformation from Dent to Two Face.  In the role of Dent we see a man who is logical and level headed, as Two Face the same logic applies but Eckhart's character is no longer level headed.  His actions become jittery, and quick, his stance is wider and his overall physicality is transformed.  His powerful performance is very much unrecognized in the shadow of the Heath Ledger's Joker.  

In his portrayal one can see the homage to Nicholson but Ledger truly makes this performance his own.  Right from the start the raspy and dragged out voice are reminiscent of Nicholson, couple that with the lip smacking and some quick motions one could maybe even suggest a copy cat. Yet Ledger takes this so much further adding layer upon layer until the character is as complex as his foil Batman.  We see the twisted genius very early as we learn who planned the opening robbery, we watch it develop further as he burns the money and it comes to culmination as he pits the passengers of the two boats against each other.  In past portrayals of the Joker we would see him dancing in elation and humor at his own genius but here with Ledger we see a man saddened by humanity.  His calm, albeit insane, behavior tells the story of a man wanting to demonstrate humanities depravity.  In the interrogation scene Ledger truly shows this as he willingly accepts the abuse thrown on him by Batman.   With Ledger at the helm, all of these character portrayals breathe new life into the villains which are Batman's true foils.

The central story  element is the Dark Knight himself.  As a young boy he witnesses the pointless murder of his parents in one of Gotham's dark alleys and he swears and oath of vengeance against criminals in general.  He travels the globe training his body and mind to fulfill this oath and returns to reign as a king of terror in his city.  In Batman Begins  Christian Bale, under Nolan's direction, takes on the grueling journey which creates Batman.  We see him in the worst jails as a hate filled machine exacting cruel punishment on those who cross his path and we watch as this hatred and anger get tutored by Liam Neeson and Ken Watanabe in the Ra's Al Ghul clan.  What is important to the Batman character is his true complexity.  For all his vengeance seeking he still sits with some level of moral character as he tries to bring criminals to justice.  This quality is maintained and nurtured in the Batman Begins first when we see Bruce Wayne directly confront the man he believes responsible for his parents murder and second when he faces the challenge of killing a criminal for his final test in the clan.  In both cases we see him struggle but, possibly reluctantly, overcome and choose the higher road of justice.  Bale continues to create this complex character with his interpretation of Bruce Wayne.  In contrast to the gruff voiced and heavy handed Batman, Bruce is a very sweet voiced and shallow. There are scenes of him parading with women and doing whatever he wants because he owns the place.  Bale is light on his feet and full of smiles for these scenes offering us the necessary opposite side to our hero.  Finally, Bale shows us the depth of complexity as he  blends these two portrayals in his interactions with the love interest.  We see him struggle to stay true both to love and his crime stopping oath but eventually choosing his Dark Knight as the path to follow.  Of course great credit must be given to all the actors in these films but it is due to Christopher Nolan's vision that it all comes together.

Nolan maintained a vision, true to the comic book hero, that was dark and menacing.  With his interpretation of Gotham he created the appropriate backdrop for his talented actors.  He then maintained his focus keeping all of his characters as real people with goals and desires.  He never allowed the actors to be over the top or artificial.  Putting these elements together with some blockbuster effects and explosions Nolan gives us two movies that will stand the test of time and have already become cult classics.